Mini Tummy Tuck for Stretch Marks and Piercing Scar?

I'm 20 years old and I just had a baby about 6 months ago. Before I had her, I had a beautiful stomach--now I hate it. I have ugly stretch marks under my belly button. I also have an ugly belly peircing scar and a thick c-section scar. I want to be able to wear a bikini again and not feel self consious. I was thinking about a mini tummy tuck to get rid of the stretch marks. Will it also work for the scars? If not, do you have any suggestions, especially about the ugly peircing scar?

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9 Doctor Answers | Asked by erika24 in tx

Doctor Answers (9)
Community Comments (2)

Mini Tummy Tuck

I advise women to wait until they are done having babies prior to having any form of abdominoplasty. If you are not planning on more pregnancies, consult with a board certified plastic surgeon regarding a full tummy tuck which would address your concerns. best wishes!

Mini tummy tuck - stretch marks - scar revision

Hi there, You have three separate questions / concerns that do not have one solution. The belly button scar can undergo a scar revision - removing some of the extra skin should also help improve the appearance in that area.The C-section scar can also have a scar revision. Often, due to the hormonal changes with pregnancy and skin tension, these scars can be wider. The final result also depends on how you heal - some patients form heavier / thicker scars naturally.The mini-tummy... more

It is not likely that you can elimate scars and striae

Given your long waist, and low lying scar, and upper abdominal striae (stretch marks), it is unlikely that a mini tummy tuck will correct all your problems. A mini may improve your scar but will not eliminate your piercing or your stretch marks

Otto Joseph Placik, MD

32 reviews

Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Tummy tuck post pregnancy.

Hello. My first question would be, "Are you done having babies?" I usually recommend patients to wait until they are done having children before they have at tummy tuck done. It is hard to tell without examination if you indeed are a candidate for a tummy tuck. I would say, make a consultation with a board certified plastic surgeon who is experienced in doing tummy tuck surgery, for best results. Good luck to you.

Mini tummy tuck and stretch marks

A mini tummy tuck will not remove all the stretch marks that you have, but a full tummy tuck will get rid of most of them.

Steven Wallach, MD

12 reviews

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

You are a great candidate for a mini tummy tuck!

Mini tummy tucks are very popular in young mothers who have stretch marks and who may have had skin changes after having a belly button piercing and then becoming pregnant. If they have excess skin or stretch marks limited to the central portion of the abdomen, they may be excellent candidates for a mini tummy tuck. It may also be possible to correct a small amount of excess skin above the belly button with an illegal plastic at the same setting. If you have sufficient skin in the lower... more

Benefits of a Full Tummy Tuck

Based on the pictures you provided, you look like an excellent candidate for a full tummy tuck procedure. A full tummy tuck vs a mini tummy tuck involves much more work and can give you a better result. In your case, a full tummy tuck would involve repairing and tightening the rectus muscles and removal of the stretched and excess skin. Unforunately, due to pregnancy the quality of the skin was stretched causing stretch marks and loose tissue. Tummy tuck procedures are very invasive and... more

Mini tummy tuck will not improve belly button scar.

Hi. I don't recommend a mini tummy tuck. You are probably not done having babies. You have stretch marks (essentially untreatable) but you don't have a lot of loose skin. Eventually, you should consider scar revision of the belly button and of the C section scar as well as a little liposuction.

Will a mini tummy tuck work?

The first question you have to answer is, "Am I done having children?" If not, you may want to wait until you are done. If you are done, a mini tummy tuck would make you flatter, but will not get rid of all of your striae and scars. A standard tummy tuck is possible with a slight vertical scar in the lower abdomen for the closure of your umbilicus defect, since it is unlikely that you have enough skin above your belly button to reach to your pubic area.