Can I combine endometriosis and scar removal with a mini tummy tuck? (photos)

Dear Mlk84ml,
I understand your concern. It is best however that you consult with a board certified plastic surgeon to determine whether you can have several aesthetic surgeries in one session, as this would depend on various factors including but not limited to your general health condition, the type of anesthesia that will be used, and the type of surgeries that will be performed among others.
Daniel Barrett, MD
Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

Thank you for your question.
In a combined procedure like you are describing, you would need coordination from both your OBGYN and your plastic surgeon. It is definitely possible, but I recommend speaking with both of your doctors to begin finding time for this procedure.

It is possible to combine procedures, but it will take some coordination. You will need to speak to both your OB/Gyn and plastic surgeon about performing these procedures on the same surgical day. From the photos submitted it appears you are a good candidate for a tummy tuck with liposuction for contouring. This would give you a flatter, tighter abdomen.

If you find a gynecologist and plastic surgeon who both agree to do surgery the same day, then yes, it can be done. Your insurance will not cover the OR or anesthesia fee while the mini tuck is being done.

It’s definitely possible to combine cosmetic surgery and GYN procedures. It requires that both your GYN and plastic surgeons can coordinate and operate on the same day and both have privileges at the same surgery center or hospital.
You will have to discuss with both medical specialties and coordinate it yourself. If you have a particular gynecologist and a particular plastic surgeon then it may not be able to be possible if they don’t have privileges at the same institution.
Start the plastic surgery process by having multiple in person consultations with local board-certified plastic surgeons.
If you know where your gynecologist operates then you can look for plastic surgeons who are on staff or have privileges at that facility.
During the consultation you can get an assessment and better understanding of different treatment options. muscle tightening is done as part of a full tummy tuck and it’s usually not done as part of a mini.
Most likely a full tummy tuck is the way to go. In someways doing these two procedures as a combined procedure may actually have advantages since the gynecologist could have access to doing their procedure as an open operation instead of as a laparoscopic procedure. Typically GYN procedures are done laparoscopically through small incisions and their doctor uses small instruments while looking at a TV screen.
Open surgery is typically avoided by the gynecologist to avoid leaving patients with a big scar.
Since you already going to have a big scar from the tummy tuck it gives them a perfect opportunity to get ideal access to do their procedure in an easier manner. I’m not a gynecologist and should not speak on behalf of their specialty but that has been my experience in the past.
When interviewing plastic surgeons ask each provider to show their entire collection of before and after pictures. Being shown a handful of sample pictures which most likely represent the best results of their career is insufficient to get a clear understanding of what average results look like in the hands of each provider. ask each provider to show as many pictures as possible of patients with similar body characteristics to around. Ideally they should open up their portfolio and give you access to all of their results. Ask them to see examples of excellent that comes comes and less than outcomes. we all have them and it’s fair game for patients to ask to see a variety of different surgical outcomes.
And experience provider should have no difficulty showing you at least 50 sets of before and after pictures of commonly performed procedures like a tummy tuck.
Look carefully at the results paying close attention to who gets the most natural looking belly button. getting a natural belly button consistently is one of the hardest parts of this procedure and surgeons to do that well on a consistent basis typically get all aspects of the procedure right.
Other characteristics of quality work include a very low set scar that follows anatomic contours naturally with the torso looking proportionate and attractive from all angles including from behind. Other ways to find the right provider include reading all reviews on various physician review websites avoiding providers with any significant number of negative reviews. The absence of justified negative reviews is more important and more telling and then having an abundance of positive reviews.
Continue having consultations until you feel quite comfortable you found the right provider for your needs. Hopefully you’ll be able to find someone who has privileges and can coordinate their schedule with your gynecologist. If it’s very important to combine the procedures then alternatively you may need to switch gynecologist in order to coordinate.
Whether having the choice of gynecologist or your choice of plastic surgeon it’s more important it’s something you will have to figure out in case both of them don’t operate at the same facility.
If you do them a separate procedures it’s probably better to do the GYN procedure first.
Plastic surgeons will differ on how much time do you need to wait between the two operations but really there is no need to wait any significant amount of time after a laparoscopic operation to do a tummy tuck. some may still want you to wait 3 to 6 months but it could be done much sooner if both doctors feel it’s appropriate.
Do not expect the tummy tuck to improve your pain. If anything expect a tummy tuck to give you more pain.
The recovery from a full tummy tuck is intense and takes two full weeks of dedicated time.
Best,
Mats Hagstrom MD