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Should I Get a Full or Mini Tummy Tuck

asked 9 months ago by aaa3 in Anaheim, CA
Latest answer by Edward J. Domanskis, MD
Question viewed 697 times
Tags: stretch marks, muscle repair, c-section, comparison

I have had 3 pregnancies, 2 c-sections. I am 5'4 and weigh 120lbs. I want to get a tummy tuck to get rid of stretch marks and tighten the abdominal muscles. My concern is getting a natural looking belly button. Surgeons have told me I can go either way.

21 answers to Should I Get a Full or Mini Tummy Tuck

Full tummy tuck will give a better result

Based on your photos, a full tummy tuck will allow for greater skin removal and muscle tightening which will give you a better abdominal contour. This can be easily determined during an examination by a board certified plastic surgeon with you in a semi-flexed position. The key to getting a natural looking belly button is to create a depression at the belly buton so as to avoid a flat appearance and to create the suture line very deep at the base of the belly button so there isn't a... more

William Bruno, MD
Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

www.williambrunomd.com

Mini vs full abdominoplasty

I will say that you need a repair of the diastasis recti or muscle separation both above and below the umbilicus. I am not sure whether you have enough skin laxity above the umbilicus to pull all the way down to the pubic region, so you may end up with a vertical up and down scar in the midline down by the pubic region. if you do not have enough to pull all the way down, you could have a modified procedure. essentially a mini abdominoplasty for removal of some skin and tightening below... more

Rick Rosen, MD
Norwalk Plastic Surgeon

Full Tummy Tuck

In general full tummy tucks address more of the abdominal changes associated with pregnancy, weight loss, and aging. If one has excess skin above the umbilicus or belly button (from the pictures it appears that you do have loose tissue above the umbilicus as a result of your previous pregnancies and c-sections- however a full examination would be required to truly assess this) a full tummy tuck often provides a more complete result. Best wishes! more

Charles Perry, MD
Sacramento Plastic Surgeon

Mini versus Full

A full tummy tuck will benefit you most definitely. A mini tummy tuck would not correct anything above the belly button. In fact it is fairly rare that I do a mini tummy tuck on a patient. The full tummy tuck will give you a flat mid-section. It will tighten your muscles, remove fat and remove the skin from your belly button below. You will have a new incision around your belly button. Should you do a mini tummy tuck, sometimes the belly button can look pulled down and un natural. I would... more

Leo Lapuerta, MD
Houston Plastic Surgeon

Fully Tummy Tuck versus a Mini Tummy Tuck

Based on your photographs, a full abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) would tighten your rectus muscles and narrow your waist, which is what I would recommend. I would also add liposuction of your upper abdomen, waist and hips.

Donna Rich, MD
Houston Plastic Surgeon

Full abdominoplasty vs. mini-tuck

You would benefit from a full abdominoplasty. While the scar is longer, it will still sit below a bikini line. There is no question that you will have the best and most flattering result from a full tummy tuck.

Jeffrey Hartog, MD
Orlando Plastic Surgeon

Full tummy tuck is best

A mini TT is very rare and you aren't an ideal candidate for one because of how much skin laxity you have and the muscle laxity that extends above the belly button showing on your side photo. Good luck.

Richard P. Rand, MD, FACS
Seattle Plastic Surgeon

Full vs mini tummy tuck

Many patients think only of the length of the scar when assessing options for abdominal contouring. Much more important is the total result achieved. Restoring an appropriate "girdle effect of the abdominal muscles not only improves the flatness of abdomen, but actually adds support to the low back which is a common concurrent problemwith diastasis or separation of the abdominal muscles. A well-shaped waist can also be achieved with muscle repair that is not possible... more

Stanley G. Poulos, MD
Bay Area Plastic Surgeon

Mini vs full tummy tuck

In my experience, women who have had 2 or more pregnancies and have stretch marks in the lower abdomen benefit most from a full tummy-tuck. A mini tummy-tuck just doesn't remove enough skin for most women's needs. Properly done, the belly-button should look very natural and often times better than before surgery. Ask around and make sure you find a surgeon with a great reputation and lots of experience with the surgery.

