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

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.

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14 Doctor Answers | Asked by Sandy in Oregon in Springfield, OR

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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

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

8 reviews

Nashville Plastic Surgeon

Mini tummy tuck vs full tummy tuck

Hello Sandy. Your abdomen seems to be in good shape based on your photograph, however, it's impossible to tell if you're a candidate for a mini tummy tuck. You would need to show us a lateral (side) photo to give us more information, and more importantly, you would need to be examined in person by a board certified plastic surgeon. Mini tummy tucks only treat the abdominal skin and muscles below the belly button, and most people who need a tummy tuck need a full tummy tuck. So I would... more

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.

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

12 reviews

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

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

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

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

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

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.