Mini Tummy Tuck or Full Tummy Tuck to Remove All Stretch Marks?

After pregnancy, I returned to my normal weight of 110. But I was left with a little bit of loose skin/stretch marks. Would a mini TT get rid of all the stretch marks on my abdomen or is a full TT needed? If I'm going to go through the surgery I want flat, stretch mark free belly.

Tags:

Comment on this

15 Doctor Answers | Asked by dboz in kansas city, mo

Doctor Answers (15)
Community Comments (0)

Only the Full TT has a chance to remove all your stretch marks.

I cannot precisely see the full extent of the stretch marks on your abdomen from the photo. It appears that they extend to the level of your navel and possibly above it. Only a full Tummy Tuck will provide the possibility of removing the majority if not all of the your stretch marks. However, you will be trading in these for the traditional Tummy Tuck scar and a scar around the navel. If your stretch marks extend above your navel then in all likelihood there will be some remaining... more

Full tummy tuck vs. mini tummy tuck for stretch marks

For patients with stretch marks who want them "gone", there are some difficult decisions. To remove a significant number of stretch marks, a full tummy tuck will be necessary. Except a full tummy tuck will result in a high and long incision. So the patient must decide which is preferable, scars or stretch marks. There are various in-between procedures that can also apply, but only a full tummy tuck will remove a great deal of stretch marks.

A full tummy tuck is best for global abdominal skin laxity

You appear to have stretch marks rising above your belly button. A mini-tummy tuck will not address any laxity above the belly button. Very few people are good candidates for a mini-tummy tuck, since most people have more global skin laxity above and below the belly button.

Neither procedure can remove all stretchmarks

Typically a mini-tummy tuck will remove only a portion of the skin just above the pubic area, whereas a full tummy tuck can remove all of the skin below the belly button and therefore more stretchmarks will be removed. From your photo, it appears that a mini-tummy tuck would be most appropriate as you don't have a large enough amount of skin to justify a more major procedure.

Mini tummy tuck will not reach stretch marks around the belly button

One of the key differences between a mini and a full tummy tuck is umbilical trans-location. What this means is that the skin around the belly button in a full tummy tuck is moved all the way down to the pubis. In a mini tummy tuck, only the lower skin laxity, that below the belly button, is tightened and the lowest of the stretch marks will be improved and removed. If stretch marks are your concern, especially around the center of your tummy in the umbilical area, then the full tummy... more

Removal of stretch marks with a tummy tuck

First of all before you embark on a tummy tuck, must decide on not becoming pregnant again. Looking at your photo, it seems to me that your stretch marks extend superior to the belly button as well. A full abdominoplasty will remove most of them, but you will end up with some stretch marks in the lower abdomen. It is impossible to tell how much loose skin you have and how much can be removed without an examination. You should set up a consultation with a board certified plastic surgeon... more

Mini Tummy Tuck for stretch marks

Typical candidates for a full tummy tuck are women with drooping abdomens after pregnancy, women and men who've lost a great deal of weight, menopausal women, or older people with loose skin due to age. In the tummy tuck, the skin from the rib cage down to the pelvic area is tightened, and the navel is moved up and secured in a new positon. A mini-tummy tuck is especially effective for people who look pretty good from the navel up. The main difference between the 2 procedures is... more

Full vs Mini Tummy Tuck

My definition of a mini-TT removes a lot less skin than does a full TT. Although it is difficult for me to see the extent of stretch marks or striae in your photo, I feel that you are a good candidate for and will be happier with a full abdominoplasty.

Mini or full tummy tuck depends on skin laxity

The decision about whether a mini or full abdominoplasty is best depends on how much loose skin there is and where. If it is localized to the area below the belly button then often a mini will work, and if the skin above the belly button is tight then a full TT wouldn't even be possible. This is independent of where the stretch marks are, so while everyone wants to get rid of all the stretch marks it depends entirely on other things.

Tummy tuck- full or mini?

A side and quarter view will be needed, and better quality at that. However, it looks like your marks extend above the navel. A mini tummy tuck will not handle that, and even with a full, you may have a few small ones left. Based on your goals and photo, looks like a full would be the better bet. sek