Mini Tummy Tuck for a Few Inches of Loose Skin?

Short answer is yes. Mini tuck is a great way to rid of loose skin below the belly button
area, especially after C-section. However, we like to combine this procedure with liposuction to
help sculpt the entire abdomen including the pubic area. This is called
mini Lipoabdominoplasty (mini tuck). Lipoabdominoplasty is an advanced tummy tuck
technique
that safely
combines extensive liposuction with tummy tuck procedures in a way that
achieves results far superior than those achievable by either procedure
alone.

It offers a greatly improved abdominal appearance due to the
aggressive liposuction and a shorter,
less noticeable
scar for many patients. There is less chance of "dog ear". In Atlanta,
this is called the ATLTUCK. Lipoabdominoplasty is often combined with
liposuction of hips and back. This combination provides an ideal
cosmetic surgery
solution after weight loss, pregnancy, or aging. It allows us to place
the scar as low as possible. Experience, training, and results matters a lot during Lipoabdominoplasty. Non Plastic surgeons (cosmetic surgeons)
tend to charge less than Plastic Surgeon. Based on your photo,
you may be a great candidate for Mini-lipoabdominoplasty. Do your
research and find a real Plastic Surgeon and book a paid consultation.
Free consults are just a sales pitch and does not work in your best
interest. Below are other criteria to
use when selecting a Plastic surgeon.Questions to ask (Answering NO is a big red flag)1) Are you a plastic surgeon? (Do you know difference between cosmetic surgeon & plastic surgeon)2) Are you board certified in Plastic Surgery?3) Will the procedure be performed at a fully accredited procedure room or ambulatory surgery center4) Do you have hospital privilege to perform liposuction and tummy tuck? Which Hospital?5) Do you offer complication insurance (it does happen, it better to be safe)The
most important decision is to do your homework well. Good
luck.

A mini tummy tuck may not address the problems that you are concerned with.  The difference in the scar between a mini and a full tummy tuck is not enough to compromise your outcome.  You have to decide whether the current situation is better than the scar.  Only you can make that decision.

A miniabdominolasty might help with some of redundant skin but won't address the majority of your stretch marks. See a board certified plastic surgeon to get a proper in person consultation. This will allow them to fully assess your skin redundancy and if you would benefit from a diastasis repair. 

Since the wrinkled and lax skin extends slightly above your belly button, a fully tummy tuck would be more suitable for you. This would also give you better improvement.

Thanks for sharing that — it's a common concern after a C-section, and you're definitely not alone in wanting a solution that improves the appearance without committing to a full tummy tuck scar. A mini tummy tuck targets the lower abdomen only (below the belly button), and removes loose skin in that area, tightens lower abdominal muscles if needed, can remove or improve the look of your C-section scar, typically leaves a shorter scar, often similar to or slightly longer than a C-section scar. However, it does not, remove much or any skin above the belly button, help with upper abdominal looseness or stretch marks above the navel. You might need a full tummy tuck if the loose skin and stretch marks extend well above the belly button. You have diastasis recti (separation of abdominal muscles) that goes higher up. You want a flatter and tighter abdomen overall, not just in the lower portion.

Hello,

A mini tummy tuck can help sculpt the lower abdomen in the region between the belly button and pubis.
Excess skin can be removed and the lower muscles tightened if needed. Liposuction contouring is often used to shape the abdomen and waist as needed.
In your case, a mini tummy tuck may be appropriate as your upper abdomen seems firm and without laxity or muscle separation. Of course an in person exam would be needed to more accurately guide you and to better understand your expectations. C-section scars are often used to perform the mini tummy tuck and extended as needed.

Warm regards,
Dr. Pedy Ganchi
Village Plastic Surgery

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.

It is difficult to tell from pictures alone, but I think you are probably borderline for a mini abdominoplasty.  You have several choices--go with a mini, which will distort the umbilicus and give a generally disappointing result above the umbilicus (especially when you bend over), go with a full abdominoplasty which will be better in the long run and give better tightness to the abdomen, but in your case might be done with a slightly higher transverse scar, or have an umbilical float-type procedure which relocates the umbilicus slightly lower, but allows at least some upper abdomen tightening.  A lower umbilicus may seem funny, but if only an inch or so lower, it still looks quite natural, especially in longer waisted patients.