Left with loose skin after tummy tuck. What are my options? (Photo)

Hello, thank you for your photos! Sorry you are not happy with your results. My recommendations are to have your surgeon complete a revision surgery to correct the issue or if at this point you lost the trust with he /she then seek a second opinion. This can definitely be corrected but unfortunately may cost you more down time and money. Best of Luck!

Hello Sisimadsf666,

I'm truly sorry to hear that you're feeling disappointed with the results of your tummy tuck procedure. It's understandable to feel frustrated when the outcome doesn't align with your expectations, especially after trusting the advice of your surgeon.

Based on your description, it sounds like you may benefit from further discussion with your plastic surgeon regarding potential revision options to address the remaining loose skin. Two possible procedures that may be considered in your case are vertical incision abdominoplasty and vertical torsoplasty.

Vertical Incision Abdominoplasty: This procedure involves creating a vertical incision in addition to the traditional horizontal incision used in a standard abdominoplasty. The vertical incision allows for more extensive skin removal and tightening, particularly in cases where there is significant excess skin in the upper abdomen. Pros include more comprehensive correction of loose skin, while cons may include a longer scar and potentially higher risk of wound healing issues.
Vertical Torsoplasty: A vertical torsoplasty extends the incision from the armpits down to the hips bilaterally, allowing for even greater skin tightening and contouring of the entire torso. This procedure is particularly beneficial for patients with extensive loose skin not only on the abdomen but also on the sides and back. Pros include comprehensive correction of skin laxity across the entire torso, while cons may include a longer scar and potentially longer recovery time.
Before proceeding with any revision surgery, it's crucial to have a thorough discussion with your plastic surgeon to fully understand the benefits, risks, and potential outcomes of each procedure. Your surgeon can assess your individual anatomy and discuss which approach may best address your specific concerns and aesthetic goals.

It's unfortunate that there seems to have been a miscommunication regarding the initial recommendation for a full abdominoplasty versus a fleur-de-lis abdominoplasty. I encourage you to express your concerns openly with your surgeon and seek clarification on the available options for revision.

Ultimately, the goal is to achieve results that you are satisfied with and feel confident about. Your plastic surgeon is there to support you throughout this process and help guide you toward the most appropriate course of action.

Wishing you the best of luck on your journey towards achieving your desired outcome.

Sincerely,
Dr. Katzen

Thank you for the question. You haven't burned any bridges and can still have an FDL if that meets your goals.

From the pictures, it seems that your initial skin laxity was vertical and horizontal. You get the vertical pull but the laxity in the horizontal direction still persists. It's best to communicate with your initial surgeon and come to an agreement.

I would suggest going back to your surgeon and seeing if you can discuss and option for the vertical incision., either in the center of the abdomen or on each side. If you did state prior to surgery that you did not want the vertical scar, then your surgeon did the second best choice. You might get some improvement with minimally invasive radio-frequency skin tightening like Renuvion. This is an outpatient procedure with tiny incisions in your current scars.

I'm sorry you are unhappy with your tummy tuck results. It does appear you will need to consider a revision for improvement of the lax skin. I encourage you to speak with your surgeon to see if a compromise can be made.

My personal preference for treating individuals with more extensive skin laxity is to do an extended or wraparound tummy tuck.
For most women, the problem is going to be on the front of the abdomen and individuals who’ve been stretched out from pregnancy or have had extensive weight loss will have skin laxity and both horizontal and vertical direction.
a standard tummy tuck will treat vertical skin laxity, but not address horizontal skin laxity that well.
With an extended or wraparound tummy tuck some of the horizontal skin laxity can be incorporated towards the back avoiding the need for the vertical incision.
I personally find adding a vertical component leaves to a fairly undesirable scar.
Providers will vary, and sometimes the outcomes may be somewhat unpredictable.
Generally speaking the more extensive the skin, laxity is the more extensive the skin excision should be.
We don’t assess tummy tuck outcomes from a sitting position.
Is it really worth having an incision all the way up the midline?
Personally, I’m reluctant to give that scar to anyone.
I’d rather air on leaving someone with mild skin, laxity. Personally, I’m reluctant to give that scar to anyone.
I’d rather err on leaving someone with mild skin, laxity. You always go back and take out more skin but an ugly midline scar is forever.
Patients should recognize that not everybody is an ideal candidate for tummy tuck surgery.
It’s easy to play the blame game but recognizing that you’re on candidacy was inherently limited in the first place seems to be a bit harder.
Talk to your provider about revising the outcome if you want to add the vertical scar.
Best,
Mats Hagstrom, MD