Robert M. Jensen, MD
Medford Plastic Surgeon

A full abdominoplasty will produce a better result for you

A full abdominoplasty will remove the extra skin and fat below your belly button down to your pubis. It will also allow tightening of the rectus muscles from side to side, narrowing your waist between your rib cage and pelvis. It will leave a scar around the belly button. The Mini-abdominoplasty only removes a portion of the skin and fat between the belly button and the pubis. I does not give the access needed for a good muscle plication. However, it may avoid a... more

David N. Hing, MD
Ann Arbor Plastic Surgeon

Full or mini tummy tuck

I feel you can have a mini tummy tuck, one without an umbilical scar. Even with mini tummy tuck, the belly button can stay on the skin flap, and the muscle can be repaired from chest to pubis, and the belly button attached to the abdominal wall exactly where it started (not a float), then a trim of the skin excess (below the belly button). As none of us have seen you and discussed your concerns about the preiumbilical scar, I think yes, you can go either way. Best of luck... more

Peter E. Johnson, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Mini versus full tummy tuck

I think you will be very disappointed with a mini tummy tuck as it will not correct the loose skin above the umbilicus and it will not tighten the 'rectus diastasis' (loose muscle). You will do best and be happiest with a full tummy tuck. It will be worth it based on my 20 years of experience in practice. Best wishes

Louise Ferland, MD
Richmond Plastic Surgeon

Full or mini

You will not be happy with less than a full tummy yuck. you look like that you have far too much skin that needs to be resected

Jonathan Saunders, MD
Newark Plastic Surgeon

www.drjonathansaunders.com

Full vs mini tummy tuck

Thank you for your photos. You would benefit from a full tummy tuck. You exhibit looseness of skin and muscle above the belly button as well. If you have a mini TT, you will end up with a bulge in the upper abdomen. This is like a sausage shaped balloon. If you squeeeze one end the other end distends. Very few people in my opinion are good candidates for a mini TT. See a board certified plastic surgeon for a consultation/examination. Good luck.

George Marosan, MD
Bellevue Plastic Surgeon

Full tummy tuck or Mini tummy tuck

You will not be happy with the result of a mini-tummy tuck. The mini-tummy tuck effect is restricted to the area below your belly button. The full tummy tuck will extend to above your belly button. Your waist can be narrowed only with the full tummy tuck, and your loose post partum abdominal wall bulge extends to above the belly button. You want these areas flattened, and sexy. Check out our fitness tummy tuck, which adds surface contouring. more

Steve Laverson, MD
San Diego Plastic Surgeon

feelbeautiful.com

Full or limited tummy tuck?

Most of your skin laxity is in the lower abdomen. You have significant fascial laxity which allows the organs to push on your tummy from within and create a round profile to your abdomen. There really isn't too much skin overhanging your belly button. In my book you would be well suited for a modified tummy tuck. Modified in the sense that the lower abdominal incision would be shorter and that there would be no umbilical scar. The fascia would be tightened to give you a flatter tummy and... more

Jon F. Harrell, DO
Miami Plastic Surgeon

www.westonsurgery.com

Full or Mini Tummy Tuck

I would prefer to examine you in person but from what I see, I would recommend a full 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... more

Tom J. Pousti, MD
San Diego Plastic Surgeon

www.poustiplasticsurgery.com

Mini tuck

I think that you will be pleased with the result of a mini tuck - removal of excess skin from below the belly button using a transverse incision just above the mons pubis and tightening the rectus muscle. There is little to no fat so liposuction is not needed. This procedure can be performed under local anesthesia with sedation.

Joseph N. Togba, MD
Oakland Plastic Surgeon

Mini versus full tummy tuck,TT

A mini tummy tuck will give you that, a mini result! You are an excellent candidate for a full tummy tuck.

Edward J. Domanskis, MD
Orange County Plastic Surgeon

Should I Get a Full or Mini Tummy Tuck

In your case - a FULL Tummy Tuck. Hands down. Doing a mini Tummy Tuck in you would mean losing on a potential fantastic result in favor of a substandard result. A Full Tummy Tuck will flatten the tummy, narrow your waist (regaining a great hourglass figure), lift a sagging Mons pubis, lift and smooth the anterior thighs and remove the maximal amount of loose and damaged tummy skin (stretch marks etc). If you want a great belly button - pick a surgeon who is passionate about creating... more

Peter A. Aldea, MD
Memphis Plastic Surgeon

Full or Mini Tummy Tuck

Based on your photos and your history, I believe you are an ideal candidate for a full abdominoplasty. You have muscle looseness from the rib cage to the pubic bone. You have skin looseness over the entire abdominal wall, with significant loss of your waist. You also desire improvement of your umbilicus. All of these factors can be dramatically improved with a well designed tummy tuck. Make sure your surgeon has expertise, talent and lots of experience with performing... more