Lipo and c-section revision vs. mini TT vs. TT

It is very difficult to answer your question without photos or in person evaluation. You have to understand that different plastic surgeons may have different approach to solve same problem. Liposuction and TT are frequently performed tougether to augment result. Revision of "C section" scar may be very slose to mini abdominoplasty, depending how extensive skin resection and manipulation of BB is planned. You should go back to your surgeon(s) and discuss issues in more depth or ask for another consultation. Hope this helps.

Dear cra731,
a mini tummy tuck is great if you are just looking to flatten the skin below the belly button. It does nothing for the skin above the belly button.
A full tummy tuck address all of the skin laxity and abdominal wall laxity. It repositions your umbilicus as well. It costs more and has more downtime associated then either of the above.
I would recommend consulting with a plastic surgeon that can go over in detail these three options and spends time answering your questions.
Daniel Barrett, MDCertified, American Board of Plastic SurgeryMember, American Society of Plastic SurgeryMember, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

I need photos to give an accurate assessment. In general, the decision depends on physical exam findings including the amount of excess skin, excess fat, and whether or not there is a rectus diastasis.

Scar revision and lipo can work well if there is no or minimal extra skin and no muscle laxity or diastasis. If there is skin excess or muscle laxity/diastasis then an abdominoplasty is usually the right answer.

Hi cra731.
The amount of skin that is removed determines if it is just a scar revision (literally just the scar) or a lower abdomen below the BB skin only removal (some call this a mini tummy tuck)-to do this the surgeon will free the tissue from the muscle wall in order to advance it and remove a larger section (sometimes requires drain placement). Some surgeons do muscle tightening as part of a mini TT. A full TT requires freeing tissue all the way up to the lower rib cage and reshaping or even repositioning the BB. The surgical option for liposuction is for someone who is expected to flatten with fat removal (like deflating a balloon) without any skin excision (or scar revision). Once you know what look would be worth the tradeoffs of scars, length of recovery, etc. talk to a well reputed plastic surgeon and go through the options and expected final results again-these three options are very different. Good luck!-Dr. Doolabh

I can provide some insight into the differences between lipo+revision, mini tummy tuck, and full tummy tuck, and why some patients might be offered one over the other.

Lipo+Revision: This procedure typically involves liposuction to remove excess fat in the abdominal area and a revision of a previous C-section scar. The main goal of this procedure is to improve the appearance of the scar and contour the abdomen. It does not address excess skin or laxity below the belly button.

Mini Tummy Tuck: A mini tummy tuck addresses excess skin and fat below the belly button. It involves a smaller incision than a full tummy tuck and focuses on the lower abdomen. It does not address issues with the muscles or skin above the belly button. This procedure is best suited for patients who have a limited amount of excess skin and fat in the lower abdomen and do not require muscle tightening.

Full Tummy Tuck: A full tummy tuck addresses excess skin and fat in the entire abdominal area, from the pubic area to the rib cage. This procedure also tightens the abdominal muscles that may have become separated due to pregnancy or significant weight changes. A full tummy tuck is more extensive and requires a longer incision than a mini tummy tuck.

The decision to offer a lipo+revision, mini tummy tuck, or full tummy tuck depends on the patient's individual needs, anatomy, and desired results. In your case, without an in-person examination, it's difficult to say why a mini tummy tuck may not have been discussed. Factors such as the amount of excess skin, degree of muscle separation, and distribution of fat can all influence the most appropriate procedure for a patient.

I would recommend consulting with a board-certified plastic surgeon who can provide personalized advice based on your specific goals and physical examination. They can help you understand the pros and cons of each procedure and determine the best approach to achieve your desired outcome.

Lipo+revision and mini tummy tuck (TT) are both cosmetic procedures that aim to improve the appearance of the abdominal area. However, they are different in terms of the extent of correction they provide.

Lipo+revision involves removing excess fat and revising the c-section scar and the skin below the belly button (BB) through liposuction and a small incision. It is a less invasive procedure compared to full TT or mini TT, and is generally recommended for patients who have good skin elasticity and only require minimal correction of the abdominal area.

