Should I get a floating tummy tuck procedure?

Question

I have had 2 c sections I weigh 8st 10 (122 lbs) at 5'2" and comfortable 8 to 10. But I have an overhang from the sections and although I don't have much if any loose skin above the belly button, I have been advised a floating Tummy Tuck is best option although can find very little info on it. Any advice?

Jerome Edelstein, MD · Answer

Floating abdominoplasty uses a small incision in the lower abdomen to allow for the tummy to be tightened and shaped. No incision around the belly button is needed. Through the incision, excess skin is removed and muscles can be tightened. The belly button is temporarily detached during the surgery to allow for this. You experience muscle tightening from sternum to pubic area. After the belly button is reattached (and moved down if necessary) the incisions are sutured. Liposuction can be performed if necessary to eliminate excess fat.  Please see an experienced board certified plastic surgeon for a physical examination to determine which treatment would be most suitable. A floating abdominoplasty may help you. Good luck.

J. Timothy Katzen, MD, FACS · Answer

Hello, and thank you for your question about whether you should consider a floating tummy tuck, especially after two C-sections. First, congratulations on maintaining a healthy weight — you’ve done a great job getting to this point!

A floating tummy tuck (also called an umbilical float tummy tuck or mini tummy tuck with umbilical release) is a less invasive version of a full abdominoplasty. It’s designed for patients who:

Have most of their loose skin and bulging below the belly button

Don’t have significant loose skin or muscle separation above the belly button

Want a smaller scar and faster recovery compared to a full tummy tuck

During a floating tummy tuck, the belly button is temporarily detached from the muscle underneath, but not from the overlying skin. This allows the surgeon to tighten the muscles and remove excess skin below the belly button without having to make a new opening for the belly button (like in a full tummy tuck). Instead, the belly button is "floated" slightly downward — usually about 1–2 centimeters — and reattached without creating a new scar around it.

Based on your description — healthy BMI, small lower abdominal overhang from C-sections, little to no loose skin above the belly button — a floating tummy tuck could be a very appropriate option for you. It would allow you to:

Tighten the area below your belly button

Flatten the lower abdomen

Avoid a full-length, hip-to-hip scar and major disruption to the upper abdominal area

Important things to consider:

If you have significant muscle separation above the belly button, a floating tummy tuck may not be enough, and a full tummy tuck would be better.

If you’re okay with your belly button being slightly lower (a subtle shift), you’ll likely be very happy with the trade-off.

The recovery is generally easier and quicker than with a full tummy tuck, but you still need to take it seriously — about 2–4 weeks off from heavy lifting or strenuous exercise is typical.

Floating tummy tucks aren’t as commonly talked about because they are suited to a very specific group of patients, but when you’re a good candidate, they can offer beautiful, natural-looking results with fewer scars and downtime.

Wishing you the best as you move forward!

Sincerely,
Dr. J. Timothy Katzen, MD, MBA, FASMBS, FICS
(Certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and President of the American Society of Bariatric Plastic Surgeons; Fellow of the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, American College of Surgery, International College of Surgery, and American Board of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery; Member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery, and RealSelf Hall of Fame)

Before committing to any tummy tuck technique, be sure to consult with a board-certified plastic surgeon who has significant experience with mini tummy tucks and floating umbilical techniques. Review their before-and-after photos carefully, and make sure they explain all your options clearly during your consultation.

Emmanuel Mallol Cotes, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question. To provide a valid medical opinion I will need to see pictures of you body from different angles. I would suggest to be treated by board certified plastic surgeon with experience in this procedure, to get the best desired results.
Respectfully,Dr. Emmanuel Mallol Cotes.-

Ricardo A. Meade, MD · Answer

I'll continue the conversation further by adding a definition differentiating the two surgeries. The difference between an umbilical float abdominoplasty and a mini tummy tuck is that the minitummy tuck is a smaller incision (just longer than a c-section) and just skin removal usually. The umbilical float is done to release the skin underneath the belly button and muscle tightening followed by fairly minor skin removal. 
Your belly button should be slightly high or you need to have a long torso, otherwise your result will be somewhat unaesthetic.  It'll depend on the artistic eye of the board certified plastic surgeon that you go to (this the ultimate US qualification for a plastic surgeon).

John LoMonaco, MD, FACS · Answer

While it may be nice to avoid the circular scar around your belly button, you will be left with too much excess skin above the belly button area.  As wisely stated by the other doctors, having the success of the surgery depend on the extent of the scars virtually ensures a limited result.

Should I get a floating tummy tuck procedure?

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Should I get a floating tummy tuck procedure?

Answers (8)

Answer: Mini tummy tuck as an alternative

Answer: Mini tummy tuck as an alternative

Answer: A "Mini" Procedure Will Give You a "Mini" Result

Answer: A "Mini" Procedure Will Give You a "Mini" Result

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Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Tummy Tuck

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