Tummy Tuck: Q&A

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Full Tummy Tuck or Mini for stretch marks and loose skin

I have 4 year old daughter. When I was pregnant I went from 115 lbs to 198 lbs... all in the belly!!! I have lost a lot of it and now, like the typical story, im left with stretch marks and loose skin... I am not too worried about stretch marks but desire that flat, tight mid section I once had. Does it seem I need a full or would a mini suffice? I get worried when i see photos of fulls and the stories. A mini seems more skin tightening, but i just dont know if i need more? any thoughts?

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23 Doctor Answers | Asked by curlygurly in Indiana

Doctor Answers (23)
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Full vs mini abdominoplasty

There is NO WAY a mini will get you the result you are looking for. You need a full abdominoplasty. If your surgeon tells you a mini might work, I honestly would get a second opinion. Good luck. P.S. Make sure you are really done with babies before you have surgery. Lisa Lynn Sowder, M.D.

Treatment for your stretch marks and loose skin

In your case, a mini tummy tuck would only give you mini improvements. I would recommend a full tummy tuck to treat your anatomy and based on a physical exam, I would likely recommend adjunctive liposuction of your waist to smooth out your love handles. Please visit with an ASPS member board certified plastic surgeon to learn more about your options.

Full tummy tuck or mini tummy tuck for stretch marks

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 as every patient is unique so is every tummy tuck. In our initial consult we spent a great deal of time talking to the patients understand what their goals are, the areas that they would most like to address as this helps us create a surgical plan that will provide the best result possible. We very commonly work with... more

Mini operations often get mini results

I am a huge proponent of minimally invasive surgery, when it is appropriate. However, when it comes to abdominal contouring following pregnancy, I find that a "mini tummy tuck" is appropriate for only a small subset of patients. When patients present to me for revision of a mini tummy tuck, the complaint is frequently the same: "I have this bulge above my belly button that was never there before." With a mini tummy tuck, most surgeons do not tighten the abdominal wall... more

Full or Mini Tummy Tuck for Stretch Marks and Loose Skin

Although the two procedures, tummy tuck and mini tummy tuck, have a similar name, they treat different conditions. A mini tummy tuck is best suited for women who don't have stretch marks or saggy skin, but have a pouch below the belly button. The mini is not a good skin tightening procedure, it really doesn't take care of stretch marks, and it does not take care of any muscle wall separation above the belly button. The tummy tuck addresses the three components of your... more

Only a full tummy tuck will correct the upper abdomen

The differences between a full and mini tummy tuck can be confusing. Both will allow a full repair of the sit-up muscles in the abdomen, and correct the lower skin laxity, however the full tummy tuck will release the skin at the belly button and allow correction of the laxity above and round the center of the abdomen. The loss of elasticity you show in your photos makes the full tummy tuck the better procedure. Best of luck, peterejohnsonmd

Big problems need big procedures

In looking at your photos, my first reaction is that you have quite a big problem which in my experience would require a big procedure, that is a full tummy tuck, as the other physicians have stated. I cannot tell how much of a bulge you have, so I would say that it is likely you would need your muscle tightened.

Full Tummy Tuck or Mini for stretch marks and loose skin

Thanks for all the posted photos. My choice is a FULL TUMMY TUCK. As most of the other posters state. From MIAMI Dr. Darryl j. Blinski

Full vs mini tummy tuck: your surgeon will advise

Although the pictures are very helpful, a personal examination is really going to be what decides the best option. In the leaning forward view, there appears to be enough laxity to indicate a full tummy tuck is best, but in the upright view (arms raised?) it appears that you have a high belly button and sometimes there is a version of a mini that works well. This involves moving the umbi down about an inch.

Full tummy tuck vs mini-tummy tuck

Looking at your photographs, it looks like you have a lot of skin laxity that would make a full tummy tuck probably the better choice.

Steven Wallach, MD

12 reviews

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Mini Does Not Involve More Skin Tightening than Full TT

I definitely think that you would be happier with the results of a full tummy tuck rather than a mini. I'm not sure where you got the idea that a miniabdominoplasty would result in more skin tightening than a full tummy tuck. However, this is not the case and the opposite is true. You appear to be a good candidate for a full tummy tuck from your photo assuming that you are in good health.

