Tummy Tuck Q&A
94%
WORTH IT RATING
"Worth It Rating" shows the % of consumer reviewers that stated the procedure was "Worth It" or not. See more RealSelf Worth It Ratings or Add Your Review
2,300 Reviews
Tummy Tuckbefore & after photos
View Before and Afters

Average Tummy Tuck Cost: $7,925

Learn about Tummy Tuck

7,730 people and 863 doctors are talking about Tummy Tuck

Get Free Email Updates

Should I Have a Mini Abdominal Plasty or Full? I've Had Two Evaluations, Both Different. (photo)

asked 6 months ago by Hummelstown5016 in harrisburg pa
Latest answer by Richard P. Rand, MD, FACS
Question viewed 513 times
Tags: after pregnancy, candidate, mini, options

5'4" 150# 49 years old, one large baby!

24 answers to Should I Have a Mini Abdominal Plasty or Full? I've Had Two Evaluations, Both Different. (photo)

+3

Mini Vs Full Abdominoplasty

Although a full abdominoplasty or tummy tuck is a fairly standard operation, this is not the case with a mini which is defined differently among different plastic surgeons. I would therefore make 2 suggestions. First of all, find out exactly what a mini means to the surgeon who suggested it. I also suggest a third consultation following which you should be better informed to make the decision which is right for you.
John Whitt, MD

Louisville Plastic Surgeon
+3

The advantage of a mini is a shorter scar and less downtime

Based on the one photo you are that rare person who is right in the middle of both procedures. Your belly button seems low but it might be the angle of the photo. To avoid a belly button scar the mini would be the best procedure for you with liposuction around the belly button area. If you need your muscles tightened then the full abdominoplasty would be the preferred procedure. This would get you flatter, but takes longer to recover and involves a longer scar and... more
Phillip C. Haeck, MD

Seattle Plastic Surgeon
+3

Full or Mini Tummy Tuck

This is a very common question. As always, pictures cannot compare to a full examination by a board certified plastic surgeon to help determine the procedure that would be the best for you. That said, even though it can be hard to tell from just a single photograph (front view only), you appear to be in that small range of patients that could go with either a full tuck or get a nice result from a mini-tuck with additional liposuction to the upper abdomen. The best... more
Erez Sternberg, MD

Jacksonville Plastic Surgeon
+2

Full vs mini tummy tuck

Based on your photos, I think it would be reasonable to chose either procedure. However, in my experience if you are willing to accept a longer scar, you will get a better contour and be happier with the full tummy tuck. I have found that in women who only have a mild amount of skin laxity (loose skin) above the navel before a mini tummy tuck, often find that small amount of loose skin to be more noticeable after the procedure. Good luck.
Laurence Weider, MD

Dallas Plastic Surgeon
+2

Mini tummy tuck versus full

Based on one photograph, it appears as though you have excess skin above the umbillicus and some abdominal wall laxity. A full abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) with some added liposuction would give you the best option, in my opinion. Good luck.
Donna Rich, MD

Houston Plastic Surgeon
+2

Full tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) v. mini tummy tuck

Diastasis recti (or rectus diastasis) is a common condition following childbirth. Depending upon the extent and location of the diastasis (or separation), you may be better served by a full tummy tuck (abdominoplasty). A full abdominoplasty allows greater visualization and treatment of the diastasis
Loren Schechter, MD

Chicago Plastic Surgeon
+2

Mini vs Full Tummy Tuck

When deciding on a full vs mini tummy tuck one must evaluate both the skin and muscle above and below the belly button. Not only the quantity of the skin but the quality. Finally, one must ask the patient what their goal is in their final appearance. Based on your pictures, I would lean more to a full tummy tuck. Only a full physical exam could confirm this. I think you should have a great result!
Brian Joseph, MD

Orlando Plastic Surgeon
+2

Full or mini tummy tuck

You will find that no one can view your photo and give you good advise. The decision will come down to how much of the abdominal fullness is due to muscular laxity or diastasis, how much skin laxity is present above the umbilicus, and how much skin laxity is present as you sit down or bend forward. Then you need consider your goals and how snug you expect your abdomen to be, and how the scar lines up with your lifestyle. A third opinion might be needed. Best of luck, peterejohnsonmd.com more
Peter E. Johnson, MD

Chicago Plastic Surgeon
+2

abdominalplasty versus mini abdominoplasty

In my opinion liposuction with a C-section length skin excision or mini abdominoplasty would be the best procedure for you. Your skin and muscles above the umbilicus look strong so I don't think a full abdominoplasty is necessary. I think liposuction of the abdomen will give you more skin contracture of the entire abdomen and the only skin that may be loose after liposuction is the skin below the umbilicus. I would even recommend liposuction 1st and seeing if the skin contracts on... more
Wendell Perry, MD

Miami Plastic Surgeon
+2

Mini or Full TT

In my experience of over 30 years, a full tummy tuck will give the BEST final appearance. If you are not going to have any more kids, then go for the gold.
William B. Rosenblatt, MD

New York Plastic Surgeon
+2

Full tummy tuck or mini-tummy tuck

It's always a little disconcerting to have two different opinions about the best way to deal with you concerns. And, this is sometimes that case with tummy tucks. The reason that you have been given two different options, is because either a full tummy tuck or a mini-tummy tuck could work on the basis of your photo. You just have to keep in mind what you will get from each. In favor or the mini-tummy tuck is a smaller scar on the lower abdomen, no scar around... more
David B. Reath, MD

