Tummy Tuck: Q&A

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Full Vs Mini Tummy Tuck with Liposuction for Mother with High Umbilicus?

I am a 33 year old mom with 2 kids and I don't plan to have any more kids. I have a low c-section scar and a high umbilicus or so I´ve been told. I've consulted 2 plastic surgeons and they told me the best option for me was Liposuction and a mini-abdominoplasty, but one other doctor told me I could benefit from a full Abdominoplasty, so now I'm confused. If you could please give me your opinions. Thank you very much!

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22 Doctor Answers | Asked by Penny Sheperd in Baltimore

Doctor Answers (22)
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Mini-Tummy Tuck vs. Tummy Tuck

From your pictures it appears that you have significant abdominal wall laxity and weakness. The only thing that is going to tighten your abdominal wall is a full tummy tuck or abdominoplasty. a mini-tummy tuck usually only removes lower abdominal skin and maybe only tightens the lower part of the abdomen. tummy tuck is possible even in a person with a tall torso or high umbilicus.

Tummy Tuck vs the Mini Tummy Tuck

You can always have a stronger result with a full tummy tuck vs a mini as it allows you access to tighten the muscles of the upper abdomen (above your belly button). Having said that, the real difference depends on amount of laxity you have in upper abdominal muscles. Based on the pictures, I do think you might be benefit from a full tummy tuck, but liposuction may reduce the upper abdominal fullness enough that you will be happy. Part of the physical exam that I cannot see... more

Mini Tummy Tuck or Full Tummy Tuck?

Without a physical exam, it is difficult to tell definitively whether a full tummy tuck of mini tummy tuck would best serve you. However, based on your photo and history of pregnancy, I believe you would probably be best served by a full tummy tuck. A full tummy tuck is the only surgery that will tighten you abdominal wall muscles above and below the umbilicus while removing the maximal amount of skin. You will likely get the best abdominal contour with a full tummy tuck.... more

Extended mini-tummy tuck with umbilical transection best for high belly button

Based on your description and your photographs, I would hate to perform a full tummy tuck on you as your scar would be rather high or you would have a lower scar with a vertical scar as well. In my opinion, you would do best with an extended mini-tummy tuck where the umbilicus is separated from the muscle and lowered an inch or so. This allows for near-complete muscle tightening, more skin removal than with a standard mini-tummy tuck and a lower scar than you would get with a full tummy tuck... more

Mini or full tummy tuck?

Thank you for the question and picture. Based on your picture and history I think you would best benefit from a full tummy tuck procedure. 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... more

Full vs. a Mini-TT

You are a good example of why a proper consultation with a complete exam is essential before a recommendation can be made. Your photos suggests a fair amount of muscular laxity that should be repaired for a optimal improvement to your shape. Accomplishing this requires floating your umbilicus lower or transposing it completely. Ask your Plastic Surgeon again to discuss the plan and the trade-offs of different approaches. Dr. Mosher

Full tummy tuck will give a better contour.

Although I cannot tell you for certain from your photo, it seems that you will obtain a better contour from a full tummy tuck. You have a laxity of fascia (muscle) in both upper and lower abdomen as well as excess skin and fat in upper and lower abdomen. Mini tummy tuck will only address tightening of muscle, skin, and fat in lower abdomen. It may also pull on your umbilicus inferiorly. You will have a better abdominal contour from full tummy tuck; however, you may or... more

Tummy tuck and position of umbilicus [with video]

Without an examination I cannot offer you a definitive answer. However, looking at your photos, I believe you are a good candidate for a full tummy tuck. Worse case scenario is that the skin cannot be removed up to your umbilicus, and you may end up with a small vertical scar in the center which meets the standard tummy tuck scar. I have had 4 patients like this and the vertical scar is usually an inch long and I have not had any patient complaint about this scar. Liposuction with... more

Full tummy tuck provides best improvement in contour

Most women who have had children will have some loose skin both above and below the umbilicus. A full tummy tuck provides better correction of the loose skin of the entire abdomen as well as tightening of the muscles of the abdominal wall. A mini tummy tuck only tightens skin and muscles below the umbilicus, thus providing less correction. Even though you umbilicus is high, your main scar can still be positioned low, at or below your c-section scar. You will likely have a small up and down... more

Mini- Tummy Tuck, in my opinion, is a poorly conceived operation... Here's why

Hi there- In a mini tummy tuck, only the muscles below your belly button are repaired. Initially, you may be very happy with this outcome... But as some time passes, I predict that you will experience a problem all too common with this operation. Because the muscles above your belly button have not been tightened, as time passes the upper abdomen stretches even more, until you feel you look worse than before you started. Think of a balloon- if you only squeeze one end, the other enlarges, right? more

Mini versus Full or something in between Tummy tuck?

