Tummy tuck without muscle repair. I know the result won't be perfectly flat, but how bad are we talking?

Thank you for your question. My question will be: Do you have a reason not to perform muscle repair? The reason for doing a tummy tuck is to repair the patient's muscles and remove extra skin. It's really hard for me to tell you how bad it will be a tummy tuck without muscle repair without pictures, or a physical evaluation to evaluate you.
Please get in touch with a plastic surgeon in your zone and get a physical consultation for a recommendation. it does not mean you cannot have it, but the truth is you will not have a flat abdomen, and the results can be worse than the look you may have now.
Good luck!

Dear AKRSTINET,

Thank you for your question regarding tummy tucks without muscle repair. It’s imperative to have an in-person consultation, as it’s challenging to provide precise advice without a proper examination.

I wonder why you would prefer to skip muscle repair. Achieving the best possible results usually involves addressing all aspects contributing to the abdominal profile. If concerns about postoperative pain influence your decision, please know that pain is typically manageable with medications and usually temporary.
Incorporating muscle repair is a standard procedure in tummy tucks as it often yields more favorable outcomes. I strongly recommend considering it to ensure you achieve optimal results from your surgery.
I hope this clarifies your concerns, and I am available for a more in-depth discussion during a consultation.
Sincerely,
Dr. Katzen

Without seeing your abdomen, no one can tell you if you’d be able to achieve the look you’d like. Some women experience recurs diastasis, while others do not. So unless you see or feel the muscles being separated, you may not have an issue. Now if you are having abdominal issues and notice an out of place bulge in your abdomen, you could have a hernia that needs repaired. I recommend consulting in person with a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon so they can feel your abdomen and advise you if you have underlying issues that need to be corrected or if you can reach your aesthetic goals with the Abdominoplasty by itself. Would love to see you here at Smith Plastic Surgery Center.

Dear akristinet,
this will depend on the amount of muscle separation. If you are considering surgery, I would suggest you consult a board-certified plastic surgeon. 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

It depends on the extent of your abdominal muscle separation. If it is significant, then your mid-section can bulge to the point where skin tightening and fat removal alone will not make enough of an improvement. Please see a board certified plastic surgeon for an assessment to determine whether your goals can be met with a tummy tuck without muscle repair.

Not every abdominoplasty needs or wants muscle repair. If there is not a diastasis recti/ muscle separation, the muscle does not need to be tightened.
Patients that have lost massive weight especially prior to childbearing may only want the excess skin and tissue removed and not the muscle repaired- patients tend to be happy, as long as, they are realistic about the results that could be achieve.

Thanks for your question. Not all tummy tucks require muscle tightening. Tummy tucks, also called abdominoplasties, have several components; liposuction, skin removal, muscle tightening, and replantation or creation of a belly button. Each patient has different wants and needs. By discussing your plans and examining you, we can formulate a plan to give you your best result. Plastic surgeons have their recommendations and can lay out the options and predictable outcomes, but the choice is yours. A photo of your abdomen can help to see what I might recommend. I would seek out a board certified plastic surgeon and be honest about your desires.

You did not post photos, so I cannot be specific. However, the surgery is for you and your only. If you do not want the muscles tightened, then just have the excess skin removed. You can always treat your muscles with EMSculpt to tone and tighten with no down time if needed.

A tummy tuck without muscle repair can still provide improvement in the appearance of your abdomen by removing excess skin and fat. However, the results may not be as dramatic as with muscle repair, and you may not achieve a perfectly flat abdomen. The extent of improvement depends on factors like the amount of loose skin and fat, your body’s natural elasticity, and your surgeon’s technique. It’s essential to consult with a board-certified plastic surgeon who can evaluate your specific case and discuss the potential outcomes based on your goals and preferences.

Thank you for your question. If you have had a child there is certainly some stretching of the abdominal wall and muscles. I recommend muscle repair in almost all of my full tummy tucks for an improved shape and for better contour. If you pull the skin tight but don't repair the muscle, the abdomen will continue to remain round and may even worsen over time. Without photos it is hard to give a firm recommendation, but if you are considering a tummy tuck I would highly recommend the muscle repair while there for a complete procedure.