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Mini or Full Tummy Tuck for Best Results?

asked 2 years ago by karenrose1 in NJ
Latest answer by Anthony Dardano, DO
Question viewed 1,573 times
Tags: female, belly, scar

I don't know if I could deal with a scar across the belly. I would however do a Mini Tummy Tuck, along with a Breast Lift. Do you think I need a Full Tummy Tuck from this picture?

17 answers to Mini or Full Tummy Tuck for Best Results?

Mini tummy tuck vs. Full tummy tuck vs. Hybrid tummy tuck

A full tummy tuck will leave you with a hip to hip scar. Because of your anatomy, it will be a high scar as well. A mini tuck will revise your scar nicely but do nothing for the deep layer and diastasis that you appear to have. My vote would be for an extended Hybrid tummy tuck (R)with liposuction. This involves complete removal of the scar, revision of that area, and complete tightening of the fascia all the way up to the breast bone. The belly button is left alone.

Brent Moelleken, MD
Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

www.drbrent.com

Mini tummy tuck vs full tummy tuck

The best result would be from a full tummy tuck. It allows for maximal resection of skin and abdominal wall tightening. A mini tummy tuck is limited to those patients with a small pooch below the belly button and minimal skin laxity. A mini tummy tuck will not be able to address skin laxity laterally either. In addition, the belly buttton is usually not involved.

Anthony Dardano, DO
Boca Raton Plastic Surgeon

Mini or Full Tummy Tuck

By just this one picture you look to be a good candidate for a mini tummy tuck. However, an exam of the skin quality and quantity as well as your abdominal muscles would be needed to determine which is best for you. Mini tummy tucks work well for those who have loose skin confined mostly in the lower part of the abdomen below the belly button and don't need much tightening of the muscles. The muscles may still be addressed through a modification in the mini tummy tuck. If there is also... more

Brian Joseph, MD
Orlando Plastic Surgeon

Mini versus full tummy tuck

You look like a great candidate for a mini tuck. However, this can only be determined for sure with an examination in the office to evaluate your skin and underlying muscle. I'm not sure if you have a C-section scar, but if so the mini tuck incision can usually be placed in the same location. Good luck, /nsn

Nina S. Naidu, MD
New York Plastic Surgeon

Mini tummy tuck versus full

I don't want to frighten you, but most lifts leave you with unsightly scars. There are many things surgeons do to improve a scar's appearance. Today, we suture almost every incision under the skin, leaving no stich marks or "railroad tracks." Working with the patient, a surgeon can also best determine the positioning of most scars. People who have especially slack skin in their midsection need more than what liposuction alone can offer. Typical candidates for a full tummy tuck are... more

Michelle Copeland, MD, DMD
New York Plastic Surgeon

Mini Tummy Tuck

You may benefit from mini tuck with sliding the belly button if you have too much skin above the belly button. This with the combination of liposuction can give you great result with minimal scar. Please send a picture of the abdomen in a sitting position.

Kamran Khoobehi, MD
New Orleans Plastic Surgeon

Type of Tummy Tuck

The term "mini" in front of tummy tuck doesn't refer to the length of the scar. The mini scar may or may not be shorter than the full tummy tuck. Because we all must make choices, I would recommend that (given your aversion to scars) you consider panniculectomy, which will flatten and tighten the lower abdomen, and then go with liposuction of the remaining abdomen. I would recommend Lipotherme, or UAL for the skin tightening properties. sek

Scott E. Kasden, MD
Dallas Plastic Surgeon

Only your plastic surgeon knows what's best between Mini vs. Full Tummy Tuck

Photos are helpful, but in order to make a useful recommendation it is necessary to examine you, see the condition of your skin, and so forth. Having said that, only about 15% of tummy tuck patients I see are good candidates for a mini. My guess is that the skin in your upper abdomen is a little bit loose, and so that wouldn't be helped by a mini with or without lipo there. The lipo won't tighten the skin. Although the scar is longer with the full, it should fade nicely and we don't hear... more

Richard Baxter, MD
Seattle Plastic Surgeon

Mini tummy tuck and liposuction is good combination for you.

Hi. Mini tummy tuck will get rid of the overhang above your C section scar. That and a little liposuction is all you need to make your abdomen look good.

George J. Beraka, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Mini Tummy Tuck vs. Full Tummy Tuck

Hi Karenrose! While few patients actually qualify for mini tummy tuck, you may be a candidate. The skin of your upper abdomen has good elasticity without stretch marks. Your abdominal muscles seem to be in a good position, although a full tummy tuck would tighten these muscles further. You should know, however, that the results with a full tummy tuck would definitely be better with only a slightly larger scar. I suggest you go in for a consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon to... more

Elan B. Singer, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Mini VS "Full" Tummy Tuck

The Mini VS Full Tummy Tuck question is among the most frequently asked questions in this forum. Sometimes it is easy to answer. Other times, such as in your case it is not. In your case, I would have loved to see a side photo in the Diver's pose (bent over at the waist, tummy muscles FULLY relaxed, like you are about to dive off the side of a pool). That would much better demonstrate the extent of tummy muscle looseness and support the need for a full tummy tuck. Based on the photo... more

Peter A. Aldea, MD
Memphis Plastic Surgeon

A mini tummy tuck is possible

Although a mini or just excising the overhanging roll is possible, you will probably get the best possible resut from a full tummy tuck. You are only showing us the frontal, a side view might be more revealing will some abdominal protursion and a weakness of the muscles due to a diastasis recti. An office vist and full evaluation would be needed to give you the full options.

William B. Rosenblatt, MD
New York Plastic Surgeon

Mini vs Full Tummy Tuck

There are advantages and disadvantages to both a full and mini tummy tuck. However, taking into account your photo, I feel that you will definitely be happier with a full tummy tuck. You appear to have a good bit of excess skin as well as some muscle separation. These issues can be best addressed with a full tummy tuck, although you will have a longer recovery period than you would have with a mini-TT.

John Whitt, MD
Louisville Plastic Surgeon

Extended mini tummy tuck

In my opinion, you are a candidate for an extended mini tummy tuck with superior abdomen Smart Lipo 30 watt MPX unit. This gives you the best and faster recovery than a Full Tummy Tuck. Regards and good luck.

Darryl J. Blinski, MD
Miami Plastic Surgeon

Answer to full or mini tummy tuck (abdominoplasty): How do I choose? Part II

As discussed in Part I, based on this photo, I would say that a mini tummy tuck would be an option. Why? Becauase: The upper abdominal skin appears taut and easily managed with liposuction You have a lower abdominal scar already There appears to be no significant muscle separation However, your other photo shows marked upper skin laxity and irregularity which is not amenable to liposuction which is the primary mehtod of treating the upper abdominal skin in a mini tummy tuck. Therefore, in... more

Otto Joseph Placik, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Mini vs full Ttummy tucks

As we have said numerous times in this forum, mini tummy tucks are rare because they do nothing for the upper abdomen and it is a rare patient who needs nothing in the upper abdomen. In your photo, you could just have a scar revision and excise the overhanging roll. The scar will be almost hip to hip however.