Dog Ears, Side Rolls, and Bulge After Mini Tummy Tuck and Liposuction

Unfortunately, you have something that happens with a mini tummy tuck in some patients. When you try to compromise with the lesser procedure in a patient who would get a better result with the full tummy tuck you have to either accept the lesser result or move on to the full procedure. So what do you do now? You can try some liposuctioning which will probably help a little but the ultimate correction would be to convert to a full tummy tuck. The desire to limit the surgery and the scars... more

Thank you for the question. Unfortunately you have experience some the downsides of the mini tummy tuck surgery. Generally speaking, 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... more

You possibly needed a full tummy tuck that is why a mini- tummy tuck is often not the best option.  speak with you doctor.

The popularity of the mini tummy tuck results in many patients selecting this when a tummy tuck would be a better choice. A mini tummy tuck does not mean a mini incision.

Regarding: "Dog Ears, Side Rolls, and Bulge After Mini Tummy Tuck and Liposuction I had Liposuction and mini Tummy Tuck a year ago. I now have "dog ears" at the ends of the incisions, and when I sit I get rolls on the my sides near the incisions. I spoke to my doctor about this and he has said that he would have to cut farther around to fix it. Does this seem right? Is this normal with a mini tummy tuck? I also have the buldge that I have read other women get when the... more

From your description, it sounds like you have two different issues.  For the most part, dog ears are easily removed under local anesthetic.  This is common and the fix requires a quick, outpatient procedure under local anesthetic. Yes, the scar is extended somewhat, but this is very acceptable and patients are usually very pleased with this revision.  Regarding that bulge: if it is really due to laxity above your belly button, then a revision of your tummy tuck may be... more

The appearance of dog ears after a tummy tuck can easily be fixed. Your best bet is to work with a board-certified plastic surgeon who is a great deal of experience with tummy tucks, liposuction and scar revision. Such a surgeon will be able to review your options with you in determining if you may benefit from a small corrective surgery to remove the extra skin or from liposuction to this area to recontour the hips and then address the extra skin.   see video

In any tummy tuck (mini or major) there is always a chance that the outer sides will have both extra skin and fat, otherwise known as "dog ears". In attempting to address these, I usually liposuction the fullness and extend the skin resection, at the time of the initial surgery. If the patient is still dissatisfied with the lateral "dog ear", a local anesthetic procedure can be done post op. On the other hand, the bulge you describe (I suspect above the umbilicus) does... more

These are some of the disadvantages of a mini-tummy tuck and it sounds like you may need to undergo a full abdominoplasty with a longer incision as your surgeon recommended, to correct them.