Knoxville Plastic Surgeon

plasticsurgeryknoxville.com

+2

Your abdominal contours are a result of skin and fat excess and muscle laxity

Go with a full abdominoplasty if you want the best result cosmetically. Although it will give a longer scar, the added benefit of a muscle plication is worth it. The smaller mini abdominoplasty will not allow removal of as much skin, and it will limit the amount of transverse muscle tightening possible between the inner edges of the rectus muscles, after your large baby. Good Luck with your decision.
David N. Hing, MD

Ann Arbor Plastic Surgeon
+2

Mimi

The basic difference between mini and full is amount of tissue removed. In my practice the same basic steps are taken during surgery during mini and full tummy tucks. The surest way to asses what is right for you is through a consultation. -FLS
Frank Stile, MD

Las Vegas Plastic Surgeon
+2

Mini or full tummy tuck?

Thank you for the question and picture. If I were you I would have a full tummy tuck performed. 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 is addressed below... more
Tom J. Pousti, MD

San Diego Plastic Surgeon

www.poustiplasticsurgery.com

+1

Mini vs full tummy tuck

Properly selected, mini TT patients are pretty rare because it requires that you need nothing above the bb to be a great mini candidate. You are close to that and can do some lipo above the bb. The difference is not so much in scar length or recovery but with the mini the upper abdominal skin will NOT be as tight as in a full TT. Yours looks a bit lumpy and loose already. So it depends on how tight and flat you want to be as you only want to do this once. more
Richard P. Rand, MD, FACS

Seattle Plastic Surgeon
+1

Mini versus full tummy tuck

Based on the pictures you show, you would be most happy with a full tummy tuck. I think anything less would leave you wishing you had done the whole thing the first time. Some focused liposuction could make it possible to limit the length of the lower scar but you will require muscle tightening the full length up and down. I hope this helps. Good luck.
J. Jason Wendel, MD

Nashville Plastic Surgeon
+1

Full vs mini-tummy tuck

I cannot give you definitive advice without an examination, but in general, I do not feel that a mini-tummy tuck is often a useful procedure. Improvement with a mini TT is usually quite mild and little to no improvement is noted above the umbilicus. You should carefully assess your expectations. Both a mini TT and a full TT leave a scar, but the improvement seen with a full TT is usually much more satisfying. I would suggest that you meet with the surgeons again to... more
Eric T. Emerson, MD

Charlotte Plastic Surgeon

www.seplasticsurgery.com

+1

Should I Have a Mini Abdominal Plasty or Full? I've Had Two Evaluations, Both Different. (photo)

Based only upon the frontal view photo posted I vote mini TT with upper abdominal Smart Lipo. But best to discuss all your options with each surgeon.
Darryl J. Blinski, MD

Miami Plastic Surgeon
+1

Mini versus full tummy tuck

It is difficult to tell from the one frontal view photograph that you have posted. If you have significant laxity of the lower abdomen, with a bulge, then the mini-tuck would not be sufficient to flatten the abdomen. If, on the other hand, you don't have laxity and the photo is demonstrating poor posture, then a mini-tuck may improve your situation sufficiently. My suspicion is that you do need a full abdominoplasty to correct your abdomen, excise the excess skin and tighten the muscles... more
Robert L. Kraft, MD

New York Plastic Surgeon
+1

Mini or Full Tummy Tuck

In my opinion, you will still have significant laxity after a mini tummy tuck. You have loose skin that extends fairly far laterally so you will require a long scar to correct the loose skin to create the flattest possible abdomen. I find that while patients always want a short scar, they are happier postoperatively with a flatter abdomen than with a shorter scar, but still having loose skin.
Donald Griffin, MD

Nashville Plastic Surgeon
+1

Maximum Improvement is the Goal

Hi there- If you'll bear with me, I'll help you answer your own question by asking you to think about another question: If you had a "mini" operation, with a slightly shorter scar, and slightly less pain and recovery, but you looked funny and never as good as you had hoped, would you consider it a victory? Most patients would not. The fact is that in most cases, a mini-tummy tuck is an attempt to appease patients who want real improvement in the... more
Armando Soto, MD

Orlando Plastic Surgeon

www.DrArmandoSoto.com

+1

Full vs mini-tummy tuck

Thank you for your question and photo. Unfortunately, I may be clouding the issue as I think that you have options. Although it can be hard to tell from just a single photograph and not an actual evaluation, you appear to be in that small range of patients that could go with either a full tuck or get a good result from a mini. What is best for you depends on what you are trying to accomplish. A full tuck will make your entire abdomen flatter and tighter at the expense of a higher... more
James McMahan, MD

Columbus Plastic Surgeon
+1

Mini or Full TT

I would recommend a full tummy tuck. It looks like the skin above your belly button is loose enough to be able to be stretched a good distance downward. You should get a great result. Good luck.
Ronald Schuster, MD

Baltimore Plastic Surgeon

www.drschuster.com

+1

Limited Tummy Tuck vs. Full Tummy Tuck?

A limited tummy tuck will typically address loose, excess skin below the umbilicus. It usually will not involve tightening of the abdominal muscles. If expectations are limited to modest improvement in skin laxity below the umbilicus, then a mini tummy tuck may be appropriate. There will be no significant improvement in abdominal contour above the navel,however
Stephen Delia, M.D.

Boston Plastic Surgeon

Ask a question