Can you get muscle repair with a mini tummy tuck?

Yes, but this procedure is appropriate for very few patients.  I
would search for the board certified plastic surgeon who you feel is
most likely to give you the best results and who performs hundreds of
these procedures each year. I would look at patient reviews as well as
before and after photos on that surgeon's website.Kenneth Hughes, MDLos Angeles, CA

Thank you for your question. Yes, it is possible to get a muscle repair with a mini tummy tuck, but it may be called something else. The terminology in this area can be confusing. I typically call this a modified tummy tuck. So I repair the muscle through a short bikini incision ( often used in a mini tuck) by releasing the belly button from under the skin. This is often referred to as a floating umbilicus technique. The belly button is re-attached during the surgery with no visible scar.The only thing mini about this procedure is the short scar. The results are often very dramatic. Not all surgeons are comfortable with this, so you should find one that has a lot of experience in various techniques.Good luck to you.

During a mini tummy tuck your surgeon will be limited in how much muscle repair can be performed. The area below the belly button can be addressed but that may leave a protruding area above the tummy giving a "muffin top" look. Visit with a board certified plastic surgeon near you for an evaluation. She/He will advise if you have muscle separation above and below your belly button in which case a standard tummy tuck would be a better option.

There are some patients who can have a mini tummy tuck with muscle work at the lower abdomen only.  These patients are rare due to most women who have come to me have had children or major weight loss. The upper portion of your abdominal muscles need to be tightened in most patients.  A mini is typically just skin removal and minimal muscle tightening, if any, of the lower abdomen. An experienced Board Certified Plastic Surgeon will know what's best for you on consultation. Good luck!

Thank you for the question.  Yes, the procedure you are describing is possible BUT  there are very few patients who are a good candidates ( who will achieve aesthetically pleasing outcomes) for this procedure. 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. 

A mini tummy tuck should address excess skin in the lower abdomen and allow easy access to tighten muscle from the navel down. An experienced surgeon can get in to the upper rectus muscle to tighten the lower 2/3 of the muscle layer. Liposuction can help contour the fatty layer and sides if needed.

Yes, but it's a little tricky compared with a full tummy tuck.  You would have to either repair only the lower half of the abdomen (since you're not opening past the belly button) or "float" the BB, which means cutting past (and through) it, repairing the muscle, and then suturing it back down where it was.  That means you've cut and then re-attached the BB and it may change the sensation or other characteristics of the BB.The other question, though, is whether that is worth it.  While a muscle repair (MR) is an important and standard part of most full tummy tucks it doesn't always accomplish quite as much as most patients would like.  It tightens and secures the abdominal wall and flattens it - but it does not normally on its own produce a "flat" abdomen.You should discuss this with your PS and then make whatever decision you feel is best for you.I hope that this helps and good luck,Dr. Alan EnglerMember of RealSelf100