Tummy Tuck: Q&A

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How Can I Tell if I Got a Full Tummy Tuck?

How can I tell if I got a full tummy tuck that I agreed to ? I never had to walk bent over, did not have much pain. I am 51 and had lost over 80 lbs. If swelling goes down -won't I have loose skin again? I am 2 weeks post op in these photos. Thank you.

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12 Doctor Answers | Asked by Gracey in USA

Doctor Answers (12)
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Early tummy tuck results

Based on the picture, it looks like you had a full tummy tuck (there is a scar around your belly button). Your concerns should be shared with your plastic surgeon as you can get the best answers about what was done directly from the source. But you should know that at 2 weeks after surgery, it is too early to judge the results. As hard as it is to wait, give it at least 3 month to allow for proper healing.

PHOTOS: limited results of tummy tuck following massive weight loss.

The first thing to do is ask your surgeon. Judging from your pictures, due to the massive weight loss, you have poor skin elasticity resulting in the observed upper abdominal skin laxity. Furthermore, if you underwent a combined breast lift and augmentation (your breasts appear larger) this can cause the upper abdomen to be pushed down and more lax due to the weight of the implants. The lack of pain may be related to the muscle repair or lack of such and that is difficult to assess from... more

Otto Joseph Placik, MD

32 reviews

Chicago Plastic Surgeon

You can tell if you had a Full Tummy Tuck if you have a scar around your belly button.

If you have a scar around your belly button then you have had a full tummy tuck. Your results seen in your photos seem to indicate that you did have a Full Tummy Tuck. It is impossible to tell from the photos whether or not you had a muscle repair. However it is very unlikely that the Doctor would do the surgery and not repair the muscle. Your result appears to be very nice.

Full Tummy Tuck

Thanks for the question. From the photographs provided it does appear that you did have a full abdominoplasty although it is not possible to tell whether or not you had a midline plication. In a patient with massive weight loss such as yourself who undergoes a tummy tuck, it is common to experience lateral abdominal skin laxity, especially if you did not undergo a fleur-de-lis abdominoplasty. Warmest Regards, Glenn Vallecillos, MD, FACS

Different types of abdominoplasty

Based on your scars and overall contour, it appears that your surgeon performed a full abdominoplasty, rather than a mini-abdominoplasty. It is impossible to tell if a plication of the muscle was done based on photos. That being said, the laxity that you feel is in the transverse direction (across), rather than vertical (up and down). This is indicative of inherent skin laxity which is very common after significant weight loss. The only way to tighten things in this direction is with... more

How to tell if you got a full tummy tuck

First, ask your surgeon, and think back to the preoperative discussion you had with him or her. Second, your scars do look like those of a full tummy tuck. Your skin QUANTITY changes with surgery, but your skin QUALITY will not change. You will always have some loose, pinchable skin.

Carmen Kavali, MD

11 reviews

Atlanta Plastic Surgeon

How to tell if you got a full tummy tuck

A tummy tuck is a safe and effective procedure to contour the abdomen, create a tight waist, and remove extra skin, fat, and stretch marks. In our practice, we feel that every patient is unique and so is every tummy tuck. During the consultation we spent a great deal of time discussing with the patient their concerns, their goals, and evaluating their body so that we can put this information to create a surgical plan that will help them meet their aesthetic goals. In our practice, we... more

How do I REALLY Know if I got the Full Tummy Tuck I paid for?

Regarding: "How Can I Tell if I Got a Full Tummy Tuck? How can I tell if I got a full tummy tuck that I agreed to ? I never had to walk bent over, did not have much pain. I am 51 and had lost over 80 lbs. If swelling goes down -won't I have loose skin again? I am 2 weeks post op in these photos. Thank you." There is NO doubt in my mind you had a Full Tummy Tuck. - the scarring around the "new" belly button implies it was moved up. - the absence of a... more

Weigth loss and tumm tuck

I would consider you a massive weight loss patient losing more than 80 lbs. Body contour procedures vary. It looks like you had a tummy tuck from your photos, but the pinch you display is accounting for the vertical pinch I call it that is the result of the entire midsection expanding just like a balloon. A vertical midline incision completing the fleur-de-lis might help.

Steven Wallach, MD

12 reviews

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Did I get a Full Tummy Tuck?

First, I would recommend speaking with your plastic surgeon and get the details of your procedure. Some times during your preoperative visit there is a lot of information to remember. The fact that you can still pinch the skin has more to do with it's elasticity. Based on the placement of your scaring with relation to your before pictures it does appear that you had a full tummy tuck. Maybe also try to attain a copy of your operative report. This report will show exactly what your... more

Did I actually have a tummy tuck?

I would agree that from the incisions it looks as if you had a full tummy tuck. I would also agree that following massive weight loss, you will probably never have a completely flat abdominal wall since the skin was most likely stretched so much before surgery. I would speak with your physician and see what they have to say regarding expectations. I hope that helps! see video

Lost skin elasticity after massive weight loss

You look like you had a full TT because you have an incision around the umbilicus. The fact that you can pinch skin just shows that after a certain age and after massive weight loss you will not have tight skin even after a tummy tuck. Wait 4 months and see what you feel then because you aren't fully healed yet but don't expect tight skin.