Full tummy tuck or mini?

Question

Hi, I am 9 months pp and I am done having babies. I've had 5 children-1 set of twins and then a singleton 20 months later! I've been working out for the last 8 weeks and although my stomach looks great- I'm still bothered by extra skin when I sit or plank. I'm praying since it's only been 9 months pp-it still may retract!?? If not, do you recommend a full or mini TT? I am 38 years old-5-9 and weigh about 125 lbs. Thank you so much for your opinion!!

Martin Jugenburg, MD · Answer

From photos alone I would recommend a mini tummy tuck. However, an in person evaluation is best to determine the best course of action. COnsult with a board ceritfied plastic surgeon. Regards,

Keith Hodge, MD · Answer

Based on the fact that you have had a set of twins, I would suggest a full tummy tuck so that your abdominal muscles can be tightened along with removal of excess skin. Good luck!

Ryan T. M. Mitchell, MD, FRCSC, FACS · Answer

It is always difficult to determine the level of correction required through photographs but given your pictures you would likely benefit from a limited of mini abdominoplasty. These are good options for patients who have skin excess below the belly button. As with any procedure, it is always best to have an in person consultation with a Plastic Surgeon who can develop a treatment plan to suit your needs.

Mark T. Boschert, MD · Answer

There are several things that I look for to determine the difference between a full or many abdominoplasty. It would appear that your belly button has a very nice shape and you have very few lines above the belly button. It appears that you have laxity low just above the pubic bone area and that would suggest you could be a candidate for a mini.  I would suggest seeing a board-certified plastic surgeon in your area and have an examination of the muscles to help determine which one will work better for you. With your size I believe this would easily be an outpatient procedure and you would not need to have drains. Your downtime could be quite minimal and you would have a fantastic result.Good luck!

Robert Singer, MD · Answer

There
are a variety of tummy tucks that can produce a good cosmetic result in the
appropriate patient: a mini tummy tuck, a modified with an umbilical float,
 or a variety of a full abdominoplasty, all of which may, or may not,
include tightening of the muscle and liposuction. Generally if there is
significant loose skin above the umbilicus (belly button), a full tummy tuck
will result in a greater correction and better outcome.Keep
in mind that following the advice from a surgeon on this  or any other
website who proposes to tell you what to do based on two dimensional photos
without examining you, physically feeling the tissue, assessing your desired
outcome, taking a full medical history, and discussing the pros and cons of
each operative procedure would not be in your best interest. I would suggest
you find a plastic surgeon certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery
and ideally a member of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic
Surgery (ASAPS)  that you trust and are comfortable with. You should
discuss your concerns with that surgeon in person.Robert
Singer, MD  FACSLa Jolla, California

Donald W. Buck II, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question mdbrown14! Congratulations on the recent addition to your family! The best way to determine the right operation for you is through a thorough in-person discussion and examination with a Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon. Based on your photos, you only have excess skin in the lower abdomen, which is unlikely to contract significantly over time. Because you lack significant rectus muscle diasatsis/separation and significant upper abdominal skin folds/excess, your best option probably is a mini-tummy tuck. In this operation, the scar is as long as necessary to remove the skin excess of the inferior abdomen. Occasionally the scar is as long as a traditional tummy tuck. The belly button is often released from internal attachments to the abdominal wall and moved down a bit with the skin removal and re-secured to the abdominal wall in a new position. This procedure would give you the flat stomach you desire, with the addition of a low scar hidden within the area covered by undergarments, bathing suits, etc. Hope this helps!

Bennett Yang, MD · Answer

Hellothank you for the question and the pics. Again, congrats on doing a great job trying to be healthy. Upright, you have excellent shape and minimal fat / loose skin. Only in the plank pic and the sitting pic can you see any loose skin. A tummy tuck is best at removing loose skin and tightening the rectus muscles. For most women, these are great benefits. In your case, it does not appear that you need the muscle tightening. There is a small degree of loose lower abdomen skin only. Typically, I do NOT recommend the mini tuck as it has significant limitations. In your case, it might be the best option. The only benefit a mini tuck offers is removal of lower abdomen loose skin. A mini tuck would involve the same length scar for you, but it is typically LOW and well hidden in a bikini / underwear line. there would be no incision around the belly button. I would doubt you will see much improvement after 9 months in skin tightening. Lastly, please do not buy into anyone selling you non surgical skin tightening treatments. There is some benefit in the face, but it will not shrink your abdomen skin, but it will shrink your bank account!! Best to you.

Tom J. Pousti, MD · Answer

Thank you for the question and pictures. You should be very proud of the appearance of your abdominal wall, especially after multiple pregnancies! In my practice, I would not offer you a mini tuck operation.  I would either suggest that you avoid surgery altogether or undergo full tummy tuck surgery. Generally speaking, the “ideal” patient for tummy tuck surgery is one who has completed pregnancies, is psycho socially/emotionally/financially stable, has an excellent social support system surrounding him/her, is capable of arranging enough recovery time, does not smoke and who has reached a long-term stable weight.
 In my opinion, the mini tummy tuck is an operation that produces very limited results and is very rarely indicated. It involves a shorter incision but does not address the majority of the abdominal wall issues present for most patients who present consultation. For example, the area of skin excised is quite small. The abdominal wall musculature is addressed below the umbilicus leaving the upper number wall potentially lax. The appearance of the umbilicus is not necessarily addressed sufficiently.
For the vast majority of patients who have had pregnancies and/or weight loss a full abdominoplasty is necessary to achieve the desired results. When the time is right, seek consultation with board-certified plastic surgeons who can demonstrate significant experience helping patients achieve the types of outcomes you would be pleased with. You may find the attached link, dedicated to tummy tuck surgery concerns, helpful to you as you learn more. Best wishes.

Full tummy tuck or mini?

Answers (8)

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