Pictures of Tummy Tuck Without Muscle Tightening?

Question

Does anybody have pictures of females who chose tummy tuck (mini or full) WITHOUT muscle tightening? Even better if the pictures are of women after pregnancy who decided not to have them tightened. I am considering a mini (I do not want a full) and I do not want my muscles tightened. I don't care if it's a "sub optimal" result in the eyes of the plastic surgeon. I mainly just want to get rid of the pouch of fat and some of the skin with as little invasiveness as possible...

Steven Goldman, MD · Answer

To reiterate what some of my colleagues have said: removal of skin alone does constitute a panniculectomy; the need for muscle repair can be assessed on physical exam, but this is part of a true mini- or full tummy-tuck; it's your belly and your choice, but you have to understand the anticipated results with each procedure.

	Also, if you have an isolated panniculectomy, local anesthesia may suffice without any IV sedation or general anesthesia.

	Of course a formal consultation is required to determine your best option. Second opinions can also have clarify complex issues. Good luck.

Armando Soto, MD, FACS · Answer

In answer to your question, "Does anybody have pictures of females who chose tummy tuck (mini or full) WITHOUT muscle tightening? Even better if the pictures are of women after pregnancy who decided not to have them tightened. I am considering a mini (I do not want a full) and I do not want my muscles tightened. I don't care if it's a "sub optimal" result in the eyes of the plastic surgeon. I mainly just want to get rid of the pouch of fat and some of the skin with as little invasiveness as possible..."

	I would completely agree with Dr. Aldea... It is very important that you understand that while the procedure you describe may sound like a good idea to you at this time, it is also highly predictable that it will give you not just a "suboptimal" result, but a wierd looking one.

	Let me put it to you this way- if a surgeon gave you exactly what you wanted, but the appearance of your abdomen drew the wrong kind of attention from everyone who saw you, would you be happy? Probably not. You would probably even blame your surgeon for your strange and unattractive appearance, completely forgetting that you yourself asked for the modification in the procedure that resulted in the strange appearance. 

	The primary reason you don't see lots of photos of women who have had such a procedure is that even if a few of us have been misguided enough to agree to the performance of such a procedure, its outcome would not be something we would want others to see and judge our work by...

	While I recognize that it is not what you were hoping to hear, I hope that you take it to heart and consider your options very carefully. Your long term happiness with your plastic surgery experience will undoubtedly be greater if you wait until you are ready (financially, emotionally, and from a recovery perspective) to have a procedure that will predictably result in a beautiful appearance.

Steven S. Carp, MD · Answer

I have had patients make the same request. However, if weakness, known as diastasis exist, it would be poor surgical judgement not to correct it at the time of the tummy tuck. The overall result would be more the sub optimal and lead to an unhappy patient.

Steve Laverson, MD, FACS · Answer

Without tightening of the muscles, the operation is not a tummy tuck, but a simple panniculectomy.  Seek pictures of panniculectomy for these results.

Remus Repta, MD · Answer

Hello,

	Here is a link from my website before and after photos.  There is no right or wrong answer in terms of tummy tuck procedures.  Some procedures will give you a better result than others based on how much laxity you have but in the end you will have to choose the procedure that is right for you.  If you have enough laxity for a full tummy tuck than that is usually the best course since your belly button will be rejuvenated as well.  Smaller amounts of laxity can be addressed with mini tummy tuck, endoscopic tummy tucks, and liposuction.

	All the best,

	Dr Repta

Kamran Khoobehi, MD · Answer

Your body shape and level of rectus muscle diastesis will dictate the procedure. The problem with not repairing the muscle is the eventual restretching of the lower abdominal skin.

Robin T.W. Yuan, MD · Answer

Photos can be misleading. I do not recommend making decisions based on photos.  Your surgeon should customize your surgery to fit your anatomy and desires. A patient who doesn;t have a muscle tightening will look different depending on what her anatomy is. You may or may mirror that patient's anatomy.

	Robin T.W.Yuan, M. D.

William B. Rosenblatt, MD · Answer

Plastic surgeons train for years to know what is right for you. Any surgeon who does what you want, not what you need or is right for you is a fool. When patients have suboptimal results, they forget what they said and sue the doctor. See an experienced board certified plastic surgeon, and listen to their advice. You want a less tan optimal result, get a girdle.

Tom J. Pousti, MD · Answer

Thank you for the question.

	Unfortunately,  it is not likely that you will find pictures  of tummy tuck  without muscle plication  done by well experienced board-certified plastic surgeons.  As you said, the result would be &ldquo;sub optimal&rdquo; and not a result that the surgeon would be proud of or wish to display.

	In my opinion, the mini tummy talk is an  operation that  produces very limited results and is very rarely indicated. It involves a shorter incision but does not address the majority of the abdominal wall issues present for most patients who present consultation. For example, the area of skin excised is quite small. The abdominal wall musculature is addressed below the umbilicus leaving the upper number wall potentially lax. The appearance of the umbilicus is not necessarily addressed sufficiently. For most patients who have had pregnancies and/or weight loss a full abdominoplasty is necessary to achieve the desired results. Of course, there are downsides (including a longer scar and probably a longer recovery time) but for most patients the benefits outweigh the downsides. It is not unusual to see patients who've had mini tummy tuck  surgery present for  revisionary surgery. It is important  for patients seeking abdominal contouring surgery to work with a well experienced board-certified plastic surgeon to obtain advice (based on good ethics and judgment) to  improve  their chances of a successful outcome and minimize the need for further surgery.

	 I hope this helps.

Peter A. Aldea, MD · Answer

RE: " I am considering a mini (I do not want a full) and I do not want my muscles tightened. I don't care if it's a "sub optimal" result in the eyes of the plastic surgeon. I mainly just want to get rid of the pouch of fat and some of the skin with as little invasiveness as possible.."

	Respectfully, I don't think you really understand what you are asking for. Plastic surgeons' success depends on producing "wow!!!" results not "I can't see the difference, dear...,or worse yet,  " What happened to you?" or "Who did that to you?" results. Movies often portray as as self-absorbed artists who impose our whims and sense of beauty on weak-willed, insecure women. That is rarely if ever the case.

	In your case, I assume you want to get your full before-baby body back only better. In the hundreds of women I have treated I had a very small minority asking to remove the loose skin but leave the tummy pooch/ muffin top, wider waist and sagging mons pubis intact. Every woman wants the flattest tummy possible with restoration of a narrow, sexy waist. NONE of these are achievable by removing only a little loose skin under the belly button (Mini-Tummy Tuck) while ignoring the tummy muscle separation and stretched out state.

	Since Mini-Tummy Tucks produce disappointing results in almost all women who had a single large pregnancy or multiple pregnancies you will not see a lot of pictures of this procedure on the web. Such photographs would case prospective patients away from a surgeon.

	Please, reconsider your decision. See several Plastic surgeons and see what they suggest. Start by telling them what you want to look like - not what surgery you are willing to put up with.

	Peter A Aldea, MD

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