HELP! Mini tummy tuck vs full tummy tuck? Lollipop vs doughnut lift with implants?

There
are a variety of surgical procedures or combinations that can produce good
results in patients with abdominal laxity, depending on multiple factors
including their anatomy and degree of desired improvement: A mini tummy tuck,
an umbilical float modified tummy tuck, a full abdominoplasty. Each of these
can be performed with or without liposuction. They produce different degrees of
improvement.Similarly,  implants  with a "doughnut" (circumareolar) lift, and a  "lollipop" lift will produce different cosmetic results and  amounts of elevation of the drooping breast tissue..

Following the advice of anyone who would presume to tell
you  exactly what to do and how to do it based on a single photo with your arms up and more importantly without taking a full medical
history, examining you, feeling and assessing your tissue tone, discussing your
desired outcome and fully informing you about the pros and cons of each option
would not be in your best interest. Find a plastic surgeon that you are
comfortable with and one that you trust and listen to his or her advice. The
surgeon should be certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and
ideally a member of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS).
You should discuss your concerns with that surgeon in person.

 

Robert Singer, MD  FACS

La Jolla, California

Abdominoplasty will address loose skin, excess fat and muscle weakness “diastasis recti”. This weakness tends to enlarge the waist in many women. After pregnancy if your belly button has a bulge or sticks out, it may be due to an umbilical hernia. Both of these conditions are corrected during a Tummy Tuck, which will bring in your waist line. On the other hand if only a small amount of skin is redundant in the lower tummy you may only need a fairly simple “mini-tuck” rather than the more extensive standard Abdominoplasty – which corrects all the conditions noted above. I prefer to use a #shortscar technique, #LollipopScar or #DonutLift”  with breast augmentation rather than the majority of surgeons in the United States that use an anchor pattern lift which involve more significant scarring.  The procedure is done on an outpatient basis under intravenous sedation and local or general anesthesia. As mentioned above there are a variety of techniques for these operations.  Lollipop lift (vertical lift), donut (periareola) lift, Benelli lift, crescent lift, anchor lift  (inverted T ). Most commonly, we prefer the lollipop or donut lift because of the shape, small scars and easier healing. Although the “anchor-shape” or inverted “T” incision is still more popular in the United States, it represents an older technique with extensive scarring and a less optimal result in many cases. These newer techniques are utilized in the vast majority of cases, the rare exception being extremely large breasts. The nipple-areola complex is repositioned higher, the excess skin is removed, and the breast is reshaped in a pleasing contour and in a more normal position.

In general, a mini tummy tuck improves skin laxity only in the lower abdomen. It is hard to tell from the picture if you have any laxity above the belly button, so an in-person evaluation is necessary. A Benelli donut lift works well when only a minimal lift is needed, and works especially well with implants because the additional volume and projection counteract the tendency for the breast to flatten with that type of lift.