Can I get full TT 3 months after mini TT? (Photo)

Hello and thank you for your question.
Your ability to undergo a full abdominoplasty depends whether or not the umbilicus was "floated" as a part of your prior procedure. This occurs when the base of the belly button is divided to allow for a more aggressive skin resection. When this occurs, the blood supply from below is also divided. A full abdominoplasty would disrupt the remaining blood supply from the skin, and you would be a high risk for complete umbilical necrosis. If you have enough loose skin ( determined by physical examination) , you may benefit from a reverse abdominoplasty or a full abdominoplasty with delayed umbilical reconstruction. I hope this helps. Good luck.

The best person to answer this is your plastic surgeon. They were at your first surgery and better understand your muscles and how much the skin might stretch. If you are a candidate for a full tummy tuck, I am pretty sure you would be asked to wait until the tissue swelling is gone from the first tummy tuck. This might take 6 months or a year. Good luck with things.

Thank you for your inquiry! Keep an open communication with your plastic surgeon regarding your concerns. Revisions can always be done after surgery to tweak things that you're unhappy with. We would love to see you in person or virtually to evaluate and discuss your revision options as well. Schedule a consultation with a Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon so we can help you reach your goals!

Thank you for your question. It may be too early to undergo a full tummy tuck just 3 months after a mini TT, as your body is still healing, and performing another surgery now could increase risks. At 11 weeks post-op, scar tissue is forming, and residual swelling may still be present. Waiting 6-12 months allows for better results and minimizes complications.

Dear Kindgirl4u4ever,
it is hard to tell for sure without an examination. If you are considering surgery, I would suggest you consult a board-certified plastic surgeon. Only after a thorough examination, you will get more information and recommendations.
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,

Generally, it’s advised to wait at least 6 to 12 months after a mini tummy tuck before considering a full tummy tuck (TT). This time allows for proper healing and for the final results of the mini TT to be visible. At 3 months, you may still be experiencing some residual swelling, tissue remodeling, and healing.

Consulting with your surgeon is essential to determine if your current recovery progress could make an earlier revision viable, but in most cases, patience provides the best results and the safest outcomes.

Sincerely,
Dr. Emmanuel Mallol

You are still early in your recovery. Please wait about 6 months or so before assessing your results. At that time, you can consider whether a full tummy tuck would be beneficial.

You would have been better served with a full tummy tuck. You would also benefit from a repair of your rectus diastasis. Fortunately, a mini can always be converted to a full tummy tuck (without any vertical scar). Yes, all the stretch marks below your belly button may be eliminated.

The short answer is, yes, you can have a TT after a mini-TT. Having said that, while you may have some elasticity changes in the skin above your umbilicus that your are noticing, the amount of extra skin is not dramatic. If you have noticeable diastasis of your muscles, then the indication for a tummy tuck is much stronger. But for what I am seeing in the photos, an abdominoplasty will be a long run for a short slide. You would also have a high likelihood of a sizeable vertical scar if your belly button hole does not reach the low transverse scar. Perhaps liposuction will help with meeting your expectations? An in-person exam by an experienced body plastic surgeon will help guide you in your decision. Thank you, I hope this helps.

We always like to recommend waiting 6 months from the original surgery before undergoing any revision. You are about halfway there. However, from what I see currently, you would not be a candidate for a full tummy tuck as you do not have enough skin. An alternative to consider is an umbilicoplasty to cut out some of the skin around the umbilicus. Another possibility may be a breast lift. There is a technique called The Bellesoma Method which lifts the breasts higher but also lifts the upper abdomen and may give you the results you desire. I would need to see photographs of your breasts to see if this technique is an option for you.

Best Wishes,

Gary Horndeski, M.D.