Mini Tummy Tuck for a Few Inches of Loose Skin?

Hello and thank-you for your question and photo.
A mini tummy-tuck is an excellent option for individuals with an abdominal bulge due to muscle weakness, fat accumulation, and mild skin laxity. Based on your photos, you appear to be an excellent candiate for a mini-tummy tuck combined with liposuction and muscle repair.  Whether or not you are a candidate is best determined by an in person consultation. With this procedure, liposuction is performed, the muscles are tightened, and a small amount of skin is removed. The procedure is termed "mini" due to the fact that less skin is removed and the scar is slightly shorted than that of a full tummy-tuck. As a mini tummy-tuck removes less skin than a full tummy-tuck, there is less tightening of the abdomen compared to a full tummy tuck. A mini tummy tuck does not tighten the skin above the umbilicus. The incision of both mini and full tummy-tuck are designed low in the bikini line to be hidden by even minimal clothing. A full tummy tuck will give a better result when:
1 There is more than just a little bit of looseness due pregnancies or weight loss. 2. Significant abdominal muscle weakness due to separation (diastasis) 3. Stretch marks in the lower abdomen. 4. Distortion of the belly-button 5. Significant fatty accumulation is the abdomen requiring more liposuction
The incision for a full tummy tuck is slightly longer than that of a mini, but the abdomen is much tighter. Mini tummy tuck is an excellent option for candidates who meet these criteria. For the majority of women, a full tummy tuck is a better option. On this site, the patient satisfaction rate for a full tummy tuck is 97%. This compares to 89% for mini tummy-tucks. A mini tummy-tuck is an excellent option for an appropriate candidate. The difference in satisfaction rates most likely represents our attempts to stretch the indications and offer a mini-tummy tuck for individuals who would have done better with a full tummy tuck. I am currently using two new technologies for skin tightening that are very promising for tightening the skin of the tummy, avoiding a scar altogether.  The J-plasma (Cool Helium Plasma) and Bodytite radiofrequency are minimally invasive techniques combined with liposuction that are producing significant tightening.  I would recommend a consultation with a plastic surgeon who is board certified by the American Board of Plastic surgery and has extensive experience in body contouring.
Best of Luck,
Andrew Lyos, MD, FACS

Hi cjmarrone.  Thanks for sharing your pic.  An in person examination is always central to selecting between a mini and a full tuck.  A shorter scar appears to be adequate for you, but you will sacrifice how much of the stretch marks will be removed.  A low/well positioned scar, that is thin, flat and skin colored will be less noticeable than pleats of excess tissue on the sides that result for foreshortening a necessary length of tissue removal.  Speak with your PS about your concerns and they will be able to guide you further.  Best wishes,

Tummy tucks are tailored to each individual, but often include repair of separated abdominal muscles and removal of a greater or lesser degree of loose skin.  The amount of loose skin that needs to be removed depends on your specific anatomy.  The more loose skin that you have to remove, the longer the scar to do so.   A discussion between you and your board certified surgeon will determine how much extra skin you have, how aggressive you wish to be in removing this skin, and, thus, how long your scar will be.