Mini Tummy Tuck: Q&A

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Too Tight Mini Tummy Tuck Results?

I had a Mini tummy tuck 7 months ago. My belly button, which wasn't moved, is keeping me tethered over and my muscle, tightened at the bottom, feels like it's ripping midline. It feels like too much skin was removed or not undermined. It pulls and blanches when I stand straight, but looks funny while sitting, and my muscle wall bulges and hurts. My surgeon won't acknowledge a problem. I have already gone the CTt/MRI/Ultrasound tests--no problems. Can the skin be relayed and the fascia loosened? How?

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fascia tightness

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7 Doctor Answers | Asked by hollis in L.A.

Doctor Answers (7)
Community Comments (0)

Revising scars and the belly button after mini tummy tuck or abdominoplasty

Plastic surgeons are able to decrease tension in a particular tissue plane or anatomic region, including the belly button, through subcutaneous dissection techniques that release tethering points. I would revise your tummy tuck procedure to balance the tension zones on your abdominoplasty. This may require complete revision of your tummy tuck.

Your taut belly will relax with agressive stretching exercises

Your best option is to accomplish this with excercise. The skin and fascia has an amazing ability to stretch and expand. This will likely result in relaxation of your taut abdomen. I have had 3 paitents go through complete pregnancies after FULL tummy tucks. This tells me and you that the skin can stretch and so will the muscle. Avoid the surgery, unless therapy or excercise will not produce your desired results. Of course the muscle and fascia can be released surgically but I would only do... more

Mini or full tummy tuck?

Thank you for the question and picture. I am sorry that you are experiencing less than optimal results with your surgery. A few words of caution for patients contemplating tummy tuck surgery may be in order: 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.... more

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Consult with your board certified plastic surgeon to inquire about a revision. If you have lost confidence in your surgeon or your surgeon id not a board certified plastic surgeon, seek a second opinion. Best wishes!

Skin problems

You may want to consider a revision and have a full tummy tuck which wil probably put less strain on your umbilicus and even out the muscle tightness.

Steven Wallach, MD

13 reviews

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Tightness after a mini tummy tuck

When performing a mini tummy tuck there are several ways to manage the bellybutton. If a limited amount of skin is going to be removed, the surgeon may choose not to remove the bellybutton from the underlying skin. If this is the case, care must be taken when redirecting the skin to not distort the abdomen or the area around the bellybutton. It sounds as if you are nearing the end of the healing process. You may want to visit with your surgeon and describe your concerns. They may... more

It looks like you could have had a regular tummy tuck

You still have stretch marks in the lower abdominal skin and enough excess that it looks as though you might have been able to have a full tummy tuck and perhaps get a better result with just a bit longer scar than the one you have. Are you sure you went to a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon? Many non-plastic surgeons do "mini tummy tucks" because that's all they know how to do. Check the credentials and seek some second opinions.

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