Tummy Tuck - enough skin for a low incision?

Thank you for your question regarding whether you can have a low incision tummy tuck after having several large babies. Thank you for enclosing your pictures. In my opinion, you can have a low incision tummy tuck. The placement of the incision is really up to you and your plastic surgeon. If you want the incision to be placed low, in my opinion, that can certainly be done. The key thing will be the dissection up to your belly button and up to your rib cage. During this dissection, the dissection needs to be aggressive to release all of the connective tissue. In my opinion, you should be able to get all of the skin from the incision to just above the belly button. That means at the conclusion of the tummy tuck, you have a low incision and accurate placement of your belly button. However, if during the dissection, one is not able to completely excise the hole where the bellybutton originated, then there will be a slight vertical line in your lower tummy tuck scar. This would be a remnant of where the belly button used to live. However, this 2 cm vertical scar is well worth the significantly improved appearance of your belly button. In my opinion, I would definitely go for it. Go ahead and have a low tummy tuck incision. Ideally, all of that skin is removed and you look fantastic. If we are not able to completely remove the skin from the scar to the top of the belly button and you have a slight scar where the belly button used to be, you will still have a significantly improved belly. I hope this helps to answer your question. Good luck with your tummy tuck.


Sincerely, Dr. Katzen. (“Verified” Plastic Surgeon, President of the American Society of Bariatric Plastic Surgeons, certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, Fellow of the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, American College of Surgery, and International College of Surgery and ​member of the American Society of Plastic Surgery, American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery and RealSelf Hall of Fame.)

You have very little excess skin above the umbilicus. You have some wrinkling around the umbilicus and most of your excess skin in below the umbilicus. It may not be possible to pull your umbilicus down and give you a low scar. Another alternative to consider is an umbilicoplasty to take care of this.

Best Wishes,

Gary Horndeski, M.D.

From your photos it appears you are a good candidate for the tummy tuck. An in person exam is the best way to determine if you have enough loose skin for a low incision, but it appears that you would. Other alternatives can be discussed during a consultation if it is determined that you do not. See a board certified plastic surgeon near you to learn more.