MILA
Minimally invasive lipoabdominoplasty: a modified tummy tuck, without the long scar.
The benefits of a tummy tuck, without the long scar
Many patients want the firmer, flatter abdomen that a tummy tuck gives, but are held back by the long scar and the recovery that comes with it. MILA was designed for exactly this patient. It addresses the same underlying problems as a tummy tuck, the separated muscles and a stubborn lower belly, but does so through a few small, hidden incisions rather than a long one across the abdomen.
For the right candidate, it offers much of what a tummy tuck achieves, with only small hidden scars and a quicker return to normal life.
It brings together, in a single operation, the parts of a tummy tuck that do not require removing skin:
Liposuction. Dr. Husain removes stubborn fat from the abdomen and waist using power-assisted (PAL) and ultrasound-assisted (VASER) techniques, refining the contour and harvesting fat for the next step.
Fat grafting. The harvested fat is purified and placed where it adds proportion, such as the hips, or into the breasts for added volume if that is part of your goal.
Abdominal wall repair. Working with Dr. Husain in the same operation, the general surgery team repairs the separated muscles and any hernia through small hidden incisions. This rebuilds the abdominal wall for core strength and a tighter waist.
Skin tightening. Helium-based (jPlasma) or radiofrequency (BodyTite) energy tightens the skin from within, so the abdomen stays smooth without the need to remove skin.
A minimally invasive lipoabdominoplasty
Two specialists, one operation
MILA is performed by two specialists working together. Dr. Husain carries out the liposuction, fat grafting, and skin tightening, and his general surgery colleagues perform the laparoscopic repair of the muscles and any hernias. The repair is more than cosmetic. Rebuilding the abdominal wall restores genuine core strength, and where a hernia is present, repairing it alongside the muscle separation is the more durable solution than treating either alone.
Where you sit on the scale
The right procedure depends on how much loose skin you have. MILA is the least invasive end of a scale, and at your consultation Dr. Husain will tell you what suits you best:
Minimal loose skin. MILA is likely the right fit. The muscles and any hernias are repaired and the contour refined, with no skin removed and no long scars.
A little more loose skin. A mini tummy tuck, which uses a short lower scar and still includes the full muscle repair.
Significant loose skin. A standard or extended tummy tuck, where removing the excess skin is necessary to achieve a firm, smooth result.
This clarity matters. MILA is an excellent procedure for the right person, but it cannot tighten significant loose skin, and Dr. Husain will not recommend it when a tummy tuck would serve you better.
Performed personally, as a team
Because no skin is removed, recovery is quicker than a full tummy tuck. You will be up and walking the same day. A compression garment supports the abdomen through the early weeks, and guided lymphatic massage begins early to settle swelling.
Dr. Husain follows an accelerated recovery programme, sees you at every follow up himself, and is always reachable. You will receive a detailed recovery guide, and your fee covers a comprehensive care package, not the operation alone.
A quicker recovery than a tummy tuck
Because no skin is removed, recovery is quicker than a full tummy tuck. You will be up and walking the same day. A compression garment supports the abdomen through the early weeks, and guided lymphatic massage begins early to settle swelling.
Dr. Husain follows an accelerated recovery programme, sees you at every follow up himself, and is always reachable. You will receive a detailed recovery guide, and your fee covers a comprehensive care package, not the operation alone.
A firmer core and a refined contour
The result is a flatter, firmer abdomen and a stronger core, achieved without a long scar. The muscle and hernia repair is structural and long lasting, and the contour refines as swelling settles over the following months. As with any abdominal repair, a stable weight protects the result, and once healed, core training builds on the strength the repair restores.
-
The difference is the skin. A tummy tuck removes loose skin through a long incision, alongside repairing the muscles. MILA does everything except the skin removal, repairing the muscles, any hernia, and refining the contour through small hidden incisions instead. That makes MILA ideal when there is little loose skin, and a tummy tuck the better choice when there is a lot.
-
When your weight is stable and you are at or close to where you want to be, since significant weight change afterwards can affect the result. If you are planning more pregnancies, it is usually best to wait, as pregnancy can stretch the muscle repair. Dr. Husain will help you judge the right timing at your consultation.
-
Yes. Repairing the separated muscles, the diastasis, and any hernia is central to MILA, not an optional extra. Doing both together rebuilds the abdominal wall, which restores core strength and is the more durable repair than treating a hernia on its own.
Frequently Asked Questions
-
MILA combines aesthetic and abdominal wall surgery, so it is done by two specialists in one operation. Dr. Husain performs the liposuction, fat grafting, and skin tightening, and his general surgery colleagues perform the muscle and hernia repair. You have the expertise of both, under a single
-
Yes. The fat removed during the liposuction can be purified and grafted where it adds proportion, such as the hips, or into the breasts if added volume there is part of your goal. This is discussed and planned with you beforehand.
-
The muscle and hernia repair in MILA is structural and durable. It is done through smaller incisions, but it rebuilds the abdominal wall just as a tummy tuck's repair does, and repairing the muscles and hernia together is the longer-lasting solution. A stable weight is what protects the result over time.
Book a consultation
Your consultation with Dr. Husain is a one to one conversation. He will examine you, explain where you sit on the scale from MILA to a full tummy tuck, and design a plan custom made for you.
RELATED PROCEDURES
The right choice where there is significant loose skin to remove; MILA and the tummy tuck sit on the same scale.
The harvest-and-transfer contouring that forms part of MILA, offered across the body in its own right.