Early 40s 3 children, do I need a mini or full tuck? (Photos)

Hello Mommyneedshelp1,

Thank you for your question regarding whether you need a mini or full tummy tuck. Based on your history and photos, although you do not have a significant amount of excess skin, you do have a distended abdomen. This distension is likely due to the separation of your abdominal muscles (rectus diastasis), which is common after multiple pregnancies.

To effectively address this issue, you will need a full tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) rather than a mini tummy tuck. A full tummy tuck allows us to repair and tighten the abdominal muscles all the way up to your sternum, which will significantly help with the protrusion of your belly.

A full tummy tuck involves:

Muscle Repair: Tightening of the abdominal muscles from the pubic area to the sternum to correct the muscle separation and provide a flatter, firmer abdomen.
Excess Skin Removal: Even if you don't have a lot of loose skin, a full tummy tuck will remove any excess skin that may develop, especially as you lose those last few pounds.

I recommend continuing with your weight loss and fitness efforts, as being closer to your goal weight will enhance the results of your surgery. Good luck with your journey, and I hope this information helps you make an informed decision regarding your tummy tuck.

Sincerely,

J. Timothy Katzen, MD, FASMBS, FICS
Plastic Surgeon

Thank you for your inquiry! We, at Mays Plastic Surgery, would love to meet with you to discuss your concerns. Schedule a consultation with Dr. Mays, a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon, to help you reach your goals.

Dear Mommyneedshelp1,
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

Hello and thank you for your question.
It looks like you may need a Tummy tuck. Depending on your examination, the surgeon will determine if you are a candidate for a mini or full tummy tuck. Schedule a consultation with a board certified plastic surgeon to discuss your options. Best wishes!

A full tummy tuck would target the diastasis recti that you appear to have above and below your belly button, giving you a more satisfying result. Please ask your surgeon about whether your belly button piercing can be left unaffected.

Based on your photos, there is significant separation of your abdominal muscles both above and below the belly button. A full tummy tuck would allow for the repair of this separation. An in-person examination may also reveal an umbilical hernia, which can be repaired during the same procedure. Repairing the muscle separation will result in even more excess skin, which will be removed through a lower abdominal incision. Sequential tension sutures and a no-drain tummy tuck technique will ensure that all excess skin is removed while the scar is positioned in the desirable low position.

Dr. B.

Hi.
You are one of the few patients who would actually benefit from a mini abdominoplasty. These patients tend to only have lower abdominal laxity. You look to have a significant split between the muscles which ca bd repaired with either approach. The differences with a full vs a mini are-
1 tighter skin
2 longer scar (still hidden in bikini line)
3 scar around umbilicus.
Most pts opt for a full.
Regards
Damien

You are a candidate for a full tummy tuck not a mini which will leave your upper abdominal loose skin. As it shows on one of your pictures, the upper abdominal skin is making a fold with mild bending. A full tummy tuck will also bring your recti muscles together and make you a flatter abdomen above and below your belly button.

You appear to have significant diastasis recti and possibly a hernia. A tummy tuck to close the diastasis should give you a flat profile. You do not need much skin removal which should allow for a smaller incision. Full tummy tuck.

If you are not planning future pregnancies, I recommend abdominoplasty with mesh reinforcement. The mesh creates a more hourglass figure by compressing the abdominal wall resulting in early satiety and helps maintain a reduced weight.

Best Wishes,

Gary Horndeski, M.D.