By Jerome Edelstein, MD
Abdominoplasty or a tummy tuck is a highly requested cosmetic surgery procedure which works to improve the appearance of the midsection by tightening abdominal muscles and removing excess skin and fat. Due to the popularity of this procedure, several different adaptations have been developed including the mini tummy tuck and hybrid tummy tuck (the hybrid tummy tuck is also known as the Floating Abdominoplasty, or FAB).While a traditional or full tummy tuck involves making a large incision from hip to hip across the abdomen and addresses trouble areas both above and below the navel, a mini tummy tuck makes a much smaller incision in the pubic region but only targets the lower abdomen. The hybrid tummy tuck, on the other hand, is an innovative amalgamation of these techniques, allowing the surgeon to “float” the belly button down just slightly and access the upper abdomen diastasis, without creating a large scar or an entirely new belly button.
Smaller Incision
Unlike a full tummy tuck, which necessitates a large incision across the abdomen, a hybrid tummy tuck makes a much shorter incision, which is strategically placed below the bathing suit line. Although the size of the incision will vary slightly depending on the patient, in most cases, it is significantly shorter than a full tummy tuck incision and can be easily concealed. The smaller incision means that the resulting scar will also be less visible. Since the incision is made in the lower abdomen, should patients choose to undergo this procedure following a C-section, the surgeon can remove the old C-section scar to ensure that no new scars are produced by this surgery.
Less Invasive
Because a hybrid tummy tuck does not create a new navel and it makes a much smaller incision, it is a less invasive procedure than a full tummy tuck. This makes it an ideal option for women who maintained a healthy weight during pregnancy and therefore do not have significant excess skin after childbirth above the belly button, but struggle with diastasis recti, the separation of the rectus muscles, which causes bulging in the upper abdomen. This procedure repairs the abdominal muscles, reducing the post-pregnancy bulge that many women are burdened with.
Reduced Recovery Time
Although a mini tummy tuck is a suitable option for many patients, it does not address bulging above the navel. The hybrid tummy tuck, on the other hand, enables the surgeon to tackle bulging above and below the belly button, as well as loose skin below the belly button, delivering more consistent results and yielding a dramatic transformation.To learn more about the benefits of abdominoplasty and which procedure is best for you, please contact us today to schedule a consultation with Dr. Jerome Edelstein or Dr. Jindal, experienced hybrid tummy tuck plastic surgeons in Toronto.