Does a tummy tuck without muscle repair look the same as one with muscle repair?

Thanks for your questions. Congratulations on your weight loss. But it's important to know how tall you are and how much you weigh. Generally speaking, a tummy tuck with a muscle repair looks better than one without it. But that ignores the most important question: can you realistically have a muscle repair? I can only speak for myself, but some patients have a very full abdomen which would do poorly with muscle repair. You cannot tighten that which is already tight. What if you do a tightening of a very full abdomen, one with abundant visceral fat? You slowly develop a strange fullness at the top of your abdomen which mars the result. So I choose the operation based on what the patient has. Some patients also show plenty of fat with loose skin but a tight abdominal wall. Those patients do not benefit from muscle tightening either. It's all about your anatomy and your desires. No two patients have exactly the same operation. They shouldn't because no two patients are exactly alike. 

Thank you for your question. To provide a valid medical opinion I will need to see pictures of you body from different angles. I would suggest to be treated by board certified plastic surgeon with experience in this procedure, to get the best desired results.
Respectfully,Dr. Emmanuel Mallol Cotes.-

It depends on the individual patient. If they have abdominal muscle separation, then a tummy tuck without muscle repair would not achieve a satisfying result as their stomach would still bulge out. 

Tummy tucks do not repair the muscle but they repair the lining outside the muscle called fascia.  If you have had 50 lbs of weight loss it is most likely that your fascia has stretched and you would benefit from fascia repair.  The technique I recommend is 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.  The mesh increases the mechanical strength both passively by its own intrinsic strength and actively by increasing the strength of the rectus abdominal muscle.Best Wishes,Gary Horndeski, M.D.

Hello and thank you for your question. The short answer is 'no'.  Muscle repair makes the abdomen flat and takes care of the abdominal wall bulge. I would seek consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon
for a full evaluation and advice. Best,
Pejman Aflaki, M.D.                                            
Johns
Hopkins-trained double board-certified plastic surgeon

With a tummy tuck there is subways the choice of muscle repair or no repair. The choice is often based on how much if the deformity is caused by loose skin and how much is caused by loose muscle. In patients with a lot of weight loss most of the benefit is achieved by skin removal. A consultation with a plastic surgeon will help determine whether muscle work is needed in your case.

The short answer is that if there is a muscle separation (diastasis), your results will probably be better with muscle repair than without. If there is not a significant separation, it's hard to prove any benefit.

TT without muscle repair may make the recovery easier, but, if you have laxity in that area, the result will be better with plication. In general, the muscles should be brought to anatomic norms. The smaller the separation, the less tightening required and probably the less discomfort. Swelling will occur irrespective of muscle repair, and almost every patient requiring a TT will benefit from the muscle repair even though you may require a revision after pregnancy. Having the muscle repair with the TT tightens abdominal muscles making your abdomen tight, taunt and lean.

Hi, thank you for sharing your question. A tummy tuck with muscle repair will look better than without. Muscle repair is only useful if the muscles have widened apart such as in pregnancy. The results are often flatter and contour is enhanced when it is done. An in-person consultation with a board certified plastic surgeon will be helpful in determining the best option for you. I hope this helps. Best of luck!

Hi.  Generally, yes, there is a difference between a surgery where the muscles are tightened up during an abdominoplasty versus when they are not.  Very often the rectus muscles, which are typically thought of as the "6 pack "muscles, are separated or stretched out from previous pregnancies or weight gain or other reasons.  In almost all of my abdominoplasties I tighten those muscles which is referred to as rectus plication as part of that procedure.  For most patients this makes a significant difference in terms of their overall result and flattening.  I would recommend consulting with a board certified plastic surgeon with good experience with abdominoplasties and body contouring to help guide you through this process.  Good luck and take care, Dr. Howell