Mini TT with lipo or Full TT, advice? (photos)

Concerns about the appearance of the abdomen are very common among patients consulting with a plastic surgeon. Just like every patient is different…so too is every abdomen. Different problems require different solutions. Your board certified plastic surgeon is uniquely trained to identify the problems as well as the appropriate solution.
The abdomen is commonly addressed via liposuction or abdominoplasty (“tummy – tuck”). Which procedure is best is dependent upon the source of the problem. 
Excess fat deposits underneath the skin can be addressed via liposuction. Liposuction will not address any other issues and may worsen the situation if there are other factors at play (such as skin excess and muscle laxity, see below)
Commonly patients concerns are centered around issues of excess skin as well as fat. A third factor, which is often overlooked by most patients is abdominal wall muscle laxity (typically seen in post partum mommies).  The tummy tuck, also known as abdominoplasty is a surgical procedure designed to eliminate excess skin and fat and tighten the muscles in the abdominal wall to create a smoother and slimmer contour. The tummy tuck is designed to target areas of the abdomen that have not responded to diet and exercise, making it particularly popular among people that have a lot of loose or sagging skin around the abdominal area due to significant weight loss, as well as women with excess skin and stretched abdominal muscles following pregnancy and childbirth. 
Candidates for tummy tuck should be already at or near their ideal weight for optimal results. It is recommended to women that are planning on becoming pregnant to postpone the procedure until they are finished having children.
A mini-abdominoplasty is a short scar abdominoplasty. Optimal candidates have minimal skin excess localized below the level of the umbilicus (belly button). The major benefit of the procedure is the shorter scar burden. Alternatively, the drawback to the procedure is it's minimal access nature. The shorter scar and the upper limit of dissection (belly button) limits the opportunity to tighten the muscle as you only have access to the lower 1/3 of the muscle in the midline for plication (unless you float/detach the umbilicus which can only be performed in cases of minimal infraumbilical skin excess). 
Based upon your photos alone, you would appear to be a reasonable candidate for a full tummy tuck. However, there is no substitute for an in-person exam.
As always, discuss your concerns with a board certified plastic surgeon (ABPS).

Based on my experience, most women are happier with a full tummy tuck versus a mini.  Even though the lower part of your abdomen is the thing you most notice now, usually if only a part of the abdomen is fixed, they then notice the upper part of the abdomen as looking worse.  For example if the lower part of the belly is addressed, then the upper part looks full or loose in comparison.  It’s like changing the couch in the living room, and now the rug looks bad or the side tables need to be changed.  I suspect if you only fix the bottom part of your belly, you will find the shape of the belly button to be changed and the top will look full in comparison.  It’s best to get an opinion in person, though, so seek a plastic surgeon certified by The American Board of Plastic Surgery.

This is an excellent question. Based on the photos, I would say you are a better candidate for a full tummy tuck, not a mini, even if lipo is performed. Any time there is skin laxity above the belly button, a mini tummy tuck will not be sufficient to achieve the best results. It would only tighten the lower abdomen, leaving the upper part still loose. Also, given the photos show laxity across the entire lower abdomen, I do not feel you would be a good candidate for the short scar either. Trying to limit the length of an incision when you need to tighten all the way across leaves bunching or pleating at the ends, and does not look as nice. A full tummy tuck also allow repair of muscle separation you describe. I would recommend seeking another opinion, and making sure the doctor is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. Also, make sure you like the surgeon's before and after photos to make sure you share the same idea of what type of results are acceptible.