I was considering a skin only tummy tuck but wondering if this can fix the area above my belly button too? (photos)

Question

Age 50, three pregancies of large babies and after weight loss with stability I am finally ready to address this issue. I would like to know if I would be eligible for a less invasive tummy tuck (without muscle repair) and perhaps in office under local as I do not like general anesthesia. I am concerned it won’t be enough to take care of the saggy skin above belly button.

Chet Mays, MD · Answer

Thank you for your inquiry! By your photos, it looks like you would be a great candidate for an abdominoplasty to get rid of excess skin. 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!

Joel Patrick Maier, MD · Answer

There are good options for rejuvenating your tummy. The first question is if you have noticeable diastasis, meaning a bulge in-between your six-pack muscles when you do a sit up or plank type of action. Your muscles look flat in your photo so this is likely not a major issue in decision making. Assuming so, the I would recommend some liposuction (not a major part of the procedure) with skin excision and umbilical transposition. This is a tummy tuck type of skin excision excluding the muscle tightening. This can be done with an oral cocktail for sedation and local tumescent anesthesia, so you never go "under". There are no drains with resumption of activity as tolerated. There is an overall lower complication rate and down time compared to a traditional tummy tuck. On caveat is that you may have a vertical scar if your umbilical opening does not stretch down to your horizontal scar below the bikini line; but still, I think it would be a good "trade-off" to rejuvenate your tummy. This is a great option for many women out there . . . An in-person exam by an experienced body plastic surgeon will help guide you in your decision. Thank you, I hope this helps.

Gary M. Horndeski, MD · Answer

A skin only tummy tuck will fix everything above the umbilicus but cannot be done under local anesthesia. The reason is it would require too much local anesthesia to anesthetize the entire abdominal wall.

Best Wishes,

Gary Horndeski, M.D.

Best Wishes,

Gary Horndeski, M.D.

Daniel Barrett, MD · Answer

Dear Shutterbug42,
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, MDCertified, American Board of Plastic SurgeryMember, American Society of Plastic SurgeryMember, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

Leila Kasrai, MD, FRCSC · Answer

To tighten the skin above and below your belly button, you can consider a full tummy tuck. No muscle repair is needed. However, this procedure is typically performed under general anesthesia.

Richard Baxter, MD · Answer

You are an excellent candidate for a full tummy tuck but a mini is not a realistic option for you. Hard to make it a tolerable experience without general anesthesia either way.

Zoran Potparic, MD · Answer

Unfortunatelly, due to so severe periumbilical wrinkling, you should consider full TT with new belly button. Considering that you do have skin redundancy in the abdomen in horizontal direction as well, you may need an anchor like abdominoplasty. Only on the basis of in person evaluation and discussion about your goals one could give you a more accurate plan. Hope this helps. and

Vickram Tandon, MD · Answer

Patients with loose skin around their belly button and a diastasis recti (widening of abdominal muscles) generally need a fully tummy tuck to see improvement in the quality of the abdominal contours. The skin-only tucks not only would likely not address the skin quality with any sort of durability, they also would not address the abdominal muscles.

Felix Omar Márquez, MD · Answer

Hi, thanks for your question and photo. You are a candidate for a full tummy Tuck, to eliminate damaged skin below and upper the belly button. Consult a board-certified plastic surgeon in your area for an in-person exam. Good luck!

Camille Cash, MD · Answer

From the photo submitted a standard tummy tuck will be needed.  A mini will not address the skin issues above the belly button.  You can elect to have the procedure with or without diastasis repair.  General anesthesia is recommended for this procedure for both your comfort and safety.

I was considering a skin only tummy tuck but wondering if this can fix the area above my belly button too? (photos)

Answers (13)

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