Mini Tummy Tuck Q&A
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Disappointed in the Results of Mini Tummy Tuck - looking for Advice

asked 1 year ago by 3/03 happymommyof3 in Eugene
Latest answer by Vivek Bansal, MD
Question viewed 1,214 times
Tags: female, loose skin, results, unhappy

I had a mini tummy tuck with lipo and the lower muscles tightned on March 3rd. I am 17 days post op and still wearing my compression garment. I was happy with my results right after surgery other than the swelling which I new would be temporary...but as the swelling has gone down, the skin has gotten loose. My surgeon told me at my 2 week appt. that as the swelling goes down even more, the skin may just get looser. This is not what I paid for! any advice?

17 answers to Disappointed in the Results of Mini Tummy Tuck - looking for Advice

+2

Mini tummy tuck result not enough

Mini tummy tucks are often disappointing if patients are expecting much more than a scar revision of a C-section. We perform very few in our practice.  Almost all women who need their fascia tightened up to the umbilicus also need it tightened up to the breast bone. For this reason, we perform this tightening in almost all women who have a mini tuck, and term this procedure the hybrid abdominoplasty (hybrid tummy tuck).
Brent Moelleken, MD

Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

www.drbrent.com

+2

Most patients do better with a full tummy tuck

While it's hard to really comment without seeing your before photos, what I tell my patients is that most women (not all, but most), especially those who have had kids, do better with a full tummy tuck.  The reason for this is that we can tighten the entire length of the muscles that have been stretched from pregnancy, and we can also remove more loose skin in most cases.  The only real downside is a slightly longer incision as well as an incision around the belly button, and I... more
Shahram Salemy, MD

Seattle Plastic Surgeon
+1

Mini Tummy Tuck

A mini TT is just that, a mini. Some need to have a full TT so more skin can be removed, and the tightness is greater. In addition, the muscle can be tightened in several locations if needed. The full TT is just more of a complete procedure. The mini is for those with small issues, and a good muscle.
Vivek Bansal, MD

Danville Plastic Surgeon
+1

Full or mini tummy tuck?

In my opinion, the mini tummy talk is an operation that produces very limited results and is very rarely indicated. It involves a shorter incision but does not address the majority of the abdominal wall issues present for most patients who present consultation. For example, the area of skin excised is quite small. The abdominal wall musculature is addressed below the umbilicus leaving the upper number wall potentially lax. The appearance of the umbilicus is not necessarily... more
Tom J. Pousti, MD

San Diego Plastic Surgeon
+1

Mini tightening commonly underperforms

Hello, Mini tummy tucks do much less than many women would like. I commonly recommend more surgery to the patient requesting a mini and do fewer of them than I have in the past. Best Regards, John Di Saia MD
John P. Di Saia, MD

Orange Plastic Surgeon
+1

Mini tummy tuck

There are only a few candidates who do well with a mini tummy tuck.   Most patients cannot get the results they desire without the undermining of skin and repositioning the belly button that is done with a full tummy tuck.  You could still do a full tummy tuck.  Discuss this with your surgeon.  Donald R Nunn MD Plastic Surgeon.
Donald Nunn, MD, DDS

Atlanta Plastic Surgeon
+1

More than one way to skin a tummy. Hybrid tummy tucks.

Conventional wisdom is to either pull just from the belly button down for a mini tummy tuck.  OR pull the entire abdomen down, make it really tight and create a new belly button - full tummy tuck.  But there is a hybrid surgery where we float the belly button down to a lower spot without creating a new one.  We get way more tightness but still use the mini incision.
Ritu Chopra, MD

Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon
+1

Mini-tummy tucks often yield mini-results

Very few women are great candidates for a mini-tummy tuck, which I why I rarely perform them. I do, however, do quite a few revisions of mini-tummy tucks which were done elsewhere and have resulted in unhappy patients.  A mini-tummy tuck can only treat skin below the belly button, not around it and not above it.  In your case, you appear to have significant skin laxity (looseness) above and below the belly button.  Your "before" pictures would be useful, but I... more
Carmen Kavali, MD

