Mini Tummy Tuck Reviews
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“Mini Tuck Scheduled for March 3rd--SCARED!! - Eugene, OR”

Worth It
Spent: $6,000 in Eugene, Oregon

Comments (116)

Updated 18 Mar 2011

Posted 18 Feb 2011

My lower tummy and belly button have stretch marks but more importantly is stretch out beyond what excersise and diet can correct. I am 32 years old with 3 children, 14, 11, and 6. I have wanted a TT for years and I feel so ashamed of my stomach I rarely show it to anyone. I am only 115lbs so it's just the tummy that's my issue. I have several concerns: my Dr. said I need a mini...which I agree, I am just concerned if it will give me the tummy I want. Also, he said I will be back to work (desk job) within a week....I took 11 days off total. since I am not telling my employer what I will be doing on my vacation time, I am hoping he is correct and all goes well. There are several women on here with surgeries scheduled in March--let's keep each other posted and support each other during recovery! good luck!!



Updated on 20 Feb 2011:

I am 32 years old, have 3 children and ever since my first child 14 years ago I have hidden my saggy stomach. I have waited a long time to do this for myself but after reading a lot of reviews on the mini I worry about the outcome. There seem to be a lot more women on here unhappy with a mini than the full. From looking at my photos do you think my Dr. made the right choice?

I am scheduled for March 3rd (just two weeks away). we discussed both the full and mini but he recommended I go with the mini, small amount of lipo and he will suture the lower muscles.



Updated on 8 Mar 2011:
I just added my post op pictures at 6 days....there are still sharpie markings on my stomach as I can't take a shower until tomorrow. I had the drain tube removed today and I have to wait 24 hours for the wound to heal before I can shower. I think he did a great job!

Updated on 8 Mar 2011:


Updated on 13 Mar 2011:


Updated on 18 Mar 2011:

This review is the subjective opinion of a RealSelf member and not of RealSelf, Inc.

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My Doctor:

My rating:

Dr. Meldrum was very sweet, and seemed to genuinely care about my concerns and was sensitive to how frightened I was. he had a wonderful bedside manner!

Comments (116)

