Tummy Tuck: Q&A

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How Do I Know What Surgery is Best for Me? Full TT or Mini TT? (photo)

I am not sure which surgery would be right for my situation!? There is the Tummy Tuck, and Mini Tummy Tuck but I am torn as in to which would be best for me and how would I know if my Insurance could help pay or not? I currently am taking depression medicine due to self image issues and it's really starting to put a dent in my social as well as well as mine and my husbands relationship since I am too embarrassed with my stomach. I have had two c-section both pregnancy's gaining 60+ pounds!

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16 Doctor Answers | Asked by BreMommyof2boys in Toledo, OH

Doctor Answers (16)
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Mini tummy tuck fixes looseness below the belly button only

Mini tummy tucks often sound tempting because they can be done with a shorter incision. With a mini, muscle tightening can only be done below the belly button and a smaller amount of loose skin is removed. In your photo, you have loose skin and muscle above the belly button too, so you will be better served with a full tummy tuck. A consult with a surgeon certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery will help you understand the best choice for you. more

A mini tummy tuck would only correct the laxity below your belly button

Hello, Thank you for the photos. Only a select few are ideal candidates for a mini tummy tuck. Since most women have laxity that extends above the belly button, desire belly button rejuvenation, desire reduction of as many stretch marks as possible, and have global abdominal wall laxity, a full tummy tuck is more often the ideal abdominal contouring procedure. A mini tummy tuck is only designed to correct the laxity below the belly button and not much else. In your case I would... more

Mini or Full Tummy Tuck?

The choice of mini or full tummy tuck depends on the looseness of your abdominal skin and your desires. If the upper skin and fat is relatively tight, then a mini-abdominoplasty should be all you need. If it is relatively tight, the choice depends on your desires and whether just tightening the lower abdomen would satisfy your desires. A full abdominoplasty tightens both the upper and lower skin and fat and the underlying muscle. If you do not have loose enough upper skin to stretch from the... more

Mini or full Tummy tuck?

You would be a good candidate for the full tummy tuck because the photos show that you have laxity above your belly button and you could use muscle tightening after your two full term pregnancies. Best of luck!

How Do I Know What Surgery is Best for Me? Full or Mini TT?Answr:

I would go with the full TT...You have very loose skin and your tummy wall is stretched out as well.. Nowadays we seem to be using mini-tummy tuck less and less as there are probably very few true candidates for it...As surgeons we have all seen too many mini TT come back wondering why they werent tighter in the upper abdomen...I think mini TT is best for women that just have that little flap of skin from a C-section but pretty good everywhere else...

Mini or Full Tummy Tuck?

Thank you for the question and pictures. I think you will be much better off undergoing a full tummy tuck operation. 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. For example, the area of skin excised is quite small. The abdominal wall musculature is addressed... more

Full vs. Mini TT

A "mini" tummy tuck is designed to smooth out the lower abdomen from the UMBILICUS DOWN. There is no incision around the umbilicus, and loose muscles and skin in this area can be treated. There is minimal tightening of the area above the umbilicus. A "full" tummy tuck is designed to smooth out loose muscles and skin over the ENTIRE ABDOMEN. This includes everything from the edge of the ribs to the pubic area. With this procedure there is an... more

How Do I Know What Surgery is Best for Me? Full TT or Mini TT?

You have loose skin and probably loose muscles/fascia above the belly button, so you would need a full tummy tuck to correct this. Insurance will not cover either full or mini tummy tuck, regardless of the psychological effect of your loose tummy skin. A tummy tuck is guaranteed to tighten your tummy, but be careful, because a tummy tuck is not guaranteed to improve your social life or your relationship with your husband, so make sure that your expectations are realistic. more

Full or mini tummy tuck

You would not be happy with a mini tummy tuck. It would not remove enough skin and especially above the belly button. For your particular situation a full tummy tuck with muscle tightening and liposuction would be the best.

Full Tummy Tuck Vs Mini ?

Judging from your photos, I would recommend a full tummy tuck. You have a significant laxity of skin and your abdominal wall after your pregnancies (each with a large weight gain as well). I have never seen an insurance company cover this for the reasons you mention and I doubt that they will. Please be careful about your expectations with your surgery and your relationship with your husband. I wish you well.

Full or Mini TT

A mini TT will cost almost as much as a full one ( you still have to pay for the doctor's time, the OR staff, the supplies and medications and the anesthesiologist and take time out of your life to recover) but will give you absolutely no correction in the upper abdomen where you definitely can get improvement with the full TT. Insurance never covers this surgery in my experience.

Full v. mini-abdominoplasty

This is a common question on this website. Given the appearance of your abdomen, which demonstrates the classic post C-section bulging, a mini-tuck would not be appropriate. You need a full abdominoplasty. insurance will not cover this procedure and does not consider depression to be a basis to support a surgical, rather than, psychiatric authorization. I think that if you take a look at some of the other preop photos on the site, you may realize that, notwithstanding the effects of the... more

How Do I Know What Surgery is Best for Me? Full TT or Mini TT?

Based upon the nicely posted photos I recommend full TT with MR. But always best to see a few in person boarded PSs in your area.

Advantages of the full tummy tuck

Your abdomen has been seriously stressed from your pregnancies and the full tummy tuck offers you advantages as only the full will adequately correct the laxity around the belly button and upper abdomen. Insurance will not be on your side, and as far as embarrassment, your abdomen is not of your doing, just a fact of genetics and nature. The full tummy tuck though can help set things straight.

Tummy tuck vs miniTT

First of all, your insurance won't cover either so that is not a deciding point. It is all about the skin and muscles ABOVE the umbilicus. Virtually all post pregnancy abdomens have issues up there, so mini's are really rare.

Abdominoplasty options

It is difficult to tell from the photographs which option would be best for you. You really should be evaluated by a board certified plastic surgeon to discuss these options. The best choice depends on your goals and desired look and the amount of soft tissue laxity in the upper abdomen.