SEE VIDEO BELOW:You are an excellent candidate for a muscle repair which generally requires a full tummy tuck. It is not possible from this picture to determine if you need a mini or full or something in between (called a "marriage" or midi abdominoplasty. This can only be determined by examination and occasionally will require a decision on the operating room table. see video

Otto Joseph Placik, MD

32 reviews

Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Tummy tuck vs liposuction depends on muscle tone

A full tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) provides your surgeon the opportunity to tighten the abdominal wall that is stretched from pregnancy. It is difficult to tell from a photo whether this is necessary, but the belly button location is not an issue. Liposuction with a mini tummy tuck will do a nice job of tightening the lower abdominal skin and improve the contour if the muscle layer is not causing your fullness. Often one can get nice improvement with liposuction alone and especially with... more

Full or mini tummy tuck, skin is the issue

A full tummy tuck generally involves a full transverse lower abdominal incision, trans-location of the umbilicus, and full repair of the sit-up muscles or diastasis. The full tummy tuck is very effective at removing the skin laxity and stretchmarks below the umbilicus, and some above as well. The belly button is not moved, it is left right where it started, and is brought through the tummy skin at the correct location, hence a scar line around the belly button as well. If the skin laxity... more

Tummy Tuck type

From the lateral view, your navel doesn't seem high to me. Your fascia seems lax and you have a moderate fat pad above the umbilicus. My inclination would be to recommend full tummy tuck.

Most women need full tummy tuck.

Hi. Mini tummy tuck is done too often, because it sounds less scary. You have loose muscles and excess skin above the belly button, so you need a full tummy tuck. It's usually worth it.

Full vs mini tummy tuck

Although a photo is no subsititution for a physical exam, I believe you have enough laxity to perform a formal or full tummy tuck. A frontal photo would also be helpful to see if there is hooding of skin above the umbilicus. This would confirm my opinion. Your skin is lax and your muscles are loose. You need to have the skin removed and the muscles tightened. In my opinion, a mini tummy tuck will leave loose skin and create a suboptimal result. In your case with a low c section scar and... more

The solution to myofascial laxity is a full tummy tuck

The position of your belly button is not a relevant concern. You've clearly got laxity of the structural layers of your abdominal wall (the fascia and muscles)- the only way to deal with this issue is a 'full' tummy tuck that included myofascial plication. Amongst women, there is great variation in the position of the belly button along the vertical axis. The belly button position does not come into play regarding the decision making in your case. Seek out a board certified plastic surgeon... more

Full tummy tuck

Once you have had children, you stretch out the abdominal muscles and skin. Your stomach pooches out and you will do best with a full tummy tuck. I am sure that I can get rid of all of the loose skin between your belly button and c-section scar and tighten your tummy with only a standard transverse tummy tuck incision.

Full vs Mini Tummy Tuck with Liposuction for mother with high umbilicus

A front view photo would be better. From the side view, I agree with Dr. Aldea that you need a FULL TUMMY TUCK. Best of luck.

Full vs Mini Tummy Tuck

The location of your umbilicus is not certain in the photo that you provided. There are advantages and disadvantages to both procedures as there are with all operations. From your lateral only photo, I think that you would probably get a nice result from either procedure, but I would want to assess your muscle before giving a definitive opinion.

Options for post-partum abdominal contouring

The reason there are multiple options are because there are various risks/side effects and different possible goals. If you examine your anatomy, there is probably some diastasis to your muscles, some disproportionate fat, some laxity or even excess of your skin, and some visible stretch marks. You also mention a high umbilicus (although you can't really see it in the photo, and a low C-section scar that implies a full abdominoplasty might be difficult,though not impossible. You have to ask... more

Robin T.W. Yuan, MD

4 reviews

Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

Perfect candidate for a Full Tummy Tuck

In my opinion, you are a perfect candidate for a full Tummy Tuck (Abdominoplasty). In the present photo you appear to have a stretched out abdominal wall. I would bet that if you bent over, as if jumping into a pool, and relaxed your tummy, you would demonstrate a "Hammock Sign" with a large pooch (currently hidden by keeping your muscles tight). A full tummy tuck WILL flatten your tummy to a flat / sunken youthful athletic look, narrow your waist, lift a slightly sagging Mons... more