A mini tummy tuck by definition only treats, the lower abdomen, and does not include repositioning of the belly button. If you’re having repositioning of your belly button, then you are having a full tummy tuck. Perhaps they are not doing muscle tightening in which case it would be a skin only full tummy tuck. An individuals who have moderate or slight skin laxity, it may be challenging to remove all the skin between the incision around the belly button, if the incision or scar is placed low. The alternative is to either add a small, vertical scar representing the incision made around the umbilicus or raise the scar position higher on the lower abdomen. In my opinion, tummy tuck scars should be kept as low as possible, especially on individuals who don’t have thick layers of subcutaneous fat. Plastic surgeons with sufficient experience should have no difficulty showing you before and after pictures of previous patient who had different variations of the procedure. Ask them to show you previous patients who had the procedure they describe or are recommending. An experienced plastic surgeon and should have no difficulty showing you at least 50 sets of before and after pictures of commonly performed procedures like a tummy tuck. Ask providers to show you as many pictures as possible of a previous patient who had the procedure who have similar body characteristics to your own. Being shown a handful of pre-selected images, representing the best results of a providers career is insufficient to get a clear understanding of what average results look like in the hands of each provider. Sufficiently experienced providers should have Enough before and after pictures to clearly show you what your results should look like. Highly experienced surgeons should have hundreds if not, thousands of before and after pictures of commonly performed procedures. Judge tummy tuck results based on who gets the most natural looking belly button on a consistent basis, as well as a very low set scar that follows anatomic contours naturally and evenly on both sides. Patients should recognize that there are significant variations in skill and competency for all plastic surgery procedures, and being board-certified and plastic surgery with years of experience does not mean that somebody has mastered any one single procedure. A full tummy tuck is a permanent and irreversible operation. You get one shot at doing this procedure correctly. Poorly done procedures are very difficult to improve upon. In my opinion, patients should be far more selective than they think necessary when it comes to the vetting process and choosing the best provider. Presently I recommend patient start by having at least five in person, consultations and consider scheduling more unless they feel very confident they found the best provider. Providers who have sufficient skill and experience and confidence should have no difficulty showing you a variety of outcomes, and should have ample numbers of before, and after pictures to make it clear what their results look like on a regular basis. I suggest asking providers during the consultation to show you a variety of outcomes, especially a patient will have your body characteristics. Ask providers to show you examples of excellent outcomes, average outcomes, and outcomes that did not turn out, as well as they had hoped. I asked them specifically what the revision rates and revision policy is. Ask each surgeon about complications and which complications they’ve personally had, the frequency, and how those patients were managed afterwards. Take notes during each consultation, especially regarding the quantity and quality of before and after pictures showing it. You should not have been left not understanding the concept of the need for a small, vertical scar, representing the incision around your belly button. Personally I place great importance and allows that squire and then some individuals. This may require adding a small vertical scar. Most plastic surgeons should be able to make a small incision around the umbilicus leaving that vertical scar fairly insignificant. The scar usually ends up right above the primary incision, and is usually the correct way to do the procedure compared to placing the scar higher on the abdomen which is undesirable. There are certainly times when surgeons cannot accurately predict if a small vertical scar will be needed while still setting the scar low. Sometimes the decision needs to be made in the operating room. I recommend patients take their time and not rush into scheduling surgery. Especially major operations like a full tummy tuck.When, in doubt, slow down and schedule more consultations. The more consultations you have the more you’ll understand your candidacy for the procedure, and have the best chance at finding the best provider. Take an active role during the consultation, recognizing it is your responsibility to vent to each provider regarding skill and experience. Ask them specifically to show you as many before and after pictures as they are willing to. If the collection of results is limited, then ask the provider why they do not have more pictures for you to see. It’s completely reasonable to ask a provider how many tummy tucks they performed in their career. They should have a collection of before and after pictures that is representative of the number of cases they’ve done.Quality plastic surgeons should be detail, oriented and thorough both during surgery and during consultations. Based on your pictures, it doesn’t look like you have significant muscle separation. This is generally the case for women who have not had previous pregnancies. The women who have not had children doing a skin only tummy tuck. If sometimes I preferred procedure. Muscle tightening makes the recovery significantly more challenging and longer lasting compared to a skin only tummy tuck. A tummy tuck primarily treats skin laxity, and muscle separation. A mini tummy tuck typically treats skin laxity only of the lower abdomen. Best, Mats Hagstrom, MD