Tummy Tuck: Q&A

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Endoscopic Tummy Tuck - Surgery Through the Belly Button?

I just need a little help in the abdomen area but didn't want to be cut from hip to hip. Just wondering if they can tighten things up through the belly button or something like that? I can find very little information on an endoscopic tummy tuck. Is there such a thing

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abdomen technique

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15 Doctor Answers | Asked by beach bum in New Jersey

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Unlike Santa, Endoscopic Tummy Tucks do exist!

The endoscopic tummy tuck indeed exists. You probably can't find much about it because there are few patients for whom this is an effective procedure, and most of the patients suitable for this procedure are actually men. A standard tummy tuck removes and tightens skin, tightens muscle, and removes some fat. Liposuction only removes fat, leaving the muscle and skin unchanged. In fact, if the skin is loose and a lot of fat is removed, the skin can look looser after lipo. Endoscopic tummy... more

Endoscopic Tummy Tuck Disappointing If You Have Loose Skin

Thank you for your question. The Endoscopic Tummy Tuck is a great idea but not often used because it does not solve the most common problem which is loose skin and fat on the tummy. The Endoscopic Tummy Tuck is used to tighten loose muscles but will not remove or tighten loose skin. Since most patients seeking Tummy Tuck have loose skin the endoscopic approach is rarely used.

Hybrid tummy tuck(TM) vs endoscopic tummy tuck

When ladies have had very fit pregnancies, they often have only loose fascias and a separation of the muscles but no significant skin looseness. We have developed a tummy tuck called the hybrid tummy tuck(TM) which involves a C-section type incision in the very lower abdomen. When women have C-section scars, we use that incision. The equipment used for the hybrid tummy tuck is identical as for endoscopic tummy tucks, except that no additional incisions are necessary in the tummy. None. ... more

Dr. S’s 5 tips to know about an Endoscopic Tummy Tuck

1. An endoscopic tummy tuck can be a great way to tighten up the abdominal wall for a select group of patients that do not want tummy tuck incisions. 2. It is performed using an endoscope and camera like that which we use for a brow lift or your surgeon uses to take our a gall bladder 3. The resulting incision can be as short as 4” in... more

Endoscopic Tummy Tuck - Few Indications

Although possible, few patients are candidates as the only purpose would be to bring the separated muscles (rectus abdominus muscles) together. As no skin or fat is generally removed with this procedure it would result in minimal results and in most patients - unhappiness.

Limited incisions mean limited results

An endoscopic tummy tuck is a great solution for the very rare tummy tuck patient who has a small separation or loosening of the abdominal muscles, BUT DOES NOT have extra fat, and has no extra or loose skin. As most patients have more than one of these problems, they are better served with a mini tummy tuck. At this stage, the most important thing to do is to receive an evaluation by Board certified plastic surgeon so that they may evaluate you and determine what components of your... more

Endoscopic tummy tuck

Endoscopic tummy tuck is a procedure to tighten the abdominal muscles after abdominal wall laxity. Through a small incision, the muscles are brought together via stitches. in my practice, I have never seen anyone who has not needed more than muscle tightening. Almost everyone also needs removal of some skin and fat in the form of a mini- tummy tuck or a full tummy tuck.

Endoscopic tummy tuck

An endoscopic tummy tuck is performed through a few small incisions in the abdomen really only to tighten the muscles. I think this is really good for about 1% of patients. It will not tighten the skin.

Steven Wallach, MD

12 reviews

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Endoscopic Tummy Tuck

There are two major componenets to full Abdominoplasty 1. tightening the lax abdominal muscles 2. tightening the lax abdominal skin If the muscles need to be tightened then yes you can do that with the endoscope, you also have to release the skin otherwise the skin bunches together when the muscles are tightened. If you need skin tightening, then there is mini tummy tuck or a full tummy tuck that determination is done after examination. Remember the more limited the procedure is the more... more

Endoscopic Tummy Tuck

The reason you have not seen much about Endoscopic Tummy Tuck surgery is because it is rarely done. The ideal candidate for this procedure is the rare woman who has a muscle separation without skin excess and looseness (nor ugly stretch marks she wishes to exchange for a transverse scar). In these cases, only a muscle tightening (plication) is required and various methods and instruments were devised to enable this operation. The vast majority of post-pregnancy women DO have loose and or... more

Endoscopic tummy tuck has limited applications

A classic tummy tuck removes excess skin and fat and tightens lax muscles. If your problem is strictly limited to the muscle layer, an endoscopic tummy tuck may be the right choice. It tightens the muscle layer while limiting the scar. Excess skin is not addressed. It can be combined with liposuction if there is excess fat. This is not appropriate for the typical tummy tuck candidate, where there is lax abdominal wall skin. It is most commonly performed in men with significant rectus... more

Endoscopic Tummy Tuck while a great idea, doesn't tighten skin nor removes fat

I work with another surgeon in my practice who has a General Surgery practice and is always gung ho about doing things with a scope (he does a lot of laparoscopic surgeries). We have discussed the possibility of doing "endoscopic tummy tucks" but we believe that this is best reserved for patients who have muscles that have separated due to pregnancy or age -- called rectus diastasis. Sometimes, these patients (or their primary care doctors) think they have a ventral hernia. These... more

Endoscopic tummy tucks (abdominoplasty)

Yes. In fact there are several different types of endoscopic tummy tuck: Endocorporeal Endoscopic Tummy Tuck (laparoscopic technique) Subcutaneous Endoscopic Tmmy Tuck In the former the muscle is tightened from inside the peritoneal cavity whereas in the latter it is tightened beneath the skin, In both instances, minimal if any skin is removed and the vast majority of fullness is managed with aggressive liposuction. see video

Otto Joseph Placik, MD

32 reviews

Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Most think the endoscopic tummy tuck is not worth doing

Technically, an endoscopic tummy tuck exists, and I have done a few. It is done for people who really want to minimize the scar on the abdomen, and just want muscular tightening. From a surgical standpoint, the operation takes about the same time as a traditional tummy tuck, and therefore the price is about the same. From the patent's standpoint, the recovery period is the same for both operations. The muscular repair is the painful part of a normal tummy tuck that requires such a long... more

Endoscoping Tummy Tuck is okay, with limitations

Hello, Endoscopic tummy tuck indicates a tummy tuck through a small scar using special equipment. The only thing that can't really be done well this way is skin tightening. If the muscular repair is the most important part and a mild-moderate degree will do, then you can have one of these. Most patients benefit significantly from skin tightening so I have had little interest in doing these.