Atlanta Plastic Surgeon
+1

Mini-tummy tuck equals mini-result

As far as I am concerned, there are very limitied indications for a mini-tummy tuck. Mini tummy tucks work only on a small subset of patients who have a flat and firm upper abdomen, a lax lower abdomen, a relatively high naturally located belly button, and a relatively small amount of redundant skin in the lower abdomen. If a patient does not meet those criteria, then a mini-tummy tuck is the incorrect procedure. In my practice, most patients fall into one of two categories: 1) Good skin... more
Kevin Brenner, MD

Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon
+1

A mini tummy tuck may lead to "mini" results.

Before commenting too much, it is important to realize that you are early in your recovery and you may have some improvement over the next few months. A mini tummy tuck has a role in treating infra-umbilical skin excess. However, when the patient has significant laxity around the belly button (as you do in your photos) the results are often less than satisfying. To address this central skin excess, a full abdominoplasty with relocation of the belly button is recommended. I recommend... more
David Bogue, MD

Boca Raton Plastic Surgeon

www.drbogue.com

+1

Mini-tummy tuck result, what can be done for improvement

Based on your photos it appears you still have some loose skin and stretch marks of your lower abdominal area.  It's too early still to have anything surgical done, but after six months or so, if you're not happy you  may want to consider a revision to remove more skin. It appears as if you may have been suited to a full tummy tuck, but this is difficult to determine without examining you in person. Be patient for now and communicate with your plastic surgeon your... more
William Bruno, MD

Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon
+1

Mini Tummy tuck, Tummy tuck,abdominoplasty

Unfortunately, mini does not remove much skin as you have discovered. The smaller the incision, the less skin will be removed. You are still an excellent candidate for a full tummy tuck which should help by usually removing all the skin between the bely button and pubic hair area, narrowing the waist and flattening the stomach area.  Unfortunately, the recovery is longer but the results are definitely better. Check out my website for special pricing for our out of town patients as... more
Edward J. Domanskis, MD

Orange County Plastic Surgeon
+1

Mini-Tummy Tuck

It is really not possible to comment without seeing your before photos. You should wait about three months and then schedule an evaluation with your surgeon to discuss options at that point.
Christine Sullivan, MD

Columbus Plastic Surgeon
+1

Mini tummy tucks often produce mini results.

It is far to soon to be evaluating your results. Without seeing the nature of your problem before surgery it is unrealistic to suggest that a different procedure should have been performed. What is concerning is that you feel that you "did not get what you paid for". The procedure performed and you agreed to,  likely has produced the early changes that it was designed to achieve.  Only you and your surgeon can comment on what dialogue took place before... more
Mathew C. Mosher, MD

Vancouver Plastic Surgeon
+1

Mini Tummy Tuck

While you look good standing straight, there does appear to more skin laxity than you would like when you are leaning forward. I agree with the other commentators that for most moms a full abdominoplasty allows much better correction. Patients never complain about the somewhat longer tummy scar or the scar around the umbilicus that come with the full procedure. However, they will always complain if the tummy isn't tight enough when a more limited procedure has... more
Eric Pugash, MD

Vancouver Plastic Surgeon
+1

Disappointed in the Results of Mini Tummy Tuck - looking for Advice

Thanks for posting the series of after photos. I wish you would have posted your before photos, so we could compare. My guess is a very very conservative excision in your mini. If after a few more months you are still dissatisfied than a revision can be done. From MIAMI 
Darryl J. Blinski, MD

Miami Plastic Surgeon
+1

Mini tuck has mini results

A mini tuck has limited application and the results are a compromise. If you tighten it enough to make a big difference then the tug on the belly button can be unsightly. But if you don't then you have the situation where the tightness is not as much as we might like. Unfortunately a full tummy tuck is the only solution. If pain is an issue, then just do the skin part and not the muscle tightening. But that is also a compromise, since most women need muscle tightening too. more
Victor Au, MD

Chapel Hill Plastic Surgeon

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