Tummy Tuck: Q&A

Ask a Question

Mini or Full Tummy Tuck? (photo)

I have 2 kids, I am 30. I am 5'7" and weight 154lb. I want some ideas. I want surgery but not sure if I want a full tuck. Is there such a thing as a mini tuck with umbilicoplasty? I don't think that my belly looks that bad, but I am not happy with it. Thanks

Tags:

age 25-34 5 ft 4 in to 5 ft 7 in after pregnancy 150-169 lbs

Comment on this

19 Doctor Answers | Asked by hpperkins in Knoxville, TN

Doctor Answers (19)
Community Comments (1)

Mini or Full Tummy Tuck? (photo)

Many of us have learned over the years that very few women are really good candidates for a Mini TT...We all tried it early in our practices and then had way too many patients come back unhappy, with a tight lower abdomen and then a really loose, bulging upper tummy and wondering why we didn't do a full TT!!! From the one view we have, I would suggest the full TT...You don't seem to fit that ideal Mini TT patient, and honestly, most do not...

Mini or Full Tummy Tuck?

Photos posted are TOOO close up to see complete abdomen. So you see the options: min TT, extended mini TT, Free Floating umbilical TT, Short scar full TT, Full TT. So many options available that ONLY IN OERSON examinations can allow you to fully understand these options.

Many options in abdominal contouring

You will need a full examination to determine if you are a good candidate for an abdominoplasty. There are many approaches to correcting the contour of the abdomen. Basically as plastic surgeons we evaluate 4 components of the abdominal bulge, skin, subcutaneous fat, muscle fascia laxity and intra-abdominal or visceral fat. The first three we can treat surgically. For instance, if your skin is firm and has good elasticity and you have minimal laxity of the fascia then... more

Tummy Tuck or Other

Unfortunately, even with the pictures it is impossible to advise you what you need to achieve your goals. To determine if an abdominoplasty would be advisable, we measure the excess skin above the umbilicus and determine if it is enough to stretch from the chest to the pubis. From the pictures, I would guess that you may not have enough. You also do not look like a candidate for a mini-tummy tuck either. It is possible that you could be a candidate for liposuction or Zerona™... more

Mini or Full Tummy Tuck

Although you do not have a picture showing the whole abdomen, you appear to have a very high belly button. You also appear to have insufficient skin to pull the belly button out without having a significant vertical scar. These are all technical items that need to be addressed in person. Find the plastic surgeon with ELITE credentials who performs hundreds of tummy tucks each year. Kenneth Hughes, MD Los Angeles, CA

Mini or Full Tummy Tuck

The choice of a mini or full tummy tuck should depend on the extent of loose skin and/or muscle on your abdominal wall. Excess fat can be reduced nicely with liposuction, but if there is a lot of loose skin, then some type of a tuck will be necessary. If the skin looseness is limited to the lower belly (below the belly button), then a mini tuck will suffice. This is less extensive with a shorter scar. However, if skin looseness extends above the belly button into... more

Mini or Full Tummy Tuck

I think a full tummy tuck is what you need. Mini tummy tucks are usually for specific regions in the lower abdomen. Please see a board certified Plastic Surgeon for consultation.

Mini vs. Full Tummy tuck

The decision for mini or full tummy tuck depends on the results you are looking for mostly. The main difference is a mini-tummy tuck has a slightly shorter scar (both scars are very low like a c-section scar) where the full abdominoplasty has a scar from hip to hip. The full abdominoplasty can take out all the skin, fat, and stretch marks from just above your belly button to your pubic bone and tighten your muscles all the way up to your rib cage. Personally, I think... more

Mini or Full Tummy Tuck? (photo)

Hard to tell for sure from front view only, but even this angle shows enough of a bulge that I believe mini-tummy tuck will prove disappointing. Full tummy tuck flattens abdomen both above and below belly button, narrows waist (although yours is already nicely shaped), and removes more skin than mini-tummy tuck. The result is more natural and proportionate from a full tummy tuck, in my opinion. Mini-tummy tuck reserved for those with flat, tight abdominal wall above belly... more

Full vs. Mini TT

By your photos, you will need a full tt because the abdominal wall weakness appears to extend above the umbilicus. A mini tt only tightens the muscle layer below the umbilicus, and does not change the umbilicus. If you do a mini, throw in an umbilicoplasty, there really is no reason not to go for the full tt.

Full Tummy Tuck Offers Better Result

Given the fullness of your abdomen, a full tummy tuck with produce a better result...but at the price of a longer and higher positioned scar. It would be important that you see the location of the final scar to help you make a decision. You could liposuction done on the entire abdomen and then a mini-tummy tuck done at the same time...but the result would be the same as a full tummy tuck just a lower and shorter scar. By definition a mini-tummy tuck doe not change the shape of the belly button. more

Really you need a mini TT plus ultrasonic lypo/ tu requieres una mini TT mas lipo ultrasonica

You are so young and not excessive overweight but your umbilicus is preety hy so it is not sage to realize a complete TT because the thigtness would become excessive, my council it is to realize a mini TT plus an ultrasonic lypo so the results will be quite satisfactory by both sides. tu eres joven y tu sobrepeso no es excesivo pero tienes el ombligo bastante alto por lo tanto no te convendria un TT completo porque quedaria todo bastante tenso, es mejor realizar al mismo... more

Mini or full TT

To make any kind of assessment, I'd need to see photos of the full abdomen, in particular the area above the umbilicus. If your problems are below the umbilicus, then a mini or modified tuck might work; otherwise, you would need the full TT.

Full Tummy Tuck vs Mini Tummy Tuck

In most cases women who have had children would benefit more from a full tummy tuck. A full tummy tuck improves the entire midsection. A mini tummy tuck would only improved the area below the belly button. I think in your situation, you would achieve a better result with a full tummy tuck. I recommend consulting with a board certified plastic surgeon for an examination and determine which procedure would be best for you.

Go for a consultation

With those photos you need to see a board certified plastic surgeon. I don't believe the weight you state -- I think you weigh more and can benefit from a diet and the have the tummy reevaluated to see if you can get all the excess skin removed. I don't like mini tummy tucks, I don't think they get a good result unless you have only a minor deformity.

Mini Tummy Tucks candidates are rare

Because it only deals with the lower abdomen, a mini TT is a rare operation is int properly selected post pregnancy abdomen. Also, there is no such thing as an umbilicoplasty as you might be imagining.

Mini tummy Tuck is almost never indicated.

Most "mini" operations are poor choices. The mini tummy tuck deals only with abdominal issues below the navel. Almost always entire abdomen is part of the problem.

Full tummy tuck?

From what I can see in the photos I think you would get the best result from a full tummy tuck. It looks like you have enough loose skin above your belly button to stretch nearly all the way down to the bottom. Your situation really needs an exam to better guide you. Good luck.

Mini or Full Tummy Tuck?

Not enough info here. To answer properly, a view of the whole abdomen is needed. I can't tell much about the upper abdomen from these photos. Very few patients are candidates for a mini-TT. The problem must be limited to the abdomen below the navel, and that is seldom the case, and does not appear to be the case here. Consider reposting with more complete photos. All the best.