A mini tummy tuck (mini abdominoplasty) removes loose skin below the belly button only. A full tummy tuck (full abdominoplasty) treats the whole abdominal wall above and below the navel, repositions the belly button and can repair separated abdominal muscles. So when you compare a mini tummy tuck vs full tummy tuck, the real question is not how much surgery you would like. It is where your loose skin sits and whether your abdominal muscles have separated.
This guide compares the four main types of abdominoplasty: mini, full, extended and fleur-de-lis. You will see how the incisions, scars, belly button changes and recovery differ, and how a Specialist Plastic Surgeon works out which one fits your body.
Mini, full, extended and fleur-de-lis abdominoplasty compared
The four types of abdominoplasty differ mainly in how much of the abdomen they treat. That, in turn, shapes the scar and the recovery.
| Procedure | Area treated | Belly button repositioned? | Muscle repair possible? | Typical scar | Typical recovery |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mini abdominoplasty | Below the navel | Usually no | Limited, lower abdomen only | Short, low on the abdomen | Shortest |
| Full abdominoplasty | Above and below the navel | Yes | Yes, full length | Hip to hip, plus around navel | Moderate |
| Extended abdominoplasty | Abdomen, hips and flanks | Yes | Yes | Hip to hip, onto the flanks | Longer |
| Fleur-de-lis abdominoplasty | Abdomen, side to side and top to bottom | Yes | Yes | Horizontal plus vertical midline | Longest |
This table is a general guide only. Your own surgical plan depends on your examination.
What is a mini abdominoplasty?
A mini abdominoplasty (mini tummy tuck) removes a small amount of loose skin and fat from below the belly button through a shorter incision. The belly button usually stays exactly where it is.
The scar sits low on the abdomen, above the pubic area. Liposuction is sometimes added at the same time to refine the shape of the lower tummy or waist.
Who a mini abdominoplasty suits
A mini abdominoplasty may suit you if:
- loose skin or a small overhang sits only below the navel
- the skin above your navel is firm with good tone
- you have little or no separation of the abdominal muscles
- your weight is stable and close to your usual healthy weight
- you are not planning another pregnancy
What a mini abdominoplasty will not do
Being clear about this up front saves time and disappointment. A mini abdominoplasty:
- will not tighten loose or crepey skin above the belly button
- cannot repair muscle separation that extends above the belly button
- is not a weight-loss procedure
- will not remove stretch marks that sit outside the small area of skin being removed
If a mini is chosen when your anatomy really needs a full procedure, the result can look unbalanced: a flatter lower tummy with a bulge that remains above it.
What is a full abdominoplasty?
A full abdominoplasty removes loose skin and fat from above and below the belly button through a hip-to-hip incision placed low on the abdomen. The belly button stays attached to the abdominal wall and is brought out through a new opening in the tightened skin.
Because the whole abdominal wall is exposed, the separated muscles can be repaired along their full length, from below the breastbone to the pubic bone.
Who a full abdominoplasty suits
A full abdominoplasty may suit you if:
- you have loose skin both above and below the navel
- your tummy bulges because the abdominal muscles have separated, often after pregnancy
- you have an overhang of skin after moderate weight loss
- you have stretch marks below the navel on skin that could be removed
- your weight is stable and you are not planning another pregnancy
healthdirect notes that surgeons usually ask for a stable weight before abdominoplasty, and that it may be wise to delay surgery if you are planning a pregnancy. Some women combine a full abdominoplasty with breast surgery; see breast and abdominal surgery (postpartum surgery).
Repairing separated abdominal muscles (rectus diastasis)
During pregnancy, the two vertical “six-pack” muscles (rectus abdominis) can be pushed apart, stretching the tissue between them. This is called rectus diastasis. In a full abdominoplasty, the surgeon can stitch the firm layer covering these muscles (the fascia) back together down the midline.
This muscle repair is one of the main reasons recovery after a full abdominoplasty takes longer and feels tighter than recovery after a mini.
