Mini tuck upper bulge (Photo)

There are two issues that contribute to your concern . . . If you had the lower aspect of the abdominal muscles tightened with the umbilical hernia repair, then there is an incomplete tightening along the entire length of your abdominal muscles with the upper aspect unaddressed causing this "step-off". A more traditional abdominoplasty is what will address upper muscle tightening. Secondly, there may be a thicker layer of fat above the umbilicus adding to the upper tummy "bulge", although not as much of a contributing factor. Thank you, I hope this helps.

Hello, in your case there may be two options, one, that when the tummy tuck was done they did not repair the abdominal muscles, and two that they repaired them but it was not in a proper way or that the suture was broken, you need an Abdominoplasty by laparoscopy to repair only the muscles properly

Dear Pink2019,
I understand your concern. However, without a proper assessment, it would be difficult to determine what went wrong. It is best that you visit your plastic surgeon for further assessment or ask for a second opinion. Only after a thorough examination, you can get proper recommendations and advice.
Daniel Barrett, MDCertified, American Board of Plastic SurgeryMember, American Society of Plastic SurgeryMember, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

Thank you for sharing your question and photograph. Unfortunately a very common problem with mini-tummy tucks, your upper abdominal muscles were not tightened, while the lower portion was. As a result the now "weaker" upper abdomen will protrude more as a result of the "tighter" lower abdomen. Think of a balloon - if you push down on one side of the balloon, the opposite side bulges as more air is pushed in that direction. The only correction is a revision surgery to address the upper abdomen.

You may have a hernia till or just weak upper abdominal muscles that were not treated with the mini tuck. If no hernia, you could consider EMSCulpt noninvasive treatments to help tone, build and build your muscles back together for a flatter abdomen.

Hello, thanks for your answer and photos. The bulge in the upper stomach is a result of the Mini Tummy Tuck, which was only targeted in the lower area of the abdomen. Consult a board-certified plastic surgeon in your area and explore the option of having a revision and a full tummy tuck. Good luck!

A mini tummy tuck only addresses the area below the belly button. You may be noticing that because the muscle repair was done lower abdomen the upper portion now appears more pronounced. A standard tummy tuck addresses both the upper and lower portion of the abdomen. I've included a video on this topic that I hope you find helpful.

I think we need a little more information to give you a quality assessment, and better understanding of why you’re having a man looks the way it does.
To start with when making an assessment of someone’s abdomen, there are basically for variables to determine what the optimal looks like. In other words, if somebody doesn’t like the way, their belly looks, it is generally always because of one or more of these for different tissue variables.
The four different tissue variables that determine what the abdomen looks like are abdominal skin laxity typically due to previous pregnancies weight loss or age, excess subcutaneous fat, muscle separation from previous pregnancies and lastly, excess visceral or intra abdominal fat.
Typically a mini tummy tuck only treats skin laxity of the lower abdomen. Most plastic surgeons do not include muscle tightening when doing a mini tummy tuck, but sometimes that is included.
If muscle tightening is done of the lower abdomen only then the upper abdomen is left un-tightened and can create a bulging appearance of the upper abdomen.
That could be one explanation for your outcome.
Generally speaking, the problem is going to be due to one or more of the previously described four variables. Bulging of the abdominal wall is generally going to be muscle separation, visceral fat or a combination of both.
I suggest following up with your provider and getting clear understanding if you had muscle tightening on any part of your abdomen if so, if it included both the upper and lower? Because a mini tummy tuck generally does not go above the belly button muscle tightening is only part of a full tummy tuck in general.
You could also consider having second opinion in person, consultations with other plastic surgeons in your community. For a proper second opinion consultation, patients should come prepared bringing with them a copy of all before and after pictures and a copy of your operative report. Those are all available from your current provider’s office if you request them.
Bulging of the abdominal wall is generally caused by muscle, separation, visceral, fat, or a combination of both. Partial muscle tightening will create partial bulging of the un-tightened part of the abdomen. This may not be the case but it should not be all that difficult to figure out why your abdomen has the appearance it does.
We need more information to make an accurate assessment.
Understanding your candidacy for the procedure in the first place is also important. Women who had previous pregnancies are generally better candidate for a full tummy tuck, especially if there is evidence of muscle separation.
Best,
Mats Hagstrom, MD