Would I be able to get a flat stomach with a mini tummy tuck? (Photo)

Question

I’m 45yr old female. I’ve had lipo done but they did not do a good job. Wondering if getting just a mini tummy tuck and maybe some lipo will give me that flat stomach I want.

Leila Kasrai, MD, FRCSC · Answer

There appears to be some loose skin above your belly button. This wouldn’t be improved with a mini tummy tuck. Therefore, a full tummy tuck would be more suitable for you.

Alan Gonzalez, MD, FACS · Answer

Hello @Bzegyal7 thank you for your question and showing your pictures. A liposculture fixes the fat that you have at the skin level. However, if there is abdominal diastasis and excess skin the only way to improve is with a lipectomy with abdominal plicature. For more information and recommendations it is best to consult with one or several board certified plastic surgeons. Best wishes! Alan Gonzalez MD, FACS.

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 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!

Richard Baxter, MD · Answer

Unfortunately your photos show skin laxity and irregularities from the liposuction extending into the upper abdomen, and a mini tummy tuck will only help the lower area. It looks like a case of trying to get by with liposuction when a tummy tuck would have been a better option. A full tummy tuck is the way to go at this point.

Ronald J. Edelson, MD · Answer

You absolutely need a full tummy tuck. A mini tummy tuck will give you a poor result. I’m sure there are plenty of surgeons who would do a mini simply because that’s may be what you want and they are willing to do it. It’s not the correct operation in your case

Daniel Barrett, MD · Answer

Dear Bzegyal7,
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

Camille Cash, MD · Answer

From your photos it appears you would have the best result with a standard tummy tuck with liposuction  for contouring versus a mini tummy tuck.  This would address excess fat and skin as well as correct abdominal wall laxity.  The result would be tighter, flatter tummy.

Connie Hiers, MD, FACS · Answer

Based on your photos, you would get a better result with the full tuck which can tighten the whole length of your muscle and remove the excess skin above and below your belly button which were not addressed with just liposuction.

Mats Hagstrom, MD (license on probation) · Answer

Mini tummy tuck will treat skin laxity of your lower abdomen. It looks to me like you have moderate skin laxity of the upper and lower abdomen and for that reason a full tummy tuck is most likely a much better procedure.  Most plastic surgeons will tell you that the number of patients who are truly good candidates for a mini tummy tuck are actually fairly few.

Women who do not have muscle separation or if not had previous pregnancies can’t consider doing a skin on the tummy tuck without muscle tightening. That makes the recovery from the procedure about the same as having a mini tummy tuck with the only difference having a small scar around your belly button.

Patients who have had previous pregnancies with muscle separation should consider muscle tightening as part of a full tummy tuck.

Typically muscle tightening is not done with a mini tummy tuck.

My best guess is a full tummy tuck will be a much better procedure.

I don’t think you need more liposuction on the front of your abdomen since you’ve already had fat removed and most of the problems seem related to skin laxity.

I suggest having multiple in person consultations for local board-certified plastic surgeons in your community.

During consultations to ask each provider to show their entire collection of before and after pictures of tummy tucks or mini tummy tucks. Sing a handful of pre-selected pictures is insufficient to get a clear understanding of what average results looks like for each provider. Seeing the entire collection or as many before and after pictures as possible gives patients a better understanding of what the average results look like in the hands of each provider. Ask each provider to show as many pictures as possible of patients with very similar body characteristics to your own.

Look critically and who gets the most natural looking belly buttons for full tummy tucks.

In the end a mini tummy tuck gives a mini result. It may seem tempting because of the bad reputation a full tummy tucks in regards to recovery.

The procedure choice should be based on what the underlying ideology or diagnosis is.

If the procedure doesn’t treat the primary problem results will be partial.

Best,

Mats Hagstrom MD

Would I be able to get a flat stomach with a mini tummy tuck? (Photo)

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