Is a full abdominoplasty covered by Medicare?
Medicare does not cover abdominoplasty done for cosmetic reasons, but it may contribute in specific medical situations. MBS item 30175 covers a radical abdominoplasty with muscle repair and belly button transposition for pregnancy-related rectus diastasis of at least 3 cm on imaging, when strict criteria are met, including documented symptoms and a trial of physiotherapy. MBS item 30177 may apply after significant weight loss when other strict criteria are met. Both items describe a full (radical) abdominoplasty, so a mini abdominoplasty does not qualify. Our article on whether abdominoplasty is covered by Medicare explains more.
Extended and fleur-de-lis abdominoplasty
Extended and fleur-de-lis abdominoplasty are used when loose skin goes beyond the front of the abdomen, most often after major weight loss. Both involve longer scars and a longer recovery than a full abdominoplasty.
Extended abdominoplasty
An extended abdominoplasty follows the same steps as a full abdominoplasty, but the incision continues around the hips towards the flanks. This lets the surgeon remove loose skin and fat from the sides as well as the front. It helps where a standard hip-to-hip incision would leave “dog ears”, which are small puckers of skin at each end of the scar.
An extended abdominoplasty is commonly considered after significant weight loss, whether through bariatric surgery or lifestyle change. It may also suit people whose loose skin naturally wraps around the sides after pregnancy. Where loose skin continues right around the lower back, a circumferential procedure such as a lower body lift may be discussed instead. Recovery generally takes longer than after a full abdominoplasty, simply because more tissue is treated.
Fleur-de-lis abdominoplasty
A fleur-de-lis abdominoplasty combines the usual low horizontal incision with a vertical incision up the middle of the abdomen. Together they form an upside-down “T”, a little like the fleur-de-lis symbol it is named after.
The vertical incision allows loose skin to be removed from side to side, which a horizontal incision alone cannot do. That matters after massive weight loss, when skin is loose in both directions and the waist can still look wide or folded after a standard tummy tuck. The trade-off is an extra vertical scar that is harder to hide, and healing can be slower where the two incisions meet. It is almost always a procedure for people who have lost a large amount of weight. You can read more about post weight loss surgery.
What happens to the belly button in each procedure?
In a full, extended or fleur-de-lis abdominoplasty, the belly button stays attached to the abdominal wall and is brought out through a new opening in the skin. In a mini abdominoplasty, it is usually left untouched.
The medical term is umbilical transposition. The belly button itself does not move; the skin around it is drawn down over it, and a new opening is made so it sits in a natural position. This leaves a small scar around the belly button.
In a mini abdominoplasty, only the skin below the navel is tightened. Removing too much lower skin would drag the belly button downwards, which is one reason the amount that can be removed in a mini is limited.
How the scars differ
Every abdominoplasty leaves a permanent scar. As a rule, the more loose skin that needs removing, the longer the scar, and that longer scar is the trade-off for a flatter contour.
- Mini abdominoplasty: the shortest horizontal scar, low above the pubic area.
- Full abdominoplasty: a longer hip-to-hip scar, plus a scar around the belly button.
- Extended abdominoplasty: a longer horizontal scar that continues onto the flanks.
- Fleur-de-lis abdominoplasty: a horizontal scar plus a vertical scar down the middle of the abdomen.
Horizontal scars are usually planned to sit low, so that underwear or swimwear may cover much of them. It can help to bring your preferred style along to your consultation. Scars are often red and raised at first and generally fade and flatten over 12 months or more, although everyone heals differently and some people form thickened scars. You can view examples in our gallery.
Where liposuction fits in
Liposuction removes fat. Abdominoplasty removes loose skin and can tighten muscle. They do different jobs, and they are often combined.
For example, liposuction of the flanks may be added to a tummy tuck to refine the waist. Our article on the difference between liposuction and abdominoplasty explains when each is used.
Recovery: mini versus full
A mini tummy tuck is generally less painful than a full tummy tuck, and recovery is usually shorter. That is mainly because muscle repair, the main source of discomfort after a full abdominoplasty, is usually not part of a mini.
| Recovery stage | Mini abdominoplasty | Full abdominoplasty |
|---|---|---|
| Hospital stay | Often day surgery or 1 night | Usually 1 or more nights |
| Walking slightly bent forward | Briefly, if at all | Common in the first 1 to 2 weeks |
| Time off desk-based work | Often around 1 to 2 weeks | Often around 2 to 3 weeks |
| Heavy lifting and strenuous exercise | Avoided for several weeks | Usually avoided for around 6 weeks |
These timeframes are a general guide for most patients, not a promise. Extended and fleur-de-lis procedures usually take longer again. Your own timeline depends on the procedure, how you heal and the type of work you do, and Dr Cope will guide you through each stage at your follow-up appointments.
Gentle walking soon after surgery is encouraged to help circulation, and a compression garment is commonly worn for several weeks. For practical advice, see our abdominoplasty recovery tips and our guide on how to sleep after abdominoplasty.
Risks and complications
All abdominoplasty carries risk, and the risk generally rises with the extent of surgery. A mini abdominoplasty usually carries fewer risks than a full or extended procedure, but it is still an operation performed under anaesthetic.
Possible risks include:
- bleeding, including a collection of blood under the skin (haematoma)
- infection
- a build-up of fluid under the skin (seroma)
- wound healing problems, particularly where the skin is under the most tension
- visible, thickened or uneven scars
- numbness of the lower abdominal skin, which often improves over months but may not fully recover
- blood clots in the legs (deep vein thrombosis) or lungs
- asymmetry or small puckers of skin at the ends of the scar
- the need for further surgery
- risks related to anaesthetic
Smoking raises the risk of wound healing problems. Dr Cope advises smokers to stop at least 6 weeks before surgery and to stay smoke-free during recovery. You can read more about surgery risks and complications.
How your surgeon decides which abdominoplasty you need
Your Specialist Plastic Surgeon decides which abdominoplasty suits you after examining your abdomen in person. It cannot be worked out reliably from photos online.
The assessment usually includes:
- examining your abdomen while you are standing and lying down
- a pinch test to see how much loose skin sits above and below the navel
- checking for muscle separation or a hernia, sometimes with an ultrasound
- assessing skin quality and stretch marks
- looking at existing scars, such as a caesarean scar
- your weight history and how stable your weight is
- whether you plan any future pregnancies
- your smoking status and general health
You can find out what to expect at your consultation. A referral from your GP is required, and a mandatory cooling-off period applies before cosmetic surgery. You may also wish to seek a second opinion before deciding.
Why choose Dr Cope for abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) in Sydney, North Shore (Mosman & Wahroonga) and Central Coast (Gosford)
Dr Charles Cope is a Specialist Plastic Surgeon who takes an ethical, patient-focused approach to care. His AHPRA registration number is MED0001146826, which you can check on the public register.
- Specialist Plastic Surgeon, AHPRA registration MED0001146826
- Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (FRACS)
- Member of the Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS)
- Member of the Australian Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (ASAPS)
- International member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons
Specialist Plastic Surgeons are the only specialty accredited by the Australian Medical Council (AMC) to perform cosmetic surgery (as well as reconstructive plastic surgery).
Dr Cope offers mini, full, extended and fleur-de-lis abdominoplasty, and he chooses the technique according to each patient’s anatomy and goals. Your consultation includes a full examination, a discussion of which type of abdominoplasty is suitable and why, and an honest explanation of the likely scar and recovery.
Patients from across Sydney, the North Shore (Mosman and Wahroonga) and Gosford on the Central Coast can see Dr Cope at three locations. He is also listed as a specialist with Sydney Adventist Hospital and Ramsay Health Care.