On the other hand, mini TT involves removing excess skin and fat from the lower abdomen, as well as tightening the abdominal muscles, but is typically limited to the area below the BB. It is a slightly more invasive procedure than lipo+revision, but less invasive than a full TT.

A full TT involves removing excess skin and fat from both the upper and lower abdomen, as well as tightening the abdominal muscles. It is the most invasive procedure of the three and is generally recommended for patients who have significant excess skin and fat in the abdominal area.

In terms of why a patient would be offered lipo+revision or full TT only (and not the mini), it depends on the patient's individual needs and goals. Patients with significant excess skin and fat in the upper and lower abdomen may be better suited for a full TT, while patients with only a small amount of excess skin and fat below the BB may be candidates for lipo+revision or mini TT.

However, the final decision on which procedure to undergo should be made in consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon, who can evaluate the patient's anatomy and recommend the most appropriate procedure for achieving their desired results. Additionally, the patient's overall health and medical history may also be considered when making this decision.

I hope this helps, best of luck !

The mini tuck is the lower portion of the full tuck and does include muscle tightening. Just removing an area of skin near the C section scar does not give quite the tightness of the mini tuck nor would tighten the muscle. However, it can be done under local anesthesia where the tucks need general.

The correct recommendation depends on the outcome of the physical exam and discussion of the patient's goals. Liposuction and scar revision would be for a patient with good skin elasticity, minimal to no excess skin, no muscle separation and simply a stubborn pocket of fat. A mini tuck is for those who have concerns of excess skin and/or muscle separation of the lower abdomen but not above the belly button. A standard tummy tuck is for those with concerns both above and below the belly button. I've included a video discussing the mini tummy tuck that I hope you find helpful.

Your question lacks context, and I don’t think it’s possible to give you any clear explanations without at least seeing pictures.
Choosing the correct procedure should be based on having a clear understanding of what the underlying problem is. In other words, the first step is to make an accurate and correct diagnosis. There are four variables that determine what someone’s abdomen looks like. In other words, if somebody doesn’t like the way, their belly looks it is because of one or more of four different tissue reasons. The four variables that determine what the abdomen looks like are abdominal skin laxity due to previous pregnancies or weight loss, excess subcutaneous fat, muscle separation from previous pregnancies, or excessive visceral or intra abdominal fat.
Tell me a tech primarily treats, abdominal scan, Laxcity and muscle separation. Subcutaneous fat can be reduced through Liposuction. Access visceral fat can only be lost the weight loss. A mini tummy tuck only treats abdominal skin laxity of the lower abdomen.Pregnancies, primarily cause abdominal skin laxity and or muscle separation.
Understanding which is the primary, secondary and tertiary variables that are causing your abdomen to look different than what you would prefer is the key to understanding what is the best operation.
To differentiate skin laxity try pulling tight on your abdominal skin and see if that changes the contour significantly. To measure the thickness of subcutaneous fat gently push against your skin until you feel the underlying muscle wall. This takes very little pressure. Individuals who have muscle separation will have a bulging abdominal wall. This can also be caused by visceral fat, which has a similar appearance.
If your head consultations leaving you confused, then you’re probably not consulting with the correct plastic surgeons. I suggest anybody interested in having cosmetic surgery have multiple in person consultations before choosing any permanent and irreversible operation.
Patient should leave consultations having a clear understanding of what the underlying problem is, including all the various treatment options, and what each of those can and cannot accomplish. Patients should be shown sufficient numbers of before and after pictures of each operation suggested including previous patients who have similar body characteristics to your own.
I recommend patients start by having at least five inperson consultations, and consider rescheduling more to find the best provider and get an accurate assessment.
Pregnancies do not cause a change in fat distribution, and generally speaking significant pregnancy related changes are usually best treated with a full tummy tuck.
I suggest having a few more consultations or consider posting pictures. I do not recommend patients have virtual consultation if in person consultations are possible. I also do not recommend people travel long distances for elective surgical procedures.
Best,
Mats Hagstrom, MD