Mini Tummy Tuck in Houston, TX
A tummy tuck, or abdominoplasty, corrects sagging skin and hard-to-lose belly fat to give you a flatter, smoother, and more toned abdomen. A mini tummy tuck is a version of that procedure that focuses on the lower abdomen, below your belly button. If you are bothered by saggy, wrinkled skin and a belly bulge that resists all your exercise and diet efforts, and those problems are limited to your lower abdomen, a mini tummy tuck could be the solution you’re looking for.
Double-board-certified plastic surgeon, Dr. Mark Schusterman provides multiple options for his Houston tummy tuck patients, including the mini tummy tuck, full tummy tuck, and drainless tummy tuck. He customizes treatment plans to the needs of each patient to deliver excellent results using the safest, most effective, and least invasive approach.
In addition to the various options available for your tummy tuck procedure, Dr. Schusterman also offers a Drainless Tummy Tuck in Houston. Drainless tummy tucks use a special suture technique that puts less tension on the scar while avoiding post-surgical drains. It allows for a more comfortable recovery and beautiful results.








Mini Tummy Tuck in Houston
What Is a Mini Tummy Tuck?
A mini tummy tuck is a less-invasive version of a tummy tuck for men and women who are unhappy with the appearance of their lower abdomen. Where a full tummy tuck tightens muscles and corrects loose, sagging skin and unwanted fat over the entire abdomen, above and below the belly button, a mini tummy tuck improves the appearance of the abdomen below the belly button.
With its more limited scope, a mini tummy tuck also involves just one incision, just above the pubic area, where a full tummy tuck involves two, including one around the belly button. The single incision in a mini tummy tuck is also six to twelve inches shorter than the comparable incision made for a full tummy tuck and does not extend all the way to the hips. As a less extensive procedure, a mini tummy tuck involves a faster recovery with less discomfort than a full tummy tuck.

What Are the Benefits of a Mini Tummy Tuck
If you’re bothered by stretched, saggy, or wrinkled skin and unwanted fat in the lower part of your abdomen, below the belly button, a mini tummy tuck offers many benefits.
Compared with a full tummy tuck, the benefits of a mini tummy tuck include:
- A quicker recovery, with less discomfort
- A less extensive scar, one that is completely hidden by underwear or a swimsuit
- No surgical change to the belly button
As with a full tummy tuck, a mini tummy tuck can:
- Restore flat, firm, and smooth contours to your belly
- Give you a younger, fitter, and more attractive look
- Free you to wear the clothes you prefer
- Boost your self-confidence and pride in your body
While it’s not a direct result of a mini tummy tuck, the new pride in your appearance after a mini tummy tuck can provide an energizing spark that motivates you to adopt a more active and healthier lifestyle, further improving your appearance and self-esteem.

