No kids, should I get a mini or full tummy tuck? (Photo)

Thanks for your question. From your pictures, you seem to be a good candidate for a tummy tuck. That said, the Body Mass Index (BMI) requirement for tummy tuck surgery at my practice is under 33. I tell my patients to be at or around their ideal weight for optimal results. I suggest you schedule a consult for a proper evaluation. Always consult with a board certified plastic surgeon. Take care, Dr. Salama, board certified plastic surgeon.

The decision between a mini or full abdominoplasty depends on your specific goals and the amount of correction needed. Typically, both procedures require at least 4 weeks of recovery.
If you're mainly concerned with getting rid of excess skin or overhang in the lower abdomen, a mini tummy tuck might be a great option. It targets the area below the belly button and involves a smaller incision. However, if you have more extensive loose skin or separated muscles throughout the entire abdomen, a full abdominoplasty may be a better fit.
Your surgeon will be able to assess your needs and help guide you toward the best choice based on your body and goals.

Thank you for submitting your question and photos! The only difference in a mini vs a full abdominoplasty is how long the scar is. A mini tummy tuck is going to have a smaller scar than a full tummy tuck. Muscle repair, removal of excess skin, and liposuction are all included with both a mini and a full tummy tuck. I recommend scheduling a consult appointment with a board certified plastic surgeon like myself so we can create a surgical plan that is best for you and your goals.

Thank you for your question.
It looks like you \may be a candidate for a full tummy tuck. Schedule a consultation with board certified plastic surgeon to discuss your options. Best wishes!

I would not recommend a mini tummy tuck to address this problem. The major limitation of a mini tummy tuck is that it does not adequately address skin laxity above the umbilicus. While a mini tummy tuck does address that lower area, the discrepancy between the area from the belly button to the pubic area compared to the area above the rib cage is unlikely to be flattering. I would recommend a traditional tummy tuck with umbilical transposition for this patient. I would also recommend tightening your muscles. I understand you did not have children, but it does appear that you have fascial laxity in that area, leading to a central "pooching" of the abdominal tissues. However, tightening the muscles is usually the most painful and difficult to recover from. Therefore, you could consider a traditional tummy tuck without muscle tightening, resulting in a much faster recovery. A 2-week window is inadequate for full recovery if your job is very physical. Contact us at The Center for Cosmetic Surgery for more information and a consultation!

Hello, and thank you for your question regarding whether you should get a mini or full tummy tuck. Thank you for your detailed history and the photos you provided.

During a full abdominoplasty (tummy tuck), five essential improvements are typically made:

Excess abdominal skin is permanently removed

Excess abdominal fat is permanently removed

The rectus abdominis muscle is plicated (tightened)

The umbilicus (belly button) is repositioned

The mons pubis is lifted and reduced

By contrast, a mini tummy tuck only addresses the lower abdominal skin and fat. It does not tighten the upper abdomen or repair the rectus abdominis muscles — and it does not reposition the belly button.

Even though you have not had children, your photos show abdominal wall distention, particularly visible from the side profile. This indicates muscle weakness, not just loose skin or fat. That muscle weakness can only be corrected through rectus abdominis muscle plication, which is not part of a mini tummy tuck.

Understandably, you’re looking for a less invasive procedure due to your profession as an RN and your short recovery window. However, choosing a mini tummy tuck in your case will likely lead to suboptimal results. The core abdominal bulge and distention you are concerned about will not be corrected with a mini tummy tuck, and you may feel disappointed that your shape didn’t improve as much as you hoped.

If you're going to undergo surgery, take time off work, and invest in your body, it’s best to choose the procedure that offers the most complete and long-lasting result. In your case, that means a full abdominoplasty with rectus abdominis muscle plication. Most ethical, board-certified plastic surgeons would recommend the full tummy tuck, even if it means temporarily adjusting your work responsibilities or taking additional recovery time.

While moving the belly button may sound undesirable, it’s done with great care and is often undetectable once fully healed — and it’s a small trade-off for the dramatic improvement in core strength, posture, and contour that comes with a full abdominoplasty.

Good luck with your decision, and please consult with a board-certified plastic surgeon who has significant experience performing tummy tucks. Ask to see before-and-after photos of patients with similar body types so you can see what kind of outcome to expect.

Sincerely,
Dr. J. Timothy Katzen, MD, MBA, FASMBS, FICS
(Certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and President of the American Board of Bariatric Plastic Surgeons)

I would definitely go the full tummy tuck route. You have laxity and bulging of your abdominal wall both above and below your belly button. Therefore, a full tummy tuck would allow tightening of your abdomen from the bottom of your sternum down to you pubic bone. This will flatten your abdomen and narrow your waist line.

You appear to have skin laxity issues above and below your belly button therefore a full tummy tuck would be more suitable for you. However, you may want to reconsider doing it at this time since you would only be able to take 2 weeks off from your physically demanding work.

From the picture, you don't need a full abdominoplasty. you could benefit from a combination of liposuction of the upper abdomen and waists and mini abdominoplasty. You can also get a mini abdominoplasty without liposuction. You have the options.

Thank you for posting your question here,I will base my answer on the limited information provided and the pictures provided, for a definitive and bespoke plan I would recommend that you consult with your plastic surgeon in person.
- When it comes to mini tummy tucks /abdominoplasty , The ideal patient would be someone who does not have diastasis (separation of the rectus muscles), and skin laxity in their lower abdomen only as it will not address laxity above the belly button. From the limited pictures it appears that you might have some laxity in the upper part of your abdomen so this surgery might not address your issues to your satisfaction.
- A full abdominoplasty would address both issues by allowing for plication and removal of enough skin to address the skin above the belly button , the caveat is the need to move the belly button (more accurately is moving the skin around it).
- when coupled with liposuction a full abdominoplasty (lipoabdominoplasty) can give a patient a more defined and better silhouette but carries it's own set of potential complications.
- there are some other forms of abdominoplasty such as the extended abdominoplasty and the 360 ones that are more involved and address other issues but from your question I gather that you would rather go with a less involved/invasive procedure.
In the end the decision on which type of abdominoplasty to proceed with should be made after a discussion with your surgeon, during which your needs and concerns are discussed and a customized plan is formulated to address them.
best of Luck on your body transformation journey , I hope this answer helps!