Most of my excess skin is above my belly button - Am I a good candidate for a tummy tuck ?

Thank you for your question. Given two prior BBLs and a postpartum abdomen with most laxity above the umbilicus (and suspected fibrosis), the safest, most effective approach is a staged revision. First, conservative debulking liposuction of the buttocks to restore proportional size, combined with revision liposuction of fibrotic areas using PAL/VASER plus subcision to release tethering. Then, address the abdomen with a full abdominoplasty with muscle repair if diastasis is present, because excess upper-abdominal skin won’t be corrected by a mini tuck, and a reverse tuck is reserved for upper-only laxity or when combined with breast surgery. Schedule an in-person examination with a board-certified surgeon to confirm diastasis, map fibrosis and fat planes, determine the precise liposuction pattern and abdominoplasty type, and plan the stages to best match your goals and safety.

A tummy tuck will help excess upper abdominal skin. This excess skin will be pulled down giving a flatter upper abdomen. I would consult with your local plastic surgeon.

Since most of your excess skin appears to be above the belly button, there are a few options depending on how much improvement you want.
Morpheus8 is the least invasive choice, but results are modest and usually require multiple sessions.
BodyTite or J Plasma are minimally invasive options that can tighten the skin through small incisions and can be paired with liposuction for contouring.
If you want the most significant improvement, a Reverse Tummy Tuck is designed to tighten the upper abdomen by lifting the skin upward through incisions placed along the breast folds. It is effective, but one drawback can be some gathering of skin toward the center of the chest.

From your photos and description, the excess skin is mainly concentrated above the belly button, which clearly suggests a full tummy tuck would be the most appropriate approach. A mini version would not address the laxity in the upper abdomen and could leave residual looseness.
Previous BBLs and any related fibrosis can make the area feel firm or uneven, but this can often be managed safely during surgery. Your surgeon will assess the tissue quality and blood flow carefully to create a balanced, natural contour.
For a more precise surgical plan, a detailed review of your history and tissue condition is needed. Our coordinators can assist with this process through a complimentary conversation, helping ensure every step is personalized to your case.
Wishing you comfort and renewed confidence as you move toward results that feel in harmony with your body.
Güray Yeşiladalı, MD

Tummy tuck/abdominoplasty candidates will typically have issues in 3 categories: skin excess, muscle laxity, subcutaneous fat excess.

The abdominoplasty addresses these by directly excising skin and fat and plicating (i.e. corset) of loosened or separated muscles.

Based on your photos/narrative, you would likely be a reasonable candidate for abdominoplasty. However, there is no replacement for an in-person exam/consultation.

As always, discuss your concerns with a board certified plastic surgeon (ABPS).

Thank you for your inquiry! We, at Mays Plastic Surgery, would love to meet with you to discuss your concerns. An abdominoplasty will remove the excess skin, tighten the muscle, and liposuction the abdomen. Schedule a consultation with Dr. Mays, a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon, to help you reach your goals.

There are two very good options for you depending on your anatomy, specifically your muscles. The first question is if you have noticeable diastasis, meaning a bulge in-between your six-pack muscles when you do a sit up or plank type of action. Your muscles look flat in your photo so this is likely not a major issue in decision making. Assuming so, the I would recommend liposuction with skin excision and umbilical transposition. This is a tummy tuck type of skin excision excluding the muscle tightening. This can be done with an oral cocktail for sedation and local tumescent anesthesia, so you never go "under". There are no drains with resumption of activity as tolerated. Also, you get the benefit of liposuction of the abdominal flap in the same setting, so you lose the fatty bulk which is NOT done in a formal abdominoplasty. There is an overall lower complication rate and down time compared to a traditional tummy tuck. This is a great option for many women out there . . . An in-person exam will help determine which option is best for you. I hope this helps. Thank you.

Hi,Thank you for posting your question here!My answer will be based purely on the pictures provided and should not be considered as medical advice , for true medical advice please consult with a plastic surgeon in person.
People with excess skin just above their belly button are good candidates for a reverse tummy tuck . In a reverse tummy tuck the incisions are made in the breast fold to lift up the skin and tighten it . That being said if your issue is more of fibrosis then the skin might not be mobile enough to do that . In that case you might need a full on tummy tuck to elevate the skin and re- drape it , if that is the case then you might have an additional small vertical scar as you might not have enough skin laxity to pull the opening were the belly button was down to the incision at the bottom .
I would recommend consulting with a plastic surgeon in person so that they can examine you and check your skin mobility and offer you the best surgery for your situation .best of luck!

Excess skin above the belly button is very common, especially after pregnancy or weight changes, and it can still be successfully addressed with a full tummy tuck. In most cases, a standard abdominoplasty is the best option because it allows the surgeon to remove loose skin from both above and below the belly button, reposition the umbilicus to a natural spot, and tighten the underlying muscles if needed. A mini tummy tuck would not correct upper-abdominal laxity, so it’s rarely the right choice for the concerns you’re describing.

Fibrosis or firmness in the upper abdomen can also be improved during surgery, depending on the cause. A physical exam is the best way to determine how much skin can be removed safely and whether muscle repair is needed.

From the photos you do appear to be a candidate for a standard tummy tuck. This would address the excess fat and skin as well as correct any abdominal wall laxity which is common after pregnancy. The result will be a flatter, tighter tummy. The next step is to schedule a consultation with a board certified plastic surgeon near you to learn more,