Mini abdominoplasty is a procedure to contour the the lower abdomen used at our Caribbean plastic surgery clinic at Trinidad Institute of plastic Surgery. Compared with a full abdominoplasty it results in a shortened scar in the bikini line, usually not much longer than the transverse scar resulting from a C-section, used to expose the lower part of the muscular framework for tightening and for removal of excess skin and subcutaneous tissues. Mini abdominoplasty leaves the belly button in its native position, avoiding the additional scar that results from a so called umbilical transposition during more extensive procedures. Operating and recovery of mini abdominoplasty time are also shortened. While not a “lunchtime procedure”, it may be a “weekend procedure” in selected patients.
It is an ideal procedure if skin laxity and laxity of the midline musculature of the abdominal wall are limited to the area below the belly button and if the patient has a structurally well defined waist line. Additional contouring of the abdomen and waist can be performed with liposuction during mini abdominoplasty.
At Trinidad Institute of Plastic Surgery a larger fraction of our clients is amenable to this procedure compared with the cosmetic practices of our surgeons in the US and Europe. We see more women in their mid to late thirties, who have completed their families, are active and not overweight and want that bikini body back.