- Mosman: Level 1, 357 Military Rd, Mosman, Sydney NSW 2088 (Lower North Shore)
- Wahroonga: Suite 507, SAN Clinic, 185 Fox Valley Rd, Wahroonga, Sydney NSW 2076 (Upper North Shore)
- Gosford: 3 Hills St, Gosford NSW 2250 (Central Coast)
Verify Dr Cope’s credentials:
- Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons profile
- Australian Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons profile
- Board Certified profile
- healthdirect listing: Mosman
- healthdirect listing: Gosford
- Sydney Adventist Hospital profile
- Ramsay Health Care profile
- RealSelf profile
To book a consultation, call (02) 9307 2888 or book online. A GP referral is required. All surgery carries risk; please read about surgery risks and complications before making a decision.
Frequently asked questions about mini and full abdominoplasty
Should I get a mini or full tummy tuck?
A mini tummy tuck (mini abdominoplasty) suits people with loose skin only below the belly button and little or no muscle separation. A full tummy tuck (full abdominoplasty) suits loose skin above and below the navel, or separated abdominal muscles. A Specialist Plastic Surgeon makes the choice after a physical examination, not on preference alone.
Is a mini tummy tuck less painful than a full tummy tuck?
Yes, a mini tummy tuck is generally less painful than a full tummy tuck. A mini abdominoplasty uses a shorter incision, leaves the belly button in place and usually does not include muscle repair. Muscle repair is the main source of discomfort after a full abdominoplasty, so early recovery after a mini is usually easier.
How long does a mini tummy tuck last?
Mini tummy tuck results are generally long lasting if your weight stays stable and you do not have another pregnancy. Skin removed during a mini abdominoplasty does not grow back. Normal ageing continues, however, and significant weight gain or a future pregnancy can stretch the skin and change the result.
Does a mini abdominoplasty repair separated abdominal muscles?
Usually not. A mini abdominoplasty only gives access to the lower abdominal wall, so it cannot repair muscle separation (rectus diastasis) that extends above the belly button. Rectus diastasis running the full length of the abdomen generally needs a full abdominoplasty with muscle repair.
Can a mini abdominoplasty be upgraded to a full abdominoplasty later?
Yes, a mini abdominoplasty can be converted to a full abdominoplasty later, but it is better to have the right procedure first. Converting means a second anaesthetic, a second recovery and a longer final scar. A Specialist Plastic Surgeon can tell you at consultation if a mini abdominoplasty is unlikely to meet your goals.
If you are unsure which type of abdominoplasty suits you, you are welcome to book a consultation with Dr Cope in Mosman, Wahroonga or Gosford.
Further reading
- Abdominoplasty (Tummy Tuck)
- Abdominoplasty Recovery Tips
- What Is the Difference Between Liposuction and Abdominoplasty?
- Is Abdominoplasty Covered by Medicare
Medical references
- healthdirect Australia. Abdominoplasty (tummy tuck)
- healthdirect Australia. Deep vein thrombosis (DVT)
- Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons. Abdominoplasty
- Australian Government Department of Health. MBS Online: Item 30175 and Item 30177
- Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA). Cosmetic surgery hub
- Cleveland Clinic. Tummy tuck (abdominoplasty)
- American Society of Plastic Surgeons. Tummy tuck
- NHS. Tummy tuck (abdominoplasty)
Disclaimer
The information in this article is general in nature and is not a substitute for personalised medical advice. It does not replace a consultation with a qualified medical practitioner. Every patient is different, and the suitability, risks and outcomes of any procedure can only be assessed during an in-person consultation with a Specialist Plastic Surgeon. All surgical and invasive procedures carry risks; please read about surgery risks and complications before making a decision. Before proceeding, you may wish to seek a second opinion from another appropriately qualified health practitioner. A GP referral is required for consultation. Information was current at the time of publication (September 2026), and Medicare item details are subject to change; check MBS Online for current details.
