I cannot get rid of my lower pouch - am I a candidate for Mini Tummy Tuck? (photos)

Question

I am 5'3 115-120lbs. Very active and weight train 5 days a week. Ive had 1 pregnancy and plan on having no more children. 31 years old. No matter what I do- including diet, I can not get rid of my lower pouch. Would I be a candidate for a mini tummy tuck? Open to other recommendations please.

Chet Mays, MD · Answer

Thank you for your inquiry! By your photos, it looks like you would be a great candidate for an abdominoplasty to get rid of any excess skin. The only difference in a mini vs a full abdominoplasty is how long the incision is. A mini tummy tuck is going to have a smaller incision than a full tummy tuck. Muscle repair, removal of excess skin, and liposuction are all 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!

Joel Patrick Maier, MD · Answer

It looks like your skin elasticity is very good with no stretch marks or pannus (skin hanging over your belt-line). I bet we could do very well and meet your expectations with liposuction alone. Something to think about. See attached for reference. Thank you.

Leila Kasrai, MD, FRCSC · Answer

If you don’t want to touch the area above your belly button then a mini may be sufficient. However, you do appear to have some possible skin laxity above your belly button, as indicated by your first photo. For this reason, a full tummy tuck may be more suitable for you.

Kenneth Hughes, MD · Answer

A mini TT involves removal of a small amount of skin and fat below the belly button that addresses only the lower portion of the abdomen. No plication or muscle tightening is performed and belly button remains attached and unchanged. If patients have loose skin above the belly button or muscle laxity, a short scar or full TT would be more appropriate. A physical exam would be necessary to determine what procedure is most appropriate for you to achieve the results you are seeking

Daniel Barrett, MD · Answer

Dear vancityopalrose,
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, MD
Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

Connie Hiers, MD, FACS · Answer

I would suggest doing liposuction first to remove all the excess fat. Once you have healed, then see if your muscle needs to be tightened or excess skin remains.  You may do well with just liposuction.

Manuel Diaz, MD · Answer

Hello, yes you are de perfect candidate for a mini tummy tuck , we can do a mini tummy tuck and a bit Of Lipo.

Camille Cash, MD · Answer

From your photos it appears you are a good candidate for a standard tummy tuck.  This would remove excess fat and skin as well as correct abdominal wall laxity.  Liposuction could be added if you want further contouring.  The best place to begin is a consultation with a board certified plastic surgeon near you.

Arian Mowlavi, MD, FACS (license on probation) · Answer

If you are not experiencing muscle diastasis, stretching of the abdominal muscle, then you may be a candidate for a mini tummy tuck to address the skin and fat in your abdomen. The fat is addressed using high definition vaser liposuction while the mini tuck while resolve the resulting excess skin following liposuction. The Gold Standard for superior liposuction results requires use of the advