Can You Have a Full Tummy Tuck if a Mini Left You with Skin Laxity?

asked 1 year ago by 7996anon in Florida
Latest answer by Peter A. Aldea, MD
Question viewed 245 times
Tags: 2 years post-op, full, laxity, lower abdomen, options, time between

I had one done on 5/6/2010 and as of today I still have laxity in my lower abdominal area especially with folds on both lateral sides. What do you suppose happened did they not pull enough or cut enough should the incision be extended longer/laterally initially? Can you have a full after a mini has been done? What options do I have now?

9 answers to Can You Have a Full Tummy Tuck if a Mini Left You with Skin Laxity?

Can one have a FULL Tummy Tuck after an Unsatisfactory MINI Tummy Tuck

Can one have a FULL Tummy Tuck after an Unsatisfactory MINI Tummy Tuck? - It Depends on the remaining skin laxity. In Surgery, the first operation holds the best chances for success. Subsequent revisions may be successful but have higher rates of failure due to scarring and other limiting factors. With a Tummy Tuck, skin laxity determines if the belly button can be relocated higher without a vertical scar (for where the belly button opening used to be). In your case, it is hard... more

Peter A. Aldea, MD
Memphis Plastic Surgeon

Mini tummy tuck helpful for very few women.

Hi. It sounds to me like you need to wait a few months, and then consider a well performed full tummy tuck. It is not as scary as it seems. see video

George J. Beraka, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Mini tummy tuck doesn't really do what's needed.

I agree with Dr. Esmailian. Usually, even in thin women, a full abdominoplasty approach is needed to restore the patient to prepregnancy state. I have seen a number of women who were disappointed with the 'mini' operation their surgeon did.

Leland Deane, MD
New York Plastic Surgeon

Full tummy tuck after mini is possible...Except...

You certainly can have a full tummy tuck after a mini but I would wait at least 5-6 months to let everything settle down and heal. You may be happy with the result in the end and not want to go through a full tummy tuck. The exception to this is if the doctor released the belly button from inside and changed the location - lowered it. In that case the plastic surgeon must be aware and you can have a problem with belly button dying from lackof blood supply. more

Steven Schuster, MD
Boca Raton Plastic Surgeon

Scar revision following tummy tuck

The real question: is the loose skin to the outside portions of the incision or just above it. If it is the latter, then a scar revision can treat these. Wait at least 3-4 mnonths before revision. IF it is loose skin above the scar then that is more difficult and may require a full or mini revision but wait at least 4 months.

Otto Joseph Placik, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Full Tummy Tuck after a Mini

I usually tell my patients that a mini tummy tuck gets mini results. If you are interested in a big improvement then a full tummy tuck is what is needed. I would wait until you are about 4-5 months out from surgery. If you are still unhappy about your results afterwards, then yes you can get a full tummy tuck done. You may only need excision of the lateral "dog ears". Just be patient and see how things look later.

Farbod Esmailian, MD
Orange County Plastic Surgeon

MIni Tummy Tuck May Mean Mini Result

My practice is focused on breast and body procedures, and I have probably done 5 mini tummy tucks in 10 years. There are just very few women who are truly good candidates for "minis." The most common reason for this is excess skin off to the sides of the incisions by the hips. Failure to remove this by using a long enough incison results in "dof ars" or residual skin laxity off to the sides. The correction is either extension of the incision, or... more

John LoMonaco, MD
Houston Plastic Surgeon

www.DrLoMonaco.com

Dog ears after a mini tummy tuck may be improved by liposuction or scar revision

It sounds like you still have fullness at the side ends of the incisions after your mini tummy tuck. This area of fullness is often called a dog ear. At 6 weeks after surgery you probably still have swelling that may be making this area look full. This may continue to improve over time but if it does not you may be a candidate for scar revision, liposuction or a combination of both. A revision to a full tummy tuck might also be appropriate but all of this is best determined with an in... more

Elizabeth Lee, MD
Bay Area Plastic Surgeon

artfulsurgery.com

Full tummy tuck if a mini left you with skin laxity

Yes but a photo helps us determine if you are really a good candidate. What happened is you were not a candidate for a mini but were sold on it. You may ONLY need a "dog ear excision". From MIAMI DR. B Happy 4th