Tummy Tuck Q&A

94%

WORTH IT RATING

2,300 Reviews

Ask a Question

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

Mini Tummy Tuck Enough for Loose Skin and Diastasis Recti?

asked 2 years ago by yogaannie in new york
Latest answer by Tom J. Pousti, MD
Question viewed 1,082 times
Tags: abdomen, belly button, female, diastasis recti, extra skin, skin, tightening

I recently had lipolaser done to remove a small amount of excess fat and loose skin at my belly. I have a 1 inch diastasis and a small hernia after my twins that has never fully healed (12 years later). My plastic surgeon said she could repair the diastsis w/ a mini tummy tuck yet everything I'm reading suggests otherwise. I do still have some extra skin -- not a lot, mainly by the belly button that I would like tightened. Is a mini tummy tuck okay for this?

13 answers to Mini Tummy Tuck Enough for Loose Skin and Diastasis Recti?

Mini tummy tuck for loose belly button skin

Generally for loose skin above and below the belly button, a full tummy tuck is indicated. If the amount of skin around the belly button is relatively small, there are tummy tucks that tighten the entire diastasis, remove a small amount of skin, and repair the hernia. It is not necessary to perform a full tummy tuck just to tighten the diastasis and repair the hernia.

Brent Moelleken, MD
Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

www.drbrent.com

Mini Tummy Tuck

I would not recommend a mini tummy tuck if you have diastasis recti. If the fascia is tightened below the belly button and not above the belly button, then you may get a protuberance above there the fascia is not tight. It is best to do a full abdominoplasty so that the entire diastasis can be repaired and the skin maximally tightened. Good luck. see video

David Shafer, MD
New York Plastic Surgeon

www.ShaferPlasticSurgery.com

Mini or full tummy tuck?

Be careful- unless the correct diagnosis and treatment plan is designed you may be dissatisfied with the end results of your surgery. 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... more

Tom J. Pousti, MD
San Diego Plastic Surgeon

www.poustiplasticsurgery.com

A MINI Tummy Tuck is a lousy operation for Anyone with a 1 inch muscle diastasis and a small hernia

All real Plastic surgeons fully understand the futility of attempting to use the limited capabilities of a Mini-Tummy Tuck (which can only improve matters below the belly button) to correct a 1 inch muscle separation (diastasis) and skin looseness above the belly button. But some Plastic surgeons fear antagonizing and losing patients who insist on lesser, even ineffectual treatments and give them what they ask for. There is no way that a Mini-tummy tuck, liposuction (laser or otherwise),... more

Peter A. Aldea, MD
Memphis Plastic Surgeon

Mini Tummy Tuck

Again, NO PHOTOS?! I can say YES, but I really do not know what you look like. So if you are really wishing an expert opinion please send photos. Regards.

Darryl J. Blinski, MD
Miami Plastic Surgeon

A full tummy tuck for loose skin around navel.

SEE VIDEO BELOW. Women with lax skin and diastasis are best treated witha full tummy tuck for optimal results. A mini tummy tuck is rarely used and, in my experience is typically used as a major C-section scar revision operation. see video

Otto Joseph Placik, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Few good candidates for mini tummy tuck.

Hi. Mini tummy tuck is done because it sounds less scary, often with disappointing results. Based on your description, I thiink you will only be helped by a full tummy tuck. The mini operation is only useful to correct skin overhang above a C section scar.

George J. Beraka, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Mini Tummy Tuck inadequate for Diastasis Repair

My mini tummy tuck is not a procedure suited for diastasis repair although your plastic surgeon may have a different definition. In my experience you would benefit greater from a full abdominoplasty especially after a twin pregnancy. This would address both your excess skin as well as the diastasis.

John Whitt, MD
Louisville Plastic Surgeon

Mini tummy tuck

Ask your surgeon to define mini tummy tuck for you. If you have lax skin about your bellly button and an umbilical hernia a decision will have to be made about the extent of surgery you will need to correct these problems. Your description leads me to believe you may need to have a more involved procedure where the belly button can be lowered on the abdominal wall and the hernia can be fixed. This is can be done when there is a minimal amount of excess skin above the belly button as you do... more

Robert W. Kessler, MD
Orange County Plastic Surgeon

www.drrobkessler.com

Mini versus full tummy tuck

A mini tummy tuck will address everything below the umbilicus. If you have laxity or extra skin above this level, you will need a full abdominoplasty. It's also easier to repair a hernia through a full incision. I find that the vast majority of patients really benefit from the full incision, which allows us to truly flatten the abdomen. It is a longer incision, but most patients find that it's worth it. Good luck.

Nina S. Naidu, MD
New York Plastic Surgeon

Mini tuck not enough for diastasis repair

After having twins there is no doubt that you need to have a significant repair of the diastasis. Also, if you have loose skin above and below the belly button you will get a better result with a full tummy tuck. A mini tuck is a compromise to get a quicker recovery but it also has less results than a full tummy tuck. If you are done with any further pregnancies, do a full tummy tuck to get the full correction. Best Wishes Dr. Peterson

Marcus L. Peterson, MD
Saint George Plastic Surgeon

Loose skin above the navel

A traditional mini-abdominoplasty tightens the skin below the navel. If you do not have a lot of loose skin but have some looseness just above the navel, you can possibly modify the mini-abdominoplasy to move the navel down towards the pubis a couple of centimeters. This would stretch the loose skin a bit and possibly be all you need. This can be done with or without detaching the navel completely from its stalk.

Robin T.W. Yuan, MD
Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

Mini Tummy Tuck not enough for loose skin and diastasis

As long as you have had kids and have a diastasis, I like to do a standard abdominoplasty. I think that i get the best result. Mini tummy tucks don't allow you to 1. remove enough skin; 2. correct the diastasis above the belly button; or 3. flatten out the area around the belly button. The scar is not always much longer, but the result is much better.