How Can You Determine the Need for Muscle Repair During a TT Evaluation? (photo)

This is determined on the physical examination during the consultation. I have my patients lie supine in the exam chair and have them lift their heads up from the head rest. This way I can palpate the muscle edges and determine the degree of distance of muscle separation. Also tells me if the person has a midline hernia as well.

Thank you for the question and pictures.

The need for “muscle repair” is based on obtaining a good history and physical examination. The status of the abdominal wall muscles  can be determined by visual examination and palpation in the upright and bent over (diving) positions.

The reapproximation (plication)  of the rectus muscles is an  important part of all tummy tuck procedures I do.  These muscles have spread apart during pregnancy and/or weight gain. Bringing them together again in the midline helps to “tighten” the abdominal wall as well as to narrow the waistline.

In my opinion, the mini tummy talk is an  operation that  produces very limited results and is very rarely indicated. It involves a shorter incision but does not address the majority of the abdominal wall issues present for most patients who present consultation. For example, the area of skin excised is quite small. The abdominal wall musculature is addressed below the umbilicus leaving the upper number wall potentially lax. The appearance of the umbilicus is not necessarily addressed sufficiently.

For most patients who have had pregnancies and/or weight loss a full abdominoplasty is necessary to achieve the desired results. Of course, there are downsides (including a longer scar and probably a longer recovery time) but for most patients the benefits outweigh the downsides. It is not unusual to see patients who've had mini tummy tuck  surgery present for  revisionary surgery.
It is important  for patients seeking abdominal contouring surgery to work with a well experienced board-certified plastic surgeon to obtain advice (based on good ethics and judgment) to  improve  their chances of a successful outcome and minimize the need for further surgery.


I hope this helps.