Will I have enough skin for a full tummy tuck? (Photo)

You will likely have a small vertical scar with a full tummy tuck, but it will be far lower than where you belly button is now. In fact, your new belly button will be where you current one is (because it's the same piece of skin). Where the belly button is attached to your abdominal skin will be separated and that resulting hole will travel downward toward your pubic mound along with your belly skin. Because an artful surgeon will place the long scar very low, the hole won't make it all the way down, and will need to be closed vertically, to limit its visibility. 95% of my patients have a small vertical incision, and many sit above their tiny bikini bottoms. No one can see that scar (unlike a long scar in the same location). A mini will leave you with too much upper abdominal and periumbilical skin excess and you'll feel like it was a waste of time and money (which it would be). Trust me, get that full tummy tuck by a surgeon who puts that long scar where it needs to be (super low) and uses progressive tension sutures to maximize upper abdominal skin tension and obviates the need for a drain. The vertical scar will be a nothing burger. Honestly, so many surgeons make a big deal about it, when the real bad guy is the long transverse scar being place too high, all too commonly.

Your best result would be a full abdominoplasty with abdominal wall repair. It is difficult to determine without seeing you in person whether you would be left with a small vertical scar. It is possible to do a mini abdominoplasty and tighten the abdominal muscles if you make an incision around your umbilicus. I would suggest seeing at least 2 plastic surgeons to discuss your options.

Thank you for submitting your question and photos! 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.

Dear brittanys09,
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, MDCertified, American Board of Plastic SurgeryMember, American Society of Plastic SurgeryMember, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

Hello brittanys09,

Thank you for your question regarding whether you will have enough skin for a full tummy tuck. Based on your description and photo, it is likely that you will have enough skin for a full tummy tuck. This procedure will provide the most comprehensive results, addressing both skin laxity and muscle separation.

However, there is a possibility that you may end up with a vertical incision where your old belly button was if there isn't enough skin to remove from below your belly button. This vertical scar is sometimes necessary to achieve optimal tightening and smoothness of the abdominal area, especially in cases where there is significant muscle separation and skin laxity.

Given your height and the length of your torso, a full tummy tuck with muscle repair is likely the best option for achieving a flatter, more toned abdomen. While the potential for a vertical scar may be concerning, the overall improvement in contour and muscle integrity often outweighs this drawback.

If you have any more questions or need further clarification, please don't hesitate to reach out. Best of luck with your upcoming surgery!

Sincerely,

J. Timothy Katzen, MD, FASMBS, FICS

I would recommend a floating abdominoplasty. The belly button would remain as is. The area would be suctioned. Through a mini abdominoplasty incision the muscle fro the belly button down can be repaired.Hope this helps

It appears you have enough skin for a full tummy tuck and I doubt you will need a vertical scar. If you are not planning future pregnancies, I recommend abdominoplasty with mesh reinforcement. The mesh creates a more hourglass figure by compressing the abdominal wall resulting in early satiety and helps maintain a reduced weight.

Best Wishes,

Gary Horndeski, M.D.

Thank you for your photographs. If your muscle separation is only below your bellybutton, it should be possible to repair the muscle separation and have a mini tummy tuck to keep your scar as low as possible on your abdomen. However, if your skin is not loose enough to easily approximate the skin just above your pubic hair to the skin just above your belly button using a pinch test, then you must decide where you want your incision to end up. If you want your final incision to be as low on your abdomen as possible, then you may have the trade-off of having a small vertical scar just above your abdominoplasty scar, which would be the closure of your old umbilical opening. If you do not wish to have the vertical scar from the umbilical opening, then you can shift the lower abdominoplasty scar further up your abdomen, so that the umbilical opening can be removed at the time of your tummy tuck. This would mean that your abdominoplasty incision would sit higher on your abdomen. Discuss this in detail with your plastic surgeon. Best wishes.

Thank you for including multiple photos with your question. You are an excellent candidate for a full tummy tuck without a vertical scar. Using sequential tension sutures will ensure successful closure of the full tummy tuck with muscle repair and a low-positioned scar.

Dr. B.

Thank you for your questions and pictures. Just from the look of your pictures, I believe that you would be a better candidate for a full TT and I do not think you would need a vertical scar representing the prior umbilical opening. But, even if you did this would be a 2-3 cm vertical scar at the lower abd just above the TT scar that should not terrify you in any way. Even if it is necessary, which I doubt, it can frequently be eliminated a few months later as a simple in office procedure. I do not think that you would be satisfied with a mini TT as all the loose skin above the umbo would all be mostly the same. If you are not sure, consider a second opinion from another Board Certified PS.