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soon2banewme 19 Feb 2011
Hi! I am leaving a comment on your page so I can follow your updates. If you want to follow mine I posted a review too.
I wish you a great surgery, fabulous results and a speedy recovery!!
Acworthmom 20 Feb 2011
Best of luck to you with your surgery. I had a full tummy tuck with muscle tightening on Feb. 10th and did great. First 4-5 days days are hard, but then the recovery is very quick so you should be fine as far as your job. I was very small also (5'6 acn 118 lbs.), but had a loose tummy after kids. The great thing is that with hardly any body fat you will see immediate results. I am going to post a pic today that will show 1 week after surgery and you can see that even though there is still a lot of healing....it is much better than before. I will be checking on you, but don't be scared.....it's not as bad as you think!
soon2banewme 20 Feb 2011
Ac- Yeah!!! I can't wait to see your TT pic!!
And it's great to hear that both you and Cass have been out and about.
I'm also hoping to be able to walk upright and resume semi normal things within 11 days.
Happymommy- are you doing this over your kids spring break too?? I wish I was getting a mini...no can do...my skin is stretched a good 2 inches above my navel.
Cass25 20 Feb 2011
I feel the 2 inch above the navel. They removed the old belly button and then some. I am not walking up right yet really wish I was. I love hearing and seeing about all the transformations and this site has been a wonderful help!
3/03 happymommyof3 20 Feb 2011
I am not doing it over spring break because then they would be at home during recovery and I don't think I could handle that.....I need down time. Thankfully my ex husband is really supportive and will be caring for them for a week. Thank you all for your support!
3/03 happymommyof3 20 Feb 2011
Congrats!! It's so nice to hear that things are going well. On the mini TT thread there are a lot less women posting but also there are more mixed reviews which makes me nervous about going with a mini. I sure hope my dr made the right choice. I posted pics on a review.... Just waiting for them to make it public. I can't wait to see your before and after pics.... Sounds like you and I have similar body size. How old are you?
Cass25 20 Feb 2011
A mini tuck you are lucky! I had my tt on the 19th and it was a full with flank lipo bc my love handle wont go away. I think 11 days with a mini will be about right. I have been up and walking and feeling pretty good. The day after I went to the store with my husband and walked around a little. I think being in better shape helps.Excited to see ur results! Time will fly! Good luck!
3/03 happymommyof3 20 Feb 2011
I just looked at your pics and you look very similar to me....I sure hope my dr. Made the right choice for me. We discussed both options but his words to me were....if you were my sister I would suggest you just go with the mini. It won't remove all my stretch marks but he said flattening them out will make them less noticeable. My belly button looks similar to yours but he will not reconstruct mine...he said it will look more normal after he makes the skin tight. Thank you so much for your support and for sharing with us!
Acworthmom 20 Feb 2011
My Dr. gave me a choce of skin only or skin with muscle and even though I wanted to take the easy way out, I am glad I went with the full tuck. If you have any doubt according to my Dr. the healing time is not that different with a full tuck. Maybe when you go for your pre-op you can get your ps to show you pics of what the difference would be between the full or the mini. I am posting my pic in a minute and even though the belly button is still bloody looking since I am allergic to adhesive and it couldn't be covered, I think for 1 week it is still pretty amazing. Either way...I think you will do fine.
3/03 happymommyof3 20 Feb 2011
He did show me pics of both and of course like most of us on here I have looked at before and after pics for hours on end... Deep down I feel like the mini will be plenty but it won't remove everything. Hopefully you will see my pics soon. I posted them yesterday....
Acworthmom 20 Feb 2011
Yea, I posted my pics tonight so maybe they will be on soon also. I am very small framed at 5'6", 118lbs., so when my skin stretched for pregancy it left stretch marks and a bulge even above the belly button. My understanding is if from your belly button up is still flat a mini tuck works fine, but if you bulge above the belly button you might not acheive the flatness with a mini that you would have with a full. I guess you really just have have to know and trust your surgeon. If he has been doing this a long time with good results I'm sure he is your best judge of what you need. I'm sure it is in his best interest for you to be happy. It is hard not to worry about everything because we all made a choice to do this, but most everyone I have heard from including myself have been happy in the end and I'm sure yo will too. Relax and look forward to your beautiful new body!
3/03 happymommyof3 20 Feb 2011
Yeah I am flat above the navel I guess it is just my belly button and stretch marks I am concerned about...because the mini won't correct all of it. But with a full TT my belly button won't look like it used to either....I am sure it's just nerves. I bet in a few weeks I will be posting how happy I am that I followed through.
3/03 happymommyof3 20 Feb 2011
I finally got some pics posted on this review.....see above. thanks again for all your support through this ladies! it's unlike anything that I could get from my close friends and family who either can't relate or they don't believe in plastic surgery.
readyforchange 23 Mar 2011
Hello again. I had my mini on the 21st. I am still so swollen. How long did your swelling last? Also do you remember how much you were draining. I seem to be emptying this drain bulb. It keeps filling up.
Fun In The Sun 20 Feb 2011
Good luck to you and your upcoming surgery.
soon2banewme 21 Feb 2011
From your picture it looks like you have very tight upper abs. I can see where you only need a mini. The only thing I have seen in a mini that people aren't too happy about is the belly button is pulled down a bit. Maybe your surgeon has a good method of doing this and your belly button won't be pulled. The scar seems much shorter with a mini too! Did you like the results of the mini's he has preformed?
Acworthmom 21 Feb 2011
Hi Happy Mommy and Soon2beanewme! I got my pics up if you guys want to take a look. It seems all of our builds are similar and it may help. At 32 as yo are my tummy looked just like yours, but as gravity took off over the years, by 50 it was much worse. Like I have said before...please ignore the nasty belly button in my pic, as it will be another week or so before the plastic on it disolves and it starts to heel. Happy mommy...I am a little concerned for your happiness with the mini as well. I noted a few stretchmarks above your belly button (nothing like mine of course), but wondered how he would put those below by doing a mini. Maybe it is a quiestion you could as your ps. My muscle wasn't separated all the way up but my ps did say that most girls are happiest with a full muscle repair. I am pulling for you as I know you are struggling with this tough decision. Good luck to both of my new found friends.
3/03 happymommyof3 21 Feb 2011
I am very worried about the belly button pulling down.... I have already had my pre op. Do you think I could go back prior to surgery and talk to him about it again? He is a great dr. Both my sister and brother have used him. And I did like his before and after photos but I didn't see one that was my build or age. Your photo looks remarkably similar to mine. And your after pics look great!! Congrats and thank you for sharing them
3/03 happymommyof3 21 Feb 2011
One more thing......WOW! You don't look 50!!
Acworthmom 21 Feb 2011
Yes!!! If you have any doubt at all I would go back to meet with him. This is a big decision and you are paying him a lot of money. What you might try to find out is this. As the years go by and your upper abs aren't as tight, would the full or mini tuck serve you better in the long run. When I was considering skin only I kept thinking would I regret not just going with everything I could do while I was in surgery anyway. I knew that with skin only I would recover sooner and have much less pain, but in the long run would I be happy. Best of luck in your decision. Either way....I'm sure you will look fabulous!
Acworthmom 21 Feb 2011
Ha! Thanks....I turned 50 in January. I have daughter's that are 20 and 24 and when I tell people they are always shocked. Soon2beanewme said 50 is the new 40.
Acworthmom 21 Feb 2011
Something strange happened with my words above...I meant at 32 my tummy looked just like yours.
Soccermom11 (RealFriend) 21 Feb 2011
Good Luck Happy mom of 3!! I also schedualed March 1st. I am now getting very worried about my recovery, and is this going to be what I wanted. From what I have read so far every recovery is different. I am getting a full TT with muscle tightening as well as flank lipo. Please keep in touch as the time is approching its nice to talk to other ladies who understand.
Cass25 21 Feb 2011
I just had what your are going to get and I have been feeling pretty good. I was able to walk around without help the next day and its been 5days and still doing pretty good. My back is sore and swollen I think from the lipo but the healing process has been hardly painful at all. Labor was way worse than this. lol
Mommy of 4 22 Feb 2011
You already look great, so your going to be swimsuit model material after this

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