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

When someone doesn’t like their belly - there are typically 3 components: skin, fat, and muscle. Unless the procedure addresses the needs of all three - there’s bound to be some disappointment.Visit with a board certified member of asps/asaps for your consultation and good luck!

Thank you for your question. Based on your photos you appear to be a good candidate for full tummy tuck with intense liposuction to improve your body contour and get better curves especially in your laterals and waist and Dominican Butt lift taking the fat we get and transfer to the buttocks and hips, to mold them and get better volume, contour and butt projection.
Kind Regards,Dr. Emmanuel Mallol Cotes.-

I agree with you that a mini abdominoplasty will be disappointing. I think a full abdominoplasty, although the resulting incision will be longer. We'll yield a much better result. Almost always this is combined with liposuction of the waist.

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.

Hello and thank you for your
question. Based on your photograph, you are a better candidate for a full tummy tuck
with liposuction.  This can be done
through a low and short incision, all completely below the bikini line.  The belly button can be designed to look
natural and have no scars on the exterior.  
Your muscles can also be plicated resulting in a flat abdomen.  Make sure you specifically look
at before and after pictures of real patients who have had this surgery
performed by your surgeon and evaluate their results.  The most important
aspect is to find a surgeon you are comfortable with. I recommend that you seek
consultation with a qualified board-certified plastic surgeon who can evaluate
you in person.
Best wishes and good luck.
Richard G. Reish, M.D. FACS
Harvard-trained plastic surgeon

Dear TheFlatSide2.0,Its difficult to tell without examining you but from your photos you would benefit the most from a Tummy Tuck. Heres why:
Liposuction gets rid of excess fat. You have laxity of your skin based on the shadows portrayed in your photo. Liposuction alone would alone make this more lax and likely make the appearance less aesthetically pleasing.
A mini tummy tuck is great if you are just looking to flatten the skin below the belly button. It does nothing for the skin above the belly button. 
A full tummy tuck address all of the skin laxity and abdominal wall laxity. It repositions your umbilicus as well. It costs more and has more downtime associated then either of the above.
I would recommend consulting with a plastic surgeon that can go over in detail these three options and spends time answering your questions.Daniel Barrett, MD
Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

Thank you for your question and series of photographs.  I think you would most benefit from a full tummy tuck and liposuction of your waist and flanks.  The tummy tuck will tighten your stomach muscles, helping to achieve a flatter appearance, while removing excess skin and adipose tissue.  Liposuction can be used to enhance your tummy tuck results by narrowing your waist and removing isolated areas of diet and exercise resistant fat.  Hope that this helps.

Based on the photos and information given a standard tummy tuck would be recommended. You can add liposuction for contouring if desired. These procedures will remove excess subcutaneous fat, extra skin, and correct abdominal wall laxity. The result will be a flatter, tighter tummy. A mini tuck would provide a smaller incision but in your case I think the standard tuck will be worth it.