Baltimore, MD Tummy Tuck Patient Decision Guide

If you’re wondering, “Which tummy tuck technique is right for me?”, look over this guide for more information:

1. Start with Your Main Goal

Every tummy tuck is designed to address different concerns, from tightening loose abdominal muscles after pregnancy to removing excess skin following significant weight loss. Start by identifying the change you’d most like to achieve, then explore which technique best matches your goals.

A. Major body contouring after massive weight loss

These procedures are designed for patients with significant excess skin and tissue, often following major weight loss.

• Circumferential Body Lift: This comprehensive body-contouring procedure trims away sagging skin and excess fat from the abdomen, hips, flanks, and lower back/upper buttocks.
• Extended Tummy Tuck: This technique extends the incisions used in a full abdominoplasty, allowing removal of skin and fat from the upper, middle, and lower abdomen, the waist, and the flanks.

B. Correction of diastasis recti

These procedures repair separated abdominal muscles (diastasis recti) to restore core support and create a flatter abdominal contour. They’re ideal for patients dealing with diastasis recti after childbirth.

• Circumferential Body Lift: This abdominoplasty technique contours the entire lower torso while tightening the abdominal wall muscles.
• Extended Tummy Tuck: This technique contours the abdomen’s front and sides while repairing separated abdominal muscles and tightening the abdominal wall.
• Full Tummy Tuck: This option sculpts the abdomen and repairs and tightens the abdominal wall muscles.

C. Moderate abdominal contouring

• Full Tummy Tuck: This balanced option can address excess fat, sagging skin, and drooping abdominal-wall muscles in the lower, mid, and upper abdomen.  Liposuction will help sculpt the lateral abdomen and flanks to accentuate your natural contours.

D. Subtler lower-abdominal contouring

• Mini Tummy Tuck: Best for patients with mild excess skin and localized fullness below the belly button who require less extensive correction than a full tummy tuck.

E. Subtle abdominal contouring without major surgery

• BodyTite + Morpheus8 Body: This minimally invasive combination tightens mild to moderate skin laxity and reduces small pockets of excess fat, making it an excellent option for patients seeking noticeable contour improvements without undergoing a surgical tummy tuck. While it can improve skin firmness and body contours, it is not intended to replace the skin removal or muscle repair achieved with abdominoplasty.

-Not used for: Tightening separated abdominal muscles (diastasis recti) or removing large amounts of excess skin or fat.