Am I a Good Candidate for a Mini Tummy Tuck?
If you’re unhappy with the appearance of your lower abdomen, below the belly button, because of loose skin and excess fat, you might benefit from a mini tummy tuck. The ideal candidate for a mini tummy tuck:
- Has concerns about loose skin and excess belly fat in the lower abdomen
- Is within a healthy weight range
- Does not smoke, or is able to quit for several weeks before and after the procedure
- Has realistic expectations about what a mini tummy tuck can achieve for them
A mini tummy tuck can be performed on both men and women. In your consultation with Dr. Schusterman, he will advise you as to whether a mini tummy tuck is the best solution for your needs.
Planning Your Houston Mini Tummy Tuck
If you are considering a tummy tuck, your consultation with Dr. Schusterman is the first step in the process. In your consultation, Dr. Schusterman will ask questions to understand your concerns and your hopes for improvement with surgery, as well as your medical history. He will examine you to determine the degree of skin and muscle laxity and the location and extent of excess abdominal fat.
Based on what he learns from you, what he observes in his examination, and your medical history, Dr. Schusterman will recommend an approach to treatment. He’ll explain his recommendations and what you can expect at each stage in the process and will take the time to answer all your questions. His goal is always to provide the best tummy tuck Houston has to offer without compromising your health or safety in any way.
The consultation fee is $100, which will go toward the surgical fee if you decide to proceed with a body contouring procedure. The consultation generally takes one hour.
The Mini Tummy Tuck Procedure
When you arrive on the day of your surgery, Dr. Schusterman will go over your procedure with you one more time as he prepares you for surgery. You will receive general anesthesia, so you will not be awake or experience any pain during the procedure.
During your surgery, Dr. Schusterman will make an incision along your lower abdomen, about 4 to 8 inches long, just above the pubic area. (This is about the length of and in the same location as a C-section scar. If you’ve had a C-section, a mini tummy will likely result in no additional scarring.) Dr. Schusterman will then use that incision to tighten the skin of the lower abdomen, remove excess fat, and, if needed, repair and tighten underlying muscles, based on the surgery plan you discussed together during your consultation. He may also use liposuction to remove unwanted fat, both in the lower abdomen and the flanks, for a naturally sculpted look. When all changes have been made, he will use progressive tension sutures to close the incision. This brings the skin closer to the underlying muscles and reduces tension on the scar, improving the results while helping to minimize discomfort during recovery.
Once the surgery is complete, we will move you to a private recovery room, where Dr. Schusterman and his team will monitor your condition until you are ready to be driven home. You’ll need to arrange ahead of time to have someone drive you, preferably a friend or family member who will stay with you for at least the first night.
What to Expect in Recovery After a Mini Tummy Tuck
You can expect some swelling and bruising in the days immediately after the surgery, which we help to minimize by furnishing you with a pressure garment or abdominal binder. This swelling is an indication of your body’s healing process. It will gradually disappear by about six weeks after surgery.
You can also expect to feel some tightness in your lower abdomen. We will advise you to stay slightly bent at the waist for the first two weeks. We’ll encourage you to be up and walking right away, but you’ll need to avoid lifting or strenuous activity. Most patients are ready to return to light daily activities after one or two weeks of healing time. Provided that you don’t have a physically demanding job, you’ll also be able to return to work at this time. We will advise you on how to gradually resume your normal level of activity and exercise over the following four to six weeks.

Your Mini Tummy Tuck Results
You’ll begin to see your mini tummy tuck results about a week after surgery as your swelling goes down and your body adjusts to your firmer, flatter abdomen. After that, you’ll notice continuous improvement as the swelling disappears and you are able to stand upright without discomfort or strain. Your final results will be visible about 6 weeks after your surgery.
Schedule Your Houston Tummy Tuck Consultation with Dr. Schusterman Today
Dr. Mark Schusterman is an artist and a true professional in every way. He is here to listen to you about your expectations and questions about abdominoplasty.
Dr. Mark Schusterman is an artist and a true professional in every way. He is a well-respected plastic surgeon with a caring manner and extensive knowledge of the latest surgical and nonsurgical body contouring techniques. He is here to listen to you about your concerns and expectations and answer all of your questions about abdominoplasty.
To learn more about what a mini tummy tuck can do for you, contact us at (713)794-0368 or fill out the form below today.
Mini Tummy Tuck FAQs
Absolutely. A mini tummy tuck can be combined with breast surgery or other treatments. Dr. Schusterman can advise you on a personalized combination of procedures to create a mommy makeover customized for you. After you’ve recovered from your mini tummy tuck, you might consider a facial procedure or non-surgical skin treatments.
A tummy tuck is considered elective surgery and is generally not covered under health insurance. Check with your insurance provider about your options.
All surgery carries some risk, such as the risks from anesthesia, excessive bleeding, or infection, but with proper attention to surgical protocols and your own adherence to care instructions during your recovery, these risks are small. Dr. Schusterman will review the risks of the procedure as part of your consultation. He wants his patients to understand both the benefits and risks of surgery before deciding to have a procedure.
Every procedure is different, and the cost of your mini tummy tuck will be clearly explained to you as part of your consultation, once the details of your surgery are known. No-interest financing is available through CareCredit or United Medical Credit. We do accept VISA, MasterCard, Discover, and American Express.