Do I qualify for mini or regular tummy tuck? I'm 5,2” /116 lbs and want a real flat stomach. (photos)

Dear rettedgui,
based on your photos, you look like a good candidate for a TT. Full tummy tuck should tighten your abdominal muscles and remove the excess skin. Flanks liposuction would give you a better shape. I would suggest you to consult a board-certified plastic surgeon because only after a thorough examination you will get more information and recommendations.
Daniel Barrett, MD
Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

Thank you for your inquiry! By your photos, it looks like you would be a great candidate for an abdominoplasty to get rid of any excess skin. The only difference in a mini vs a full abdominoplasty is how long the incision is. A mini tummy tuck is going to have a smaller incision than a full tummy tuck. Muscle repair, removal of excess skin, and liposuction are all included with both a mini and a full tummy tuck. I recommend scheduling a consult appointment with a board certified plastic surgeon like myself so we can create a surgical plan that is best for you and your goals!

I think you would be fine for either the full or mini tummy tuck. If you elect the mini tummy tuck you will not get as tight a tummy but the scar is shorter and there is no scar around the belly button. It is be up to you to select between the two but just realize the mini tummy tuck is a compromise that you may or may not be entirely satisfied with

Thank you for submitting your questions and photos! Based on the photos provided, a mini tummy tuck (mini-abdominoplasty), plus a small amount of liposuction for contouring, would be a great option to achieve the look you want. This would flatten the appearance of your abdomen, tighten the skin, and give a more refined, contoured look. Please note that this recommendation may change once you've been evaluated in-person. A plastic surgeon will be able to evaluate and recommend treatment options. Thanks again for reaching out.

Hello, thanks for your question and photos. You are a great candidate for Mini Tummy Tuck. The extraction of saggy skin in your lower abdomen will make better results. Consult a board-certified plastic surgeon in your area for a physical exam. Good luck!

You would probably do very well with a mini tuck since your excess appears to be below your belly button. I would suggest meeting with a board certified plastic surgeon and discussing your concerns.

An in person evaluation is always best, but based on the photos it appears you would have the best result from a standard tummy tuck. This would give the surgeon the opportunity to remove excess fat and skin as well as correct any abdominal wall laxity. The result will be a flatter, tighter tummy.

Based on your photos and your post, I think you would be a good candidate for a mini tummy tuck. A mini tummy tuck just addresses the excess skin below your belly button. The upper part of your abdomen looks pretty flat and I don't appreciate much excess, loose skin in that area. That being said, the recommendation may change during an in person evaluation but I doubt it. I think you would have a great result from a mini tummy tuck. Good luck

Hello dear,
Thank you for the detailed information that you provided.
I would advise you to lose the weight first, and then have the tummy tuck operation. This will allow you to put things in order on your journey to perfect body since doing the tummy tuck whilst you are at your ideal weight will prevent any excess skin after tummy tuck that's caused by the weight loss.
Considering the fact that you are not a large patient and the loose skin doesn't go all the way around your abdominal region, mini tummy tuck is the best option for you.
Your scar isn'n going to be too long which is another plus side of having mini TT.
Take care.

Pregnancies cause skin laxicity and muscle separation. All women who have had determine pregnancies will have some muscle separation whether you can feel it or not. it happens more to some women than others but pregnancies do stretch muscle fascia to some degree on everyone.A straight muscle wall should be a bee line between your sternum and your pubic bone. In a standing position if you gently palpate (gently push with your finger against the skin till you feel the underlying muscle) your muscle wall you can see if it forms a straight line between the pubic bone and sternum or if it bulges slightly. your sideways pictures the show just slight bulching but perhaps not enough to bother you.Certainly nobody has to have a tummy tuck.A mini tummy tuck is limited to skin laxity below your belly button. Muscle tightening is typically not done on the lower abdomen only. if you want skin tightening including the upper abdomen then you’ll need to convert to a full tummy tuck. It’s possible to do a skin only tummy tuck without muscle tightening but typically for women who had children including muscle tightening is generally always recommended and typically always done. avoiding muscle tightening makes the recovery much much easier but gives better results for those who have muscle separation.I suggest having multiple in person consultations with local board-certified plastic surgeons.Most plastic surgeons will probably recommend and stare you towards a full tummy tuck but it’s important for you to recognize what each procedure can and cannot accomplish and I have a clear understanding of what you’re trying to achieve and what you’re willing to go through.During consultations ask each provider to show their entire collection of before and after pictures for both full and mini tummy tucks. being shown a few sample pictures which most likely represent the best results of each provider‘s career is insufficient to get a clear understanding of what average results look like in the hands of each provider. that’s why you need to ask the providers to open up their portfolio and show you as many pictures as they’re willing to. Ask especially to show you pictures of patients with similar body characteristics to your own. an experienced plastic surgeon should have no difficulty showing you a minimum of 50 sets of before and after pictures for a common procedure like a tummy tuck.Look carefully to see who gets the most natural looking belly buttons. That tends to be one of the hardest parts of the procedure and surgeons who can consistently get good looking belly buttons typically know what you’re doing and get the rest of the procedure done correctly as well. Other hallmarks of quality work include a low sat score that follows anatomic contours naturally. Other hallmarks of quality work include a low sat score that follows anatomic contours naturally. The torso should look good from all angles including from behind.Read all reviews on various physician review websites avoiding providers with any significant number of justified negative reviews.The absence of justified negative reviews is more important and more telling than having an abundance of positive reviews.Continue scheduling in person consultations until you’re very comfortable that you found the right surgeon for your needs.Best,Mats Hagstrom MD