Reverse, regular or mini tummy tuck? (Photo)

Hi, thank you for sharing your question. A formal in person evaluation is always best to determine the amount and distribution of skin laxity however, based on the photos alone, a combination of reverse and mini will treat both the upper and lower skin laxity as it appears that you may not have enough laxity for a standard tummy tuck alone.

Definitely a regular tummy tuck. Your issues are lower abdomen--so I would do the typical lower incision for a regular tummy tuck instead of a reverse tummy tuck. Then you also have some irregularity above the umbilicus--so I would definitely do a fully tummy tuck and not a mini tummy tuck which would only help below the belly button.

Traditional/ regular tummy tuck will give the best results, remove and tighten excess skin.

Mini or reverse will not give good results.

An exam and consultation with a plastic surgeon is recommended to discuss your options and expectations.

I am curious about what caused that excess skin and contour abnormality in the area just above the belly button. That looks like scar tissue, either from a previous surgery, trauma, or liposuction that came too close to the skin surface. There is also contour irregularity below the belly button, which looks like post-liposuction results. The best technique depends on the quality of those tissues. Are they firm? Soft? Tethered to the underlying tissue? Is that tissue extremely thin? Most likely the best way to at least partially address this issue would be either a traditional tummy tuck or a reverse tummy tuck. A mini will not address this issue adequately.

Hello, and thank you for your question regarding which tummy tuck procedure is most appropriate for your concerns. Congratulations on maintaining a healthy weight and being in great shape!

Based on your photos, you have excess abdominal skin, some mild fat (lipodystrophy), and likely muscle weakness in the abdominal wall. To address these concerns effectively, I strongly recommend a horizontal or regular tummy tuck. This procedure is ideal for removing excess skin, correcting muscle separation (diastasis recti) through rectus abdominis muscle plication, and creating a smoother, more toned abdominal contour.

A mini tummy tuck wouldn’t be suitable in your case because it cannot address the skin and fat above the belly button or allow for full muscle plication. A reverse tummy tuck also wouldn’t provide the desired pull for your abdominal skin and would result in less effective muscle repair compared to a horizontal tummy tuck.

Most plastic surgeons would agree that the regular tummy tuck is the best choice for you. With this procedure, you can achieve a more defined abdomen, a relocated and natural-looking belly button, and even a mons lift if needed. It’s the most comprehensive solution to achieve the results you’re looking for.

Good luck with your journey, and I hope you achieve the results you desire!

Sincerely,
Dr. Katzen

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. The only difference in a mini vs a full abdominoplasty is how long the scar is. A mini tummy tuck is going to have a smaller scar than a full tummy tuck. Muscle repair, removal of excess skin, and liposuction are 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.

The lumpy appearance and fibrosis left after liposuction or lipolisis will be very difficult to treat.
I consider you might be better candidate for Regular TT, muscle repair mons lift but you must understand the lumpy appearance won’t disappear.
It will be mandatory the in person consultation to determine what is the mobility of the skin, quality etc.
Dr. cardenas

A full tummy tuck may be suitable to remove the loose skin that seems to be above and below your belly button.

Hello, thank you for providing photos. An abdominoplasty would address your excess skin and skin laxity. This is generally an incision hip bone-to-hip bone. The surgeon gets rid of all of your skin excess from just below breast folds down to the mons pubis area and repairs your diastasis recti if you have a separation in your abdominal muscles.

Thank you for your question. I have been in practice almost 30 years. I do perform reverse tummy tucks on a regular basis. In your case, I would not make it complicated. You are a perfect candidate for a traditional tummy tuck and would get your best result with this. Best wishes to you.