Mini or Full? Save my tattoo! (photos)

Thank you for the question. It looks like you have good skin elasticity, so you might be able to reach your goals with liposuction alone. However, the tummy tuck alone allows us to repair any muscle separation you may have (called diastasis recti), so speak with your doctor who can examine you for this.

Hi, thank you for sharing your question. Based on these photos, in my opinion, you are an excellent candidate for 360 liposuction without the need for a tummy tuck. Your tattoo can be saved and your abdomen, flanks and back will be contoured beautifully.

Thank you for your question. A 360 liposuction and skin tightening or a mini tummy tuck could be recommended based on your requirements. 360 Lipo is a procedure that targets excess fat around the belly, waist, hips, and lower back to achieve a smoother and more contoured look. On the other hand, skin tightening or mini tummy tuck will focuses on the region below the navel and eliminate loose skin. I would recommend a consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon to discuss which option is best for you.

Hello Sociable750740. Thank you for your question regarding the choice between a mini tummy tuck and a full tummy tuck, and your concern about preserving your tattoo.

Based on the details you provided and the photos you shared, it appears that a full tummy tuck would be more suitable for your situation. In a mini tummy tuck, only the skin and fat from the lower abdomen below the belly button are addressed, and there is no repair of the abdominal muscles. This procedure typically does not affect the upper abdominal area, which seems to be a concern for you given the presence of excess skin and fat above the rectus muscle, as well as muscle weakness.

A full tummy tuck, on the other hand, involves the removal of excess skin and fat from the entire abdominal area and includes tightening of the abdominal muscles (muscle plication), which seems necessary in your case. This procedure would better address your concerns about abdominal laxity and excess tissue, providing a more comprehensive improvement.

Regarding your tattoo:

Preserving Your Tattoo: It's important to discuss this with your plastic surgeon during the consultation. Surgeons can sometimes plan the incisions and the extent of skin removal in a way that either preserves or minimally affects a tattoo. However, this depends on the tattoo's location relative to the usual incision sites and the amount of skin that needs to be removed.

Impact of Liposuction: If you were to choose liposuction alone (360 Lipo), it might help with fat reduction but would likely leave you with more skin laxity, especially if you already have stretch marks indicating less skin elasticity. Liposuction does not improve skin tightness; it only removes fat.

Given your measurements and the concerns you've outlined, preparing for a full tummy tuck might be the best course of action. This doesn't necessarily mean your tattoo will be removed or significantly altered, but that should be a key part of your discussion with potential surgeons.

I hope this answer provides a clear direction for your upcoming consultations and helps you prepare mentally for the potential recommendations. Good luck, and I hope you achieve the results you desire with minimal impact on your tattoo.

Sincerely,

J. Timothy Katzen, MD, FASMBS, FICS
Plastic Surgeon

Dear Sociable750740,
it depends on your skin laxity for which I would need to examine you. In general, liposuction does not help with skin laxity and a tummy tuck is the best option in this scenario. A mini tummy tuck can work great for laxity below the umbilicus but generally does not improve the area above the belly button.
Daniel Barrett, MDCertified, American Board of Plastic SurgeryMember, American Society of Plastic SurgeryMember, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

Thanks so much for your inquire,

Determining whether a mini or full tummy tuck is more appropriate for you depends on several factors, including your specific aesthetic goals, the extent of excess skin and fat in the abdominal area, and the condition of your abdominal muscles.

The choice between a mini and full tummy tuck will depend on your individual needs and goals, as well as your surgeon's recommendation after a thorough evaluation of your anatomy. If you have minimal excess skin and fat confined to the lower abdomen, a mini tummy tuck may be sufficient. However, if you have excess skin and fat in both the upper and lower abdomen, along with muscle separation, a full tummy tuck may be more appropriate to achieve the desired results

Sincerely,
Dr. Emmanuel Mallol

It looks to me like you could get a good result from liposuction alone. This may cause some looseness in the skin but it likely wouldn't be particularly significant and you would not need a tummy tuck. If the skin looseness was undesirable you could have a mini tummy tuck. This would address the loose skin below the belly button but would to address any looseness above the belly button.

It seems like you have pretty good skin elasticity from your photos. I would think a good, quality round of liposuction will suffice. Having said that, a mini-tuck will likely be fine; however, it may get into the left lower tattoo. Or just be conservative on the skin resection and the tattoo will be OK. Thanks.

If you have loose skin, then a tummy tuck would be a better option. It is difficult to see the quality of your skin in the photos provided although judging by the skin around your belly button, a tummy tuck may be more suitable for you. A full tummy tuck would target the area both above and below your belly button. A mini may not be sufficient. Your surgeon would be able to let you know how all of your tattoos would be affected, particularly the tattoo on your side (the one with the dagger through the heart).

Thanks for your questions! Based on these photos, you may be a candidate for 360 lipo. I would suggest in-person consultations for the best evaluation. Good luck!

According to the photos and the details given, 360 liposuction with extended tummy tuck will be needed. The reason I recommend extended tummy tuck, is the excess skin we can observe on the sides too. Doing a standard tummy tuck, would give a good result for the abdomen area however, there will remain excess skin on the sides which would affect the result in general.
Unfortunately, saving the tattoo will not be possible. While removing the excess skin, part of the tattoo will be removed too.