Belly is swollen and wrinkled after mini tummy tuck revision - what are my options?

You really needed a full tummy tuck not a mini. Your mini tummy tuck can be converted to a full tummy tuck but you would have a scar around your navel.

Thank you for your question and photos. You had the wrong operation, twice. If plan A is wrong, then plan B should not be the same as plan A! Based on your upright frontal photo, you need a full tummy tuck and VASER liposuction. It seems the surgeon you chose is not an expert in body contouring. You need to see a board certified plastic surgeon experienced in advanced body sculpting techniques for an in person consultation/evaluation. Remember, the more unsuccessful surgeries you have, the harder it is to achieve a good result. Good luck.

You’ll need a full tummy tuck to address the excess skin above the belly button and essentially tighten the whole abdomen. Or a reverse tummy tuck to specifically pull up and excise the excess skin in the upper abdomen. I agreee w Dr. Hayworth, it’s best to visit with other experienced Plastic Surgeons.

I'm sorry to hear about your situation. Based on what you've described, it sounds like you may need to seek a second opinion from a different doctor to get a better understanding of what's causing the swelling and wrinkling in your belly.

It's possible that there may be underlying medical issues, such as a hernia or infection, that could be contributing to your symptoms. In that case, you may need to undergo further testing or treatment to address those issues.

In terms of your cosmetic concerns, you could discuss alternative treatments with your doctor, such as a tummy tuck or other procedures that can help to improve the appearance of your belly. Additionally, you could consider working with a skilled aesthetician to explore non-surgical options for addressing your concerns, such as radiofrequency or ultrasound treatments.

Ultimately, the best course of action will depend on the specifics of your situation and your individual goals and preferences. It may be helpful to consult with a variety of experts and consider all of your options before making any decisions.


I hope this helps,
best of luck !

Dear nadkn,
In most mini tummy tuck procedures there are trade-offs between obtaining the tightest possible result and contouring and the extent of scarring. We are not privy to your preoperative physical appearance or discussions with your plastic surgeon, but it looks like you and/or your plastic surgeon were pushing the envelope a little too far. Your solution is likely a full tummy tuck at this point. Good luck!

To make an accurate assessment on the outcome of an operation we need to see proper before and after pictures. If somebody’s had multiple procedures, then we need to see before and after pictures of each operation. This includes revision surgery. If you don’t have before and after pictures, ask your surgeon to forward the ones they took. You were never a good candidate for a mini tummy tuck based on the pictures you show. You have significant skin laxity, and most likely a muscle separation from previous pregnancies. The correct procedure in the first place should’ve been a full tummy tuck. Subcutaneous fat is not the issue in your case. There are four variables that determine what someone’s abdomen looks like. Choosing the correct procedure should be based on having a clear understanding of what the problem is. In other words juicing, the operation should be based on making an accurate diagnosis or assessment.
D4 variables that determine what the abdomen looks like our abdominal skin, laxity, subcutaneous, fat, muscle separation from previous pregnancies, and lastly, excess visceral or intra-abdominal fat.
Skin laxity appears to be the primary problem and it should’ve been addressed by having a full tummy tuck.
Choosing procedures, the dog treat the underlying problem is going to give partial improvements at best.
I suggest having a few in person, consultations with local board-certified plastic surgeons to get a more accurate assessment, and better understanding of treatment options. If you want your abdomen to look better than you probably need to consider having a full tummy tuck we should’ve been the procedure of choice for the first operation.
Best,
Mats Hagstrom, MD