A mini tummy tuck can be a transformative plastic surgery that improves the contour of your lower abdomen. Plastic surgeons create a horizontal incision that resembles a C-section then uses it to tighten lower abdomen skin and remove excess fat. This procedure has high satisfaction rates and is very popular among women who have been through childbirth and men who have stubborn lower abdomen fat. On the flip side, a mini tummy tuck results in a scar (albeit one that is hidden below the bikini line). Some patients may wish to reap similar benefits but without having this scar or going through the surgery itself and subsequent recovery process. If you are planning to have a mini tummy tuck, it is important that you are aware of alternatives that are available.

1. Vaser liposuction

This may be a reasonable option for women who are looking to have a minimally invasive abdominal recontouring procedure. This procedure is particularly suited for individuals who are worried about stubborn abdominal fat but have good skin elasticity in this area. Vaser liposuctions tend to be gentler than traditional lipo because ultrasound is first used to remove fat from the targeted areas.

Some benefits of Vaser liposuction include the following:

• Minimally invasive fat removal procedure
• Gentle treatment compared to a traditional liposuction
• Shorter recovery duration
• Almost no scarring
• Removes fat as well as tightens skin
• Removed fat could be used to augment other parts of the body

Some disadvantages of Vaser liposuction include the fact that it may not be useful for patients who are also looking to strengthen separated abdominal muscles. It may also not be ideal for patients who want to address loose skin but not excess fat.

2. VelaShape Cellulite Treatment

This is a non-invasive treatment that is particularly ideal for patients who wish to address stubborn fat that forms a ‘pooch’ in the lower abdomen. This technique is particularly beneficial because it targets the skin as well as the deeper layers of fat. It is also a virtually painless treatment that uses a combination of infrared light, radiofrequency energy, and vacuum to heat up fat and connective tissue. In addition to reducing fat, VelaShape also stimulates collagen production and thus improves skin tightness and smoothness.

3. ThermiTight

ThermiTight is one of the most effective treatments for tightening loose abdominal skin. This procedure uses a special device to direct thermal energy at the targeted treatment area. The underlying abdominal tissues are heated to a maximal temperature then the area is covered using compression bandaging. A single treatment is enough to result in tighter skin and there is no downtime needed as most patients are able to resume routine activities within a day. To ensure safety, ThermiTight specialists use a special probe to monitor tissue temperature. An infrared camera may also be used to monitor skin temperatures.

4. CoolSculpting

This tummy tuck alternative targets excess abdominal fat and works by using intense cold to freeze and destroy fat cells. CoolSculpting can reduce fat by up to 20 percent following just a single treatment. Subsequent treatments may be performed if additional fat needs to be removed. This happens to be a fairly common nonsurgical body contouring treatment.

5. EMSCULPT

EMSCULPT is another awesome tummy tuck alternative. This is an innovative cosmetic treatment that is particularly designed to tighten and tone muscles. EMSCULPT basically works by triggering muscle contractions (which happen to be more powerful than natural muscle contractions) to achieve dramatic toning of the abdominal muscles. A single EMSCULPT treatment can induce up to 20,000 muscle contractions. EMSCULPT is an effective treatment that is fairly easy for most patients. You may feel a bit tender (as if you just had an intense workout) but these symptoms resolve in days.

Conclusion

If you’d like to learn more about mini tummy tuck alternatives, the first step is to talk to your plastic surgeon. This should allow you to learn whether you are a candidate for each option, what you can expect from the treatment, as well as what the recovery process entails.