Full versus Mini Abdominoplasty

Thank you for sharing your pictures to help better understand your concern. I believe a mini tummy tuck will not address your upper abdominal bulge and will leave you with loose skin above your belly button. In order to obtain a youthful hourglass figure, you should consider a full abdominoplasty with muscle plication. It is important to consult with 3 board certified plastic surgeons to help you make the most educated decision. I would not let photos... more

Tummy tuck - full not mini!

I agree that you should have a full tummy tuck or abdominoplasty. Mini tummy tuck has gotten popular but in general, mini tuck = mini results. It is impossible to get a sense of soft tissue laxity from photos alone, but you will be much happier with a full tummy tuck. The plication is complete in the upper and lower abdomen and this affects appearance in clothing and gives a better "straight line" appearance from the side. The mini tuck often leaves a bit of... more

Full Tummy Tuck or Mini?

This is a great question, and one that I am glad you are asking before you have the procedure performed. There are multiple ways to improve the abdominal area after weight loss, pregnancy, or just aging, and if you ask 5 surgeons you will get 4 answers. This is because there is no one perfect procedure for everyone. The surgery must be tailored to achieve the best results for your specific body type and problem. That said, anything short of a full tummy tuck with... more

Erez Sternberg, MD

10 reviews

Jacksonville Plastic Surgeon

Mini or full tummy tuck?

Thank you for the question and pictures. I think you will be much better off with the standard 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 wall musculature... more

Mini tummy tuck

I think mini tummy tucks are excellent, for the right candidate. It just doens't seem that you are a great candidate for it. You wil very likely end up wishing you had done the full tuck so that your skin flap will be nice and snug when you sit or crouch down. Best wishes,

Full vs mini

After viewing your photos i think the best procedure for you would be a full tummy tuck and I would tighten your abdominal muscle which is common after multiple pregnancies.

Full tummy tuck to lose stretch marks and loose skin.

Judging from your pictures, due to weight loss, you have poor skin elasticity resulting in the observed upper abdominal skin laxity. You will benefit from a full tummy tuck. see video

Otto Joseph Placik, MD

32 reviews

Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Mini Tummy Tuck or Full Abdominoplasty?

Most patients want to keep the scars as small as possible, so I understand your dilemma. The truth is that a full abdominoplasty or tummy tuck will always give a much better result than a mini tummy tuck. You have three factors that cannot be properly addressed with a mini abdominoplasty: Excess abdominal skin Diastasis of the recti (separation of the rectus abdominus muscles) Stretch marks A full abdominoplasty will address all three. From El Paso. more

Shall I have a Mini Tummy Tuck or a Full Tummy TucK?

Regarding: "Full Tummy Tuck or Mini for stretch marks and loose skin I have 4 year old daughter. When I was pregnant I went from 115 lbs to 198 lbs... all in the belly!!! I have lost a lot of it and now, like the typical story, im left with stretch marks and loose skin... I am not too worried about stretch marks but desire that flat, tight mid section I once had. Does it seem I need a full or would a mini suffice? I get worried when i see photos of fulls and the stories. A mini seems... more

Why you need a regular tummy tuck and not a mini tummy tuck

Dear Curlygurly, Here are the reasons why you need a regular (full) tummy tuck and NOT a mini tummy tuck: You have too much loose abdominal skin: a mini tummy tuck uses a small incision (similar to a C-section incision). If you have a significant amount of excess skin, it is just not possible to remove what is needed through a short incision. Therefore, the short incision limits the amount of skin that can be removed. You have loose skin above the abdomen (I can... more

Full tummy tuck almost always and certainly for you

A properly applied mini tummy tuck is a rather rare operation because your abdomen above the umbilicus should be basically perfect with no muscle laxity or skin excess. This is very rare and virtually all patients need a full TT for the best results. You too :)

Tummy Tuck, Abdominoplasty,liposuction

Absolutely, a full tummy tuck. You will be very disappointed with a mini, you have to much loose skin. If you have the mini and not happy you can not convert to a full. The belly button may die if the belly button was cut during the mini, which is most commonly performed. see video