I desperately want/need a tummy tuck to eliminate the scars, saggy skin, stretch marks, and visible cannula tunneling on my abdomen. I know that a full-TT is the best way to achieve that result, but I don’t know if I have enough tissue to work with. If I a not a good candidate, what kind of an outcome can I expect from a mini-TT?
February 13, 2018
Answer: Do I have enough skin for a full tummy tuck? Thank you for using RealSelf.com and providing photos.A full tummy tuck including muscle tightening will give you the best result. Your upper belly does have some loose skin just not as much as the lower tummy. The only issue will involve the scars. You will have a long scar in the bikini line (not a worry) and a belly button scar (also, not a worry). But, you will also have an up and down scar in the midline of your tummy above the tummy tuck scar in the bikini line. The reason is you just do not have enough loose skin to remove the belly button hole that is a result from detaching the belly button from the skin.It will be a trade-off. My opinion, a good one. Scars fade over several years. Your skin looseness and irregularities will not go away unless a tummy tuck is performed.If you do not want that extra scar, a mini-tummy tuck could be done. This would tighten only the lower belly but avoid the up and down scar and the belly button scar.Hope this helps.Dr Spies
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February 13, 2018
Answer: Do I have enough skin for a full tummy tuck? Thank you for using RealSelf.com and providing photos.A full tummy tuck including muscle tightening will give you the best result. Your upper belly does have some loose skin just not as much as the lower tummy. The only issue will involve the scars. You will have a long scar in the bikini line (not a worry) and a belly button scar (also, not a worry). But, you will also have an up and down scar in the midline of your tummy above the tummy tuck scar in the bikini line. The reason is you just do not have enough loose skin to remove the belly button hole that is a result from detaching the belly button from the skin.It will be a trade-off. My opinion, a good one. Scars fade over several years. Your skin looseness and irregularities will not go away unless a tummy tuck is performed.If you do not want that extra scar, a mini-tummy tuck could be done. This would tighten only the lower belly but avoid the up and down scar and the belly button scar.Hope this helps.Dr Spies
Helpful
February 13, 2018
Answer: Tunneling scars on the abdomen from a tummy tuck Thanks for presenting a challenging issue to the forum. I have a significant amount of experience with abdominal contouring; and have found that trying to fully correct deep adhesions from previous liposuctioning can be a difficult issue. Often times there is not enough subcutaneous tissue to help camouflage the dimples caused by irregular removal of the fat and adhesion scarring bands. Releasing a significant portion of the deep scar bands will help around 40%-70%, once again, depending on how much of a fatty layer exists. If there is not enough, then re-introducing fat after releasing the bands, removing excess skin and stretching the flap, will help the most. You appear to have some excess skin and some relaxed abdominal wall fascia, all of which will be helped using the full tummy tuck; however, a full exam will be necessary before making any definitive plan. Best of luck!
Helpful
February 13, 2018
Answer: Tunneling scars on the abdomen from a tummy tuck Thanks for presenting a challenging issue to the forum. I have a significant amount of experience with abdominal contouring; and have found that trying to fully correct deep adhesions from previous liposuctioning can be a difficult issue. Often times there is not enough subcutaneous tissue to help camouflage the dimples caused by irregular removal of the fat and adhesion scarring bands. Releasing a significant portion of the deep scar bands will help around 40%-70%, once again, depending on how much of a fatty layer exists. If there is not enough, then re-introducing fat after releasing the bands, removing excess skin and stretching the flap, will help the most. You appear to have some excess skin and some relaxed abdominal wall fascia, all of which will be helped using the full tummy tuck; however, a full exam will be necessary before making any definitive plan. Best of luck!
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