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How Much of a Limiting Factor is Very Little Loose Skin Above the Belly Button in Having a Full Tummy Tuck?

asked 8 months ago by kricket88 in Canada
Latest answer by Tom J. Pousti, MD
Question viewed 194 times
Tags: belly button, female, candidate

Hello, my plastic surgeon said that he would be hesitant to do a full tummy tuck on me because my skin is quite taut above the belly button and the only real loose skin is below the belly button. He feels that I would end up with a scar that would be higher than desired and/or likely a vertical scar as he doubts he would be able to pull the belly button hole down far enough to have a nice, low scar. He feels that a mini will be adequate for me. What circumstances dictate a mini vs full?

7 answers to How Much of a Limiting Factor is Very Little Loose Skin Above the Belly Button in Having a Full Tummy Tuck?

Mini or full tummy tuck?

Thank you for the question and pictures. The plastic surgeon you have seen has brought up some valid concerns in regards to positioning of the abdominoplasty incision and the potential need for a short vertical scar. However, having said that, I think you will likely be an excellent candidate for 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... more

Tom J. Pousti, MD
San Diego Plastic Surgeon

www.poustiplasticsurgery.com

Mini vs. Full abdominoplasty

Thank you for submitting pictures with your question. The pictures suggest you need plication of your rectus muscles in the mid line (Diastasis repair) to tighten your belly. Mini tummy tucks are usually the exception rather than the rule. Whenever you have loose skin folds ("Hooding") over the umbilicus you are better served with a (full) abdominoplasty. It is rare that the "above the umbilicus skin" is so tight that you cannot remove the skin underneath the... more

Guido P. Gutter MD
Evansville Plastic Surgeon

Full tummy tuck vs mini

I would have to pinch the upper abdominal skin to be sure, but in the majority of patients with your apparent problem, I am able to remove the old belly button site. It is unusual to be so tight and taut so as not to be able to do that. I have only had a few where the upper abdominal tissues are stiff so the belly button hole cannot be removed. In some of the patients the result is quite tight and it might be 2 or more weeks before the skin relaxes enough so you can stand up straight. I... more

Victor Au, MD
Chapel Hill Plastic Surgeon

Tummy Tuck With Loose Skin Only Below the Belly Button

Without the benefit of an exam to assess the degree of skin laxity and the positioning of particular anatomic points it is difficult to provide an accurate assessment. Based on your photos I believe that you would be an appropriate candidate for a full tummy tuck. It is possible, however, that the limitations your plastic surgeon discussed with you may affect your final result. I reserve a mini-tummy tuck for a very small subset of women who have minimal lower abdominal... more

Louis DeLuca, MD
Palm Beach Plastic Surgeon

Get a second opinion

There is usually more than one way to skin a cat, that includes doing tummy tucks -- see another doctor, If you have had children, I have ALWAYS been able to remove all the skin below the belly button with a low incision and the rest comes down nicely.

William B. Rosenblatt, MD
New York Plastic Surgeon

Mini vs. Full Tummy Tuck

A full abdominoplasty will allow access to the loose skin, fascia(muscles), and fatty tissues above the belly button. However, there are anatomic and physical limits to how much of these tissues are tightened. If there is significant loose skin between the breasts and belly button, even conventional full abdominoplasties may not address this concern. Alternative procedures such as a "reverse" abdominoplasty" and vertical midline incisions can be considered but the scars are... more

William Loutfy, MD
Albuquerque Plastic Surgeon

acfps.com

Full tummy tuck versus mini tummy tuck

Your photos are helpful but don't fully delineate your situation. This would best be determined by an examination. You clearly have loose skin and protuberance of your abdomen below your umbilicus; above it can't be well discerned. What your plastic surgeon has apparently discussed with you as you relate is/can be true. If you don't have any excess skin above the belly button and no laxity, a mini-tummy tuck usually will be the better choice. Conversely, if there is both... more

Steven Turkeltaub, MD
Scottsdale Plastic Surgeon

www.turkeltaub.com

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