Mini Tummy Tuck Q&A
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Am I a Good Candidate for a Mini- Tummy Tuck? (photo)

asked 7 months ago by Sandy in Oregon in Springfield, OR
Latest answer by Laurie Casas, MD
Question viewed 424 times
Tags: candidate

I've had 2 children and my stomach was very tight before then. I'm a fitness instructor so i'm in shape my body fat is in the normal and my weight is fine, i just have extra skin that hangs.

13 answers to Am I a Good Candidate for a Mini- Tummy Tuck? (photo)

+2

Full or Mini Tummy Tuck

In my opinion, a true mini tummy tuck with a short scar will not work for you. The more loose skin that is present and the higher up on your abdomen the looseness extends, the longer the incision necessary to achieve a flat tummy. This is true no matter if muscle tightening is necessary or not. In your photos, you have skin overhang extending out farther than the length of a traditional mini tummy tuck scar. If you try to shorten the scar length in your situation,... more
Donald Griffin, MD

Nashville Plastic Surgeon
+1

Mini tummy tuck is a good operation for the right patient.

It is impossible to know if you are a good candidate for a mini tummy tuck by your photo. I typically only offer mini tummy tucks to patients who have good quality upper abdominal skin that is not lax and when all the skinn laxity is in the lower half of the abdomen. a good test is to bend at the waist and see if you have a roll of skin that forms above your waist.
Laurie Casas, MD

Chicago Plastic Surgeon
+1

Mini tummy tuck

While you are thin and you have a pannus hanging you also have lose skin around the umbilicus. I am not a big fan of mini tummy tucks because most patients require tightening of the muscles above and below the umbilicus and are usually also botherd by lose skin above the umbilicus. These are all best treated by a full tummy tuck.
Steven Wallach, MD

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon
+1

Mini Tummy-Tuck with Liposuction can be a Great Option

A mini tummy-tuck can be a great option for the right patient. Unfortunately, the techniques for mini tummy tuck can vary greatly depending on the surgeon, so it is important to understand which technique your plastic surgeon is recommending. A mini tummy-tuck is usually best for patients who do not require repair of the abdominal muscles, which may be appropriate for you. You can determine this for yourself by laying on your back, feeling your upper abdomen while doing a... more
Steven L. Ringler, MD

Grand Rapids Plastic Surgeon
+1

Am I a Good Candidate for a Mini- Tummy Tuck? (photo)

The differences between the mini-tummy tuck and the full abdominoplasty, in terms of scars, are a slightly longer lower abdominal scar and a scar around the umbilicus with the full procedure. In my experience patients are much more concerned about scars before surgery, whereas after surgery they are much more focused on having achieved the best possible correction. I don't believe that many patients are ideally suited for mini-abdominoplasty. There is truth to the statement... more
Eric Pugash, MD

Vancouver Plastic Surgeon
+1

Mini or Full Tummy Tuck?

Thank you for the photo. You are no doubt in very good shape as a fitness instructor. I believe the best result for you will be a full Tummy Tuck. It will allow the abdominal muscles to be tightened from pregnancy and result in a tight, "six pack" appearance to your abdomen. I always include liposuction of the hips and around to the back of the waistline(flanks) to contour the whole waist. The belly button can be made to look very natural. The scar, while longer than a Mini... more
James A. Hoffman, MD

Saint Paul Plastic Surgeon
+1

Full Tummy tuck vs. an extended mini-tuck

Thank you for your question and photo. It is impossible to give you a definitive opinion without a careful examination. However, based on the picture and the information you provided, I believe that the best procedure for you is probably an extended mini-tummy tuck. It appears that you don't have a lot of excess skin above your umbilicus, therefore a full tuck will leave you with either a high scar or a lower transverse scar along with a vertical scar in the mid line. You do appear... more
James McMahan, MD

Columbus Plastic Surgeon
+1

Mini v. Full Tummy Tuck

A mini tummy tuck takes out half the skin of the lower abdomen and allows repositioning of muscles in the lower half of your abdomen. The belly button is lowered some and is more vertical. If you choose the smaller procedure you should also have liposuction of the upper abdomen and hips for a better contour. A full tummy tuck will give you a tighter result and better definition of your waist. Find a good plastic surgeon who can show you their results with each type of procedure to help... more
Mary Lee Peters, MD

Seattle Plastic Surgeon

www.maryleepetersmd.com

+1

Am I a Good Candidate for a Mini- Tummy Tuck? (photo)

Better an in person evaluation from a boarded PS in your area. I think you are real borderline for a mini TT vs full TT. It depends on your goals and results you expect.
Darryl J. Blinski, MD

Miami Plastic Surgeon
+1

Mini vs full Tummy Tuck

There is no quick answer. In general if all the skin from just above the belly button can be pulled down to the top of the pubic area (below the hairline) a full may be better. On the other hand if the loose skin is primarily below the belly button and less aggressive tightening is desired (less recovery and often less cost) a mini-tuck may be desired. A surgeon who is comfortable with both approaches can give you the pro's and con's in your particular case. more
Glenn M. Davis, MD

Raleigh-Durham Plastic Surgeon
+1

Maybe?

I would say it depends on your goals. Your are not the typcial "ideal" patient for a mini tummy tuck, but most of the excess skin you have is below the belly button. It looks like you have a little excess fat above the belly button with some loose, but not hanging skin. Without a lateral view, I cannot tell how much laxity there is in the muscles of your abdominal wall, but I expect not much given that you are a fitness instructor. The question is "why... more
Daniel Sherick, MD

Ann Arbor Plastic Surgeon
+1

Is A Mini-Tummy Tuck Right For Me?

Dear Sandy, Because of the excess amount of skin on your abdomen, a mini-tummy tuck will not adequately address your concerns. When patients have loose skin extending above the navel, a full abdominoplasty is required. A full abdominoplasty will release the navel from the skin and allow the plastic surgeon to re-drape the abdominal tissues to obtain the optimal aesthetic result. A new opening is made for the belly button. While the incision is longer and... more
Herluf G. Lund, Jr, MD

Saint Louis Plastic Surgeon
+1

Mini or full tummy tuck?

Thank you for the question and picture. You should be congratulated on your level of fitness. Unfortunately, you are not a good candidate for a mini tummy tuck surgery. Be careful- unless the correct diagnosis and treatment plan is designed you may be dissatisfied with the end results of your surgery. In my opinion, the mini tummy talk is an operation that produces very limited results and is very rarely indicated. It involves a... more
Tom J. Pousti, MD

San Diego Plastic Surgeon

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