33 female, 5 years post-op 1st TT, am I a candidate for a full tummy tuck again? (Photos)

Question

33yr old female. First TT 5yrs ago. Had new baby 9mo ago. I have muscle separation & umbilical hernia. Plastic surgeon advised I’ll need FULL TT again to close hernia. I don’t have much fat or skin so he said my new scar will be higher across my abdomen & the old belly button hole won’t reach fully below to cutoff with skin, so I’ll have a small vertical scar. He said my hernia was too big for repair through bellybutton. I dnt want to go thru TT again if I don’t have to. Any thoughts?

Gerald Minniti, MD, FACS · Answer

In either scenario, you'll need to disarticulate the belly button from the skin to repair the hernia and complete the muscle repair above the belly button. This is not a bad thing though, because your belly button could look so much more natural than it does now. In my hands, I would re-advance upper belly skin as well (full tummy tuck). This will optimally tighten skin, and allow for a lower scar, which is too high on you.

Daniel Careaga, MD · Answer

without the benefit of meal to examine you in person, I can tell you that I’ve had multiple patients that have had the same situation where they had a tummy a long time ago and then had a pregnancy afterwards and your pictures are very similar to what I would expect. What I have found very successful in these patients is to actually perform a mini tuck. So I would use the original incision, lift all the skin off of the abdominal wall, repaired the muscle separation and hernia and float the belly button down about an inch. Based on your picture, it would still be at a normal position in it would not look artificial and I don’t see that you have enough loose skin to do a full tummy tuck successfully.

Daniel Barrett, MD · Answer

Dear malibuu05,
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, MD
Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

Camille Cash, MD · Answer

In order to fully address the muscle separation and umbilical hernia a revision would be needed.  This could be beneficial for you in that in addition to correcting those issues you can have scar revision in an effort to have thinner, less visible scarring.

Robert M. Wald, Jr., MD · Answer

I would first see a general surgeon and have your hernia evaluated. Sometimes these hernias will require a mesh and reconstruction. Muscle separation can be treated by retightening the abdominal muscles. You don't appear to have a lot of loose skin so a modified or mini tummy tuck could be performed.

33 female, 5 years post-op 1st TT, am I a candidate for a full tummy tuck again? (Photos)

Answers (7)

Answer: Revision

Answer: Revision

Answer: Tummy Tuck

Answer: Tummy Tuck

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33 female, 5 years post-op 1st TT, am I a candidate for a full tummy tuck again? (Photos)

Answers (7)

Answer: Revision

Answer: Revision

Answer: Tummy Tuck

Answer: Tummy Tuck

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Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Tummy Tuck Revision

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.