Im 5'1 125lbs. I have a tiny frame I want a mini tummy tuck because I dont want a scar hip to hip? (photo)

Thank you for your question and photos. You are an excellent candidate for a tummy tuck with a short, low pubic incision. You do have a wide muscle separation and this needs to be fixed from breast bone to the pubic bone (a mini tummy tuck by strict definition is repairing the muscle separation from the belly button to the pubic bone). This approach would leave a significant bulge in your upper abdomen. I do these procedures with special instrumentation and fiberoptic retractors through the short pubic incision and through a small belly button incision, so I can repair the muscle separation from the breast bone down. The final scar is a short scar in the pubic area and not hip bone to hip bone. I also use the VASER lposuction technique to sculpt the abdomen at the same time. See a board certified plastic surgeon who is familiar with this technique. Good luck.

You can have a mini tummy tuck, but, in my opinion you need a full abdominoplasty. You simply have too many stretch marks and too much loose skin. The mini tuck will be a real dissappointment. But don't feel bad. With mini tummy tucks the scar is almost as long and there are really very few patients who are decent candidates for a mini tummy tuck.

I suspect that you would be a great candidate for a mini tummy tuck. However it would be impossible to tell you definitively without physical exam. Best of luck.

You do not need a scar from hip to hip as you only have central laxity. A short scar tummy tuck would have the same length incision as a minitummy tuck but would remove twice as much skin and make you much tighter while removing more stretchmarks. Find a plastic surgeon with ELITE credentials who performs hundreds
of tummy tuck procedures each year. Then look at the plastic surgeon's
website before and after photo galleries to get a sense of who can
deliver the results. Kenneth Hughes, MD Los Angeles, CA

Thank you for your questions and photos. Few patients are good candidates for a mini-tummy tuck. Most women who have had children or lost a significant amount of weight tend to have excess loose skin, stretch marks and muscle laxity. A mini-tummy tuck usually removes only some of the skin and fat between the pubis and belly button and can tighten the abdominal muscles bellow the belly button as well. This is usually achieved with a smaller scar. However, women with these deformities above and below the belly button will have significantly better and more long lasting results with a full tummy tuck. It is my opinion that patients are far more satisfied with the results of a full tummy tuck despite the longer scar. I am unable to properly evaluate your abdomen and recommend you discuss your concerns with your plastic surgeon.All the best,Dr. Dahan

Since every person's body build is different, every tummy tuck is different. The terms we as plastic surgeon's use can be confusing and their is no unanimity among plastic surgeons. What I call a mini tummy tuck may be, and probably is, totally different from the next plastic surgeon. What you need is going to be different than the next person.Forget the wording!!! Go to a board certified plastic surgeon and have your tummy evaluated. You will get an opinion on what is best for you and your figure, whatever the verbiage the plastic surgeon chooses.Good Luck!

In my over the internet opinion you are NOT a candidate for a mini tummy tuck. I recommend a full TT but best to have IN PERSON evaluations from boarded PSs.

These photos are not adequate to decide what procedure you need. Arms should be at your sides (elevating them tightens the skin and obscures the problem). A side view should be included.Chances are a full TT will be recommended. The incision must be at least as long as the vertical skin excess, and is rarely less than pelvic bone to pelvic bone, which is almost hip to hip. You will get best info in the setting of an in person consultation. Then you can decide if it is worth the incision you would need. All the best.

The type of abdominoplasty one should consider is defined by the amount of skin laxity that they have. If the skin from above the umbilicus can easily be stretched to the pubis when bending over then you are a candidate for a full abdominoplasty - if it does not you would be better off with a mini recognizing that the skin above the belly button will be unaffected by a mini-tummy tuck. Any separation in the muscles should be repaired with either procedure.

You would be better suited to save your money rather than get a mini TT. You have extensive skin laxity both below and above the belly button and will get no change in those areas. You can hide the scar in a small two piece swim suite, you cannot hide the damaged skin. Most ladies with your skin type have a negligible scar that is not a problem for them even with its length.