Getting Rid of Loose Skin Without Muscle Tightening

Thank you for your question. It is hard to provided with a valid medical opinion without photos.  I would suggest to be treated by board certificated plastic surgeon with experience in this procedure, to get the best desired results.
Kind Regards,Dr. Emmanuel Mallol Cotes.-

A tummy tuck doesn't need to repair separated muscles. You can just have the surgery done to tighten loose skin.

It is possible for to have just your skin removed during a tummy tuck, as the procedure does not have to involve muscle tightening or excess fat removal. However, if you'd prefer something nonsurgical, then you can try laser skin treatments or micro needling. The results aren't as predictable and they may take longer to achieve, though.

You are correct, the best way to get rid of loose, excess abdominal skin is with a tummy tuck.

The vast majority of patients who have loose, excess abdominal skin secondary to weight loss or pregnancy also have seperation of the vertical abdominal muscles.  The speration of these vertical midline muscles adds to the appearance of lower abdominal bulging, fullnes, and roundness.  During a tummy tuck, the thick, fibrous covering of these muscles are sutured back together, pulling the muscles into a normal, midline position.  Note that the muscles themselves are not cut or sewn.  This part of the operation, called muscle plication, adds about 15 minutes to the surgery.  Failure to perform muscle plication during a tummy tuck will leave most patients with a sub-par result and continued lower abdominal bulging.

Occasionally, a patient's excess skin is limited to the lower abdomen (i.e. below the belly button) and they do not have seperation of the abdominal muscles.  In the case where abdominal muscle tightening is not necessary, a mini tummy tuck can be performed to remove excess lower abdominal skin only. 

I recommend you be evaluated by a plastic surgeon certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery to find out if a mini tummy tuck or standard tummy tuck is best for you.

Jaime Perez, M.D.

Tummy Tuck Specialist in Tampa, Florida

Plastic Surgery Center of Tampa, Florida

Hi there-
If you either do not have muscle laxity and roundness of your abdominal wall, or you do have this but are not concerned about it, it is possible to simply remove your excess skin and maybe do a bit of liposuction.
If you do have a bit of roundness here, most reputable surgeons are going to want to repair this while they're there, as operating on you without attempting to achieve the very best outcome possible goes against our typical thought processes, but if you are certain this is what you want, it is possible.

In assessing the patient prior to tummy tuck surgery the surgeon should know the relative amounts of excess/loose skin, excess fat and loose muscle above and below the level of the belly button. Decisions can then be made as to what type of abdominoplasty is warranted and whether or not any liposuction is required at the same surgery. If the muscle is quite loose or lax and you do not tighten it the result will not be optimal and you will not be happy. If the muscle is not loose there is not need to tighten it. Tightening the muscle is no more invasive than the usual tummy tuck procedure. It only involves placing sutures in tissue that covers the muscle and sometimes in the abdominal muscles themselves. There is no cutting of the muscle for this.

A tummy tuck can include muscle tightening if you want it to, but that's not necessary. You can only have your loose skin tightened.

The short answer to this question is yes.  However, having loose lax skin often implies that the muscle and fascia below it are stretched out as well.  Your best solution is to have a consultation with a board certified plastic surgeon who can guide you through the pros and cons of each way.

I think you would get a satisfactory result with a standard skin only abdominoplasty without the diastasis recti repair. The skin will be removed in an elliptical pattern from the umbilicus to a point just above the pubic bone.  The stretch marks above the umbilicus will look better when the skin is stretched tight but the will not be removed just lowered down.   There is always a possibility of making a bad scar but attention to detail and using standard plastic surgical techniques can keep this to a minimum.

A tummy tuck can be performed without muscle tightening. To explore your options, consult in person with 3 - 4 experienced and expert board certified plastic surgeons.