Thin frame: Mini or full tummy tuck?

Question

4 children, thin frame. Mainly excesses skin and stretch marks I would like to see gone.. should I look into a full or mini tummy tuck. I'm also looking at doing breast augmentation and lift, at the same time if that makes a difference.

Laurie A. Casas, MD, FACS · Answer

You ask a great question which can only truly be answered during a thorough consultation with a board certified Plastic Surgeon who performs mommy makeovers. During the consultation I would examine your tummy for how much skin laxity you have and how much muscle tone you have regained. The length of the scar, whether do reposition your belly button, whether to do muscle work all depend on your exam and your goals. Sorry to be so non committal,  but without a one on one exam and without hearing your goals it is not possible for me to make a definitive recommendation. I wish you luck and be sure you choose the Plastic Surgeon who will work with you to provide the safest and best possible result.

Marwan R. Khalifeh, MD · Answer

As others have answered here, a mini  tuck
primarily address skin laxity and sometimes abdominal laxity below the belly
button. It doesn't do much for looseness or muscle laxity above the
bellybutton. A full tummy tuck handles this area better.

There are other variations that are less
well-known depending upon your goals and time for recovery.

For example a full tummy tuck can be done
without muscle repair for the appropriate patient.

A full muscle tightening can be done with a mini
tummy tuck skin excision or sometimes with no skin excision.

There are more extensive  kinds of
abdominoplasty that remove even more skin in patients with massive weight loss
and severe laxity

The best way to approach this would be to learn
which option would best fulfill your needs.

A board-certified plastic surgeon can help go
over the options with you and address your goals.

Larry S. Nichter, MD, MS, FACS · Answer

Mini-abdominoplasty tightens the lower abdominal wall muscles and removes redundant skin below the umbilicus, belly button, only. The shortest scar technique leaves a scar at the pubic hair line. Liposuction may be used alone or in conjunction with a tummy tuck to benefit selected patients
‘Mini” tummy tucks can benefit patients who have a small amount of excess skin and fat or protruding of the lower abdomen. This operation may be done under local anesthesia with sedation, on an outpatient basis. Liposuction may be used alone or in conjunction with a tummy tuck to benefit selected patients.
‘Mini” tummy tucks can benefit patients who have a small amount of excess skin and fat or protruding of the lower abdomen (below the belly button). This operation may be done under local anesthesia with sedation, on an outpatient basis. Liposuction may be used alone or in conjunction with a tummy tuck to benefit selected patients.
Far more important than deciding if a mini tummy tuck is for you is the skill and experience of your plastic surgeon. Choose your surgeon rather than the technique and let him explain why one technique may be better than another and if you need a tummy tuck. Many board certified plastic surgeons provide a free first time consult and you should take advantage of that!
See the below link on some suggestions on finding the most qualified Plastic Surgeon for you!
I have also attached a video for a possible Tummy Tuck Candidate.

Lewis Albert Andres, MD · Answer

Hello!  Thank you for your question and photos!  I hope that these answers help!
  Tummy tuck is an excellent method for shaping the belly and create a 
flatter and sculpted abdomen after the procedure.  Looking at your 
photos, I do believe that you would be an excellent candidate for this 
procedure in order to remove the excess skin/soft tissue of your lower 
abdomen and contour the areas of your belly.   Also, abdominal wall 
tightening may optimize your result. Stretch marks to the level of your 
umbilicus will also be excised.  Also, a continued healthy and active 
lifestyle prior to the procedure and afterwards is recommended in order to maintain the benefits that the 
procedure has given to you. Once you are ready for the 
procedure, I would likely recommend a short scar tummy tuck with abdominal 
wall tightening.   This would remove the excess skin/soft tissue 
and stretch marks while contouring your belly.  The mini tummy tuck has 
limited usefulness and limited candidates as it truly only addresses 
excess skin in a small area above your pubis.  It will not address your 
abdominal wall and the tightening of such, frequently needed to achieve a shapely abdominal wall.  While the recovery 
time 
is shorter, the benefits afforded to you by a full tummy tuck are much 
greater and will optimize your result.  You should consult with a
board-certified plastic surgeon well-versed in body contouring 
procedures at anytime to go over options to assist you in deciding
 which procedure(s) would be right for you.  Best wishes!

Christopher J. Morea, MD · Answer

It is difficult to give you an answer without a physical exam.  Photos cannot reveal exactly how much loose skin you have and the condition of your muscle layer beneath the skin.  A mini tummy tuck focuses on skin laxity below the umbilicus and does not address loose skin above the umbilicus.  You best results would probably come from a standard tummy tuck.  It is also possible to perform a breast lift or breast augmentation along with the tummy tuck.  Consult a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon who can discuss your options and give you an expert opinion on which procedures are best for you.

Antoine A. Hallak, MD, FACS · Answer

Based on the photos provided you will have excellent results with both procedures although the full tummy tuck will provide a much tighter result.The mini tummy tuck operation is an operation
that addresses the lower abdominal wall, below the umbilicus. The “full” tummy
tuck operation involves treatment of the entire abdominal wall; this operation
serves to remove excess skin, re approximate the abdominal wall muscles that
may have spread with pregnancy and/or weight gain/loss, improve the appearance
of the waistline and often pubic area as well

Kenneth Hughes, MD · Answer

A short scar tummy tuck may provide you with a much better result with about the same length scar as a minitummy tuck, but an exam would be helpful to make this determination.Find a board certified plastic surgeon who performs hundreds of tummy tuck procedures each year.  Then look at the 
plastic surgeon's 
 website before and after photo galleries to get a sense of who can  
deliver the results.  Kenneth Hughes, MD Los Angeles, CA

James Knoetgen, III, MD · Answer

Whether you should opt for a mini or full tummy tuck depends on your specific needs and the extent of loose skin and muscle laxity in your abdominal area. A mini tummy tuck is typically suitable for individuals with mild to moderate concerns below the navel, while a full tummy tuck addresses both upper and lower abdomen issues. It’s essential to consult with a board-certified plastic surgeon who can assess your situation and recommend the most appropriate procedure for your specific case.

Jeremy Pyle, MD · Answer

Each consultation is different, but one thing remains the same. If a woman can have a fully tummy tuck, she is going to be unsatisfied with a mini.  The only way to know that is an exam.Find a surgeon who does a modern tummy tuck without drains and with long lasting anesthetic and who you like and trust in an office where you feel comfortable.Best,Dr. Pyle

Gustavo E. Galante, MD · Answer

Based on your photos it does not appear you have enough skin laxity to undergo a full tummy tuck. This would be trading a very minimal result for a long scar, a long recovery, and risks. A board certified plastic surgeon should evaluate you, but possibly some minimal liposuction to diminish the small bulge will be helpful. A mini tummy tuck is rarely indicated and has limited results.

Thin frame: Mini or full tummy tuck?

Answers (12)