115lb, mother of 2, what kind of TT for the bulge and loose skin? (Photos)

Dear vic danconia,
based on your photos, you look like a good candidate for a TT. Full tummy tuck should tighten your abdominal muscles and remove the excess skin. Flanks liposuction would give you a better shape. I would suggest you to consult a board-certified plastic surgeon because only after a thorough examination you will get more information and recommendations.
Daniel Barrett, MDCertified, American Board of Plastic SurgeryMember, American Society of Plastic SurgeryMember, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

Hello VICDANCONIA. Thank you for your question regarding what kind of tummy tuck is needed for the bulge and loose skin for a 115-pound mother of two. Thank you for your history and your pictures. Let’s examine your pictures. Your pictures show muscle distention primarily below your belly button to the top of the pubic region. You do not have much excess skin and you do not have much excess fat. The only way to fix weak muscle is with a tummy tuck. Therefore, you do not need liposuction and only need a tummy tuck.

Now let's examine what kind of tummy tuck you need. There are several different types of tummy tucks. With a mini tummy tuck, a minimal amount of lower abdominal skin is removed, the belly button is not relocated, and the muscle is repaired. The extent of the muscle repair depends on the surgeon. In my opinion, I would repair your rectus abdominis muscle from the bottom of the sternum to the top of the pubic region. Some surgeons would call this a mini tummy tuck, while others would call it a full tummy tuck. Either way, you require full rectus abdominis plication from the bottom of the sternum to the top of the pubic region for the best result. In terms of removing skin, since you do not have much to remove, you could also undergo some liposuction on the side, but I believe this skin will tighten with the tummy tuck and muscle plication.

You do not need a Fleur de Lis tummy tuck, which is a combination of horizontal and vertical incisions, because you do not have much excess skin in the central portion of your abdomen above the belly button. You also do not need a 360 circumferential lower body lift as your hips and butt do not seem to have much excess skin or fat. Therefore, a tummy tuck with a primary focus on muscle repair would be the best course of action. Good luck. I hope this helps to answer your question regarding the type of tummy tuck needed for the bulge and loose skin on your abdomen.

Sincerely,

J. Timothy Katzen, MD, FASMBS, FICS
Plastic and Aesthetic Surgeon

You do not need the vertical incision and the mini tuck might work very well for you. Excess skin can also be removed with the mini tuck.