Do I need a tummy tuck? Would I be a good candidate for a mini tummy tuck?

Thank you for your questions and photo. A full tummy tuck will address excess skin & repair the abdominal muscle. The abdominal wall can be weakened after pregnancy and (or) significant weight gain & loss. By repairing the muscle, not only does the appearance of your abdominal area improve, but your core strength as well. The repair of the muscle will cinch your waist like an inner corset, which will accentuate your curves. Liposuction will remove excess fat from unwanted areas with some skin retraction. Your expectations and health will dictate the best procedure(s) for you. I suggest a consultation with a board certified plastic surgeon to go over the options that best address your goals. Best of luck!

Dhaval Patel MD
Double Board Certified Plastic Surgeon
Chicago
South Barrington
Oakbrook
Orland Park

You would be a candidate for a full tummy tuck. If you are not planning future pregnancies, I recommend abdominoplasty with mesh reinforcement. The mesh creates a more hourglass figure by compressing the abdominal wall resulting in early satiety and helps maintain a reduced weight.

Best Wishes,

Gary Horndeski, M.D.

Thank you for your query. There are multiple things to be considered before choosing a tummy- tuck or a mini tummy-tuck. If the loose skin is only in the lower part, as in the single picture you have posted, you may be a candidate for a mini tummy-tuck. If, however, you have a space between your muscles (diastasis), a repair of the weakness will have to be done, which can be done better with a full tummy-tuck. There is, however, another technique where a full repair of the weakness can be done without an incision around the belly-button. It is called a “floating belly button technique” where the belly button is detached from the depth, repair of diastasis done, and then the belly button is reattached to the abdominal wall from the inside. Please find an experienced board certified Plastic surgeon in your area who can examine you and help you with all your concerns. All the best!

Dear Sx97,
it is hard to tell for sure without an examination. If you are considering surgery, I would suggest you consult a board-certified plastic surgeon. 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

An in person evaluation is always best, but it appears you may be a better candidate for a standard tummy tuck. This will repair the abdominal wall laxity that is common after pregnancy. It will also remove the excess skin and many of the stretch marks. The result is a tighter, flatter appearing tummy. See a board certified plastic surgeon near you to learn more.

You posted ONLY 1 photo??? My guess is you are a candidate for either full TT over mini TT. Best results are with full TT. Plus add in lipo of waist. Fees from $8,500. Best to virtual consult with....

Hello. The answer can be difficult to tell from photos alone. A mini ambominoplasty will not address skin laxity and muscle laxity above the umbilicus. I seee that you have a good amount of loose ski man and stretch marks. A full tummy tuck may be a better operation to achieve the flattest abdomen possible. However, the answer depends on your Tissue quality and what you want To achieve. Best to speak to a plastic surgeon in person to discuss these options.

Hi, there is an other option besides a mini tummy tuck and a tummy tuck. I can't asses if you have loose skin above your belly button or not ( other angles could help). I don't see loose skin above your belly button on this picture, I do see Diastasis recti (separation of abdominal muscles, usually happens in pregnancy), and loose skin below the belly button.How do we repair this?We may perform a modified abdominoplasty, we do an incision (similar to mini-tummy tuck or tummy tuck), we elevate skin and belly button with it, we repair the diastasis recti bringing the abdominal muscles back together, we fix the umbilicus to the abdomen, usually in a lower postition (1-2cm) and we remove the excess skin below the umbilicus. This may be combined with liposculpture, to achieve a better result.Hope this helps.

we need to see you from front and side views all the way down to pubic hair to be able to assess properly.

If you want to tight flat abdomen then you’ll need a full tummy tuck.
A mini tummy tuck will not address the muscle separation that’s causing your abdominal wall to bulge.
Getting a natural looking bellybutton is the hardest part of the procedure and you should judge plastic surgeons accordingly.
For individuals perform very visible scars it can be a challenge to get a natural looking bellybutton regardless of how talented the surgeon is.
In the end it’s a trade-off that works for some people but not for others.
I suggest having a few in person consultations with local board-certified plastic surgeons to get a quality assessment and better understanding of treatment options.
Best,
Mats Hagstrom MD