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Alternative To Tummy Tuck With Muscle Repair? (photo)

asked 7 months ago by c25tiffany in Northern Michigan
Latest answer by Alan Engler, MD
Question viewed 388 times
Tags: after pregnancy, alternative, muscle separation, twins

I'm 29 5'4 125 lbs. Have two pregnancies 16 months apart the second pregnancy was twins. I have 3 finger speration of my stomach muscles. I have no extra skin or stretch marks below my navel, I do have a little extra skin above my navel. What is the best option for me. when I pull my skin towards my chest from my navel everthing looks good. It looks better to pull up then down.what options do i have. I would like to stay away from a full tummy tuck due to the look of the navel and scar.

13 answers to Alternative To Tummy Tuck With Muscle Repair? (photo)

Mini tummy tuck with abdomenal tightening

I would recommend a mini-tummy tuck, diastasis repair throught the mini tummy tuck access with tapering lipocontouring of the abdomen and an unbilicoplasty to improve the appearance of your umbilicus. The scar would not be much different from what you have now and it would leave you with a nice flat belly. I would steer aweay from reberse tummy tuck as it will ruin the appearance of your breasts over time. I hope this helps! All the best, Rian... more

Rian Maercks, MD
Miami Plastic Surgeon

Abdominoplasty with Umbilcial Float

Tiffany, You are an ideal candidate for an abdominoplasty with an umbilical float. This is a fairly common tummy tuck technique that I use about 25% of the time. There is NO UMBILICAL SCAR and the length of the scar is limited, the rectus abdominis muscles are also repaired. I can't be sure, but it appears you may also have an umbilical hernia from the photograph, a physical examination would be necessary to confirm this. The hernia can also be repaired with this... more

David Finkle, MD
Omaha Plastic Surgeon

www.bodybyfinkle.com

That's a great question!

There are many women like you who have muscle separation after pregnany and only a little extra skin. Most patients I treat with this set of problems are also quite petite and a long tummy tuck scar seems too much for the issues that need to be addressed. At most, a short scar "mini-tummy tuck" is needed. However, I tend to favor repairing the muscle separation with the use of an endoscope (fiberoptic camera) and then repositioning the belly button which smooth... more

Daniel Sherick, MD
Ann Arbor Plastic Surgeon

www.cprs-aa.com

Choosing Between Types of Tummy Tucks

Yours is a common situation in which you don't have enough of an abdominal problem (loose skin) to justify the scar from a full tummy tuck and a partial or mini-tummy tuck would probably leave you a little wanting. (better but not perfect) In these cases, I think the patient's attitude towards the scar in the determining factor. It is a choice between which you would despise more...a long horizontal scar and a belly button scar but with the most flat and tight stomach that you... more

Barry L. Eppley, MD, DMD
Indianapolis Plastic Surgeon

www.eppleyplasticsurgery.com

Answer to RealSelf.com question regarding abdominoplasty or not

Despite the pregnancies you have maintained a reasonably good abdominal contour. This makes the decision to proceed with an abdominoplasty more difficult. As you are aware, an abdominoplasty will remove excess skin/fat and also tighten your abdominal muscles. The muscle separation that you mention will not improve without surgery. Your options, in my opinion, are as follows: 1. Do nothing and be thankful that you have maintained a fairly well-shaped abdomen.... more

Eric T. Emerson, MD
Charlotte Plastic Surgeon

www.seplasticsurgery.com

Best tummy tuck for me

I would probably recommend a modified abdominoplasty with a short scar above the pubic hair region and a small skin resection just to clean up above the c section scar and then do a muscle repair thru that limited scar.

Rick Rosen, MD
Norwalk Plastic Surgeon

Options for better looking abdomen

Hello, Your options for a better looking abdomen depend largely on your desires and goals. These options include: 1) Liposuction plus mini tummy tuck 2) Mini tummy tuck plus endoscopic muscle tightening 3) Mini tummy tuck plus reverse tummy tuck 4) Full tummy tuck I suspect many patients including yourself might prefer just a small mini tummy tuck and liposuction. Doing so would not improve the appearence of your belly button and would not address the... more

Remus Repta, MD
Phoenix Plastic Surgeon

Tummy Tuck - Alternative To Tummy Tuck With Muscle Repair? (photo)

I think you have a few choices - even though none of them may be perfect. First, you could consider a lipo of your abdomen and a modified or mini-tummy tuck, in which the skin of your lower abdomen is tightened (ie, only below the belly button) and the skin is flattened all over (from the lipo). You may have a little more dimpling of your skin and you can't really get a good muscle repair but you'll have a significant improvement over what you have, even if you have a... more

Alan Engler, MD
New York Plastic Surgeon

Abdominoplasty scar

First you look great. There are a couple of issues. If the rectus muscle is plicated ( tightened) you will have more loose skin. Pulling up the skin is not an option. You have a csection scar so the options would be 1) do nothing 2) mini abdominoplasty which as the name implies has a mini scar but minimal skin excision 3) full abdominoplasty

Jay M. Pensler, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Alternative To Tummy Tuck With Muscle Repair? (photo)

Thanks for the posted photos. My recommendations based only on photos and your posted information is a short scar full tummy tuck with aggressive recti plication. Best to see a few boarded PSs in your area to discuss in detail.

Darryl J. Blinski, MD
Miami Plastic Surgeon

Tummy tuck without umbilical scars

Often after pregnancy we see a significant diastasis or separation of the abdominal muscles, and only modest skin laxity. In our office a mini tummy tuck, one without an umbilical scar, will allow correction of the muscle from chest to the c-section scar and reduce the limited skin laxity only. Mini tummy tuck means different things in different practices, so ask questions carefully. Best of luck, peterejohnsonmd

Peter E. Johnson, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Mini or full tummy tuck?

Thank you for the question and pictures. Given your history you should be proud of the appearance of your abdomen. Unfortunately, you won't like my answer but I think you have 2 choices: 1. Do nothing surgically and accept a nice looking abdomen that you have maintained despite a twin pregnancy. 2. Have a full tummy tuck operation choosing your surgeon carefully to achieve the best possible umbilical and abdominal scar possible. I think in your... more

Tom J. Pousti, MD
San Diego Plastic Surgeon

www.poustiplasticsurgery.com

Tummy tuck after twins?

Congrats on the twins. I have done a lot of tummy tucks on moms of multiples and it sounds like you need a full tummy tuck. That 3 finger separation is called a diastasis and won't get better without surgery. Once that muscle is tightened you are going to have a lot more crumpled skin than you think. You belly button already looks a bit low so I don't think a modified tummy tuck will be good. I understand your wanting to avoid the belly button scar but it's a small price to pay... more