Am I a candidate for a full tummy tuck? (Photo)

Dear A714,

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

Hello A714 in Rocklin, CA,
Thank you for your question regarding whether you are a candidate for a full tummy tuck. Thank you for your history and your pictures. First, we should analyze your pictures to determine the best procedures. You have mild cutis pleonasmus (excess skin), mild dermatocholosis (loose skin), moderate rectus abdominis diastasis (stretched midline muscle), and moderate stria (stretch marks). Because of your amount and quality of your abdominal skin and weakened muscle, abdominal liposuction would not be optimal. There are 7 types of tummy tucks: mini, low transverse, high lateral tension, vertical, reverse, inverted T or Fleur-de-lis (FDL), or H (combination of the FDL and a reverse tummy tuck). Optimal treatment of your abdomen involves removal of lower abdominal skin and fat and the plication of your weak rectus abdominis muscles. A "full tummy tuck" would address all 3 conditions. Therefore, you would be a good candidate for a "full tummy tuck." Most plastic surgeons would suggest low transverse or high lateral tension. With a low transverse tummy tuck, the incision is low on the abdomen and can be partially hidden by most pants. The main advantage of the low transverse abdominoplasty is that most of the incision can be concealed. Whereas a high lateral tension tummy tuck, the incision is high above the hips and cannot be hidden by most pants. However, the advantage of the high lateral tension tummy tuck is that more of an hour-glass body shape can be achieved. Whether you undergo a low transverse or high lateral tension tummy tuck, only some lower abdominal excess skin will be removed. All the skin from your lower abdomen to above the belly button cannot be removed. That means you will have a vertical scar (where your belly button used to be) somewhere below your current belly button position. This is very important for you to understand. Another option would be a floating belly button procedure. Discuss these options with your selected plastic surgeon. If you have any more questions regarding tummy tucks, abdominoplasties or abdominal liposuction, contact an experienced plastic surgeon who deals with significant weight loss patients. Since the tummy tuck surgeries is a big procedure, please seek an experienced, board-certified plastic surgeon with significant experience in performing tummy tucks. Do your research. If you cannot find an experienced tummy tuck plastic surgeon in your neighborhood, consider traveling out of state. Sincerely, Dr. Katzen, MD, MBA, FACS, FICS. ( Plastic Surgeon, President of the American Society of Bariatric Plastic Surgeons, certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, Fellow of the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, American College of Surgery, and International College of Surgery and member of the American Society of Plastic Surgery, American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery, RealSelf Hall of Fame, and RealSelf Doctor Advisory Board for Medical Review and Consumer Panel.)

Deciding whether a tummy tuck is suitable for a patient depends on a variety of factors, including medical history and goals. However, based on your photo alone, it appears that you have loose skin above your belly button. This would make a full tummy tuck more suitable.

It's not possible to provide a definitive answer based on the single limited photo, but it does appear that you are a good candidate for a standard tummy tuck. The emphasis in your case would be on removing the lax skin and tightening your stomach muscles by plication.

Thank you for your photo. Ideally, a full tummy tuck candidate would have enough abdominal skin laxity, so that the skin just above the top of the mons could be approximated to the skin just above the belly button when it is pulled downward without undue tension. For patients who do not have enough skin laxity to perform the classic full abdominoplasty, the options are to close the opening created by the incision around the umbilicus as a vertical line above the low abdominoplasty incision or to move the lower abdominoplasty incision upward so that the lower skin and upper skin can be approximated without undue tension. Most patients would like to remove any prior lower abdominal incisions if possible. The final determinant of whether you could undergo a full tummy tuck and what incision placement would be in your best interest and give you the optimal result would occur after you have a consultation with your plastic surgeon and a physical examination could be done to demonstrate to you what your particular anatomy would allow to be done. Best wishes.

It's difficult to answer definitevely without seeing other views of your abdomen or seeing you in person. I would see your plastic surgeon for the best answer. At the very least, a mini tummy tuck would be indicated as well as flank liposuction.

From your photograph, it is hard to give you excellent advice, but it seems like you would be a good candidate for muscle tightening and skin removal of a tummy tuck. The skin above your bellybutton would probably be tightened. You may have a small vertical scar at the umbilical donor site depending on how much the skin in stretches downward. A consultation in person with a plastic surgeon would probably be able to give you a more direct opinion of what you would expect of surgery.

Your photograph is limited as you have not provided a lateral view. Also, if your breasts are hanging low then you may benefit from a breast lift that will pull the upper abdominal skin up and may eliminate the need for a full tummy tuck. I would need more photographs to include your breasts and abdomen (front & side views) to give you a more accurate answer.

Best Wishes,

Gary Horndeski, M.D.

Hello,
Thank you for the question. Based on the photo, you are a good candidate for tummy tuck.
I wish you the best.
Vasileios Vasilakis, MD, FACSDouble Board Certified Plastic SurgeonHouston, TX.

The short answer is yes. You are a good candidate for a TT. This will allow us to address the loose skin above and below the belly button and repair any diastasis you may have. If you proceed with a full TT you will likely have a small vertical scar in addition to the scar from hip to hip. This is from where we make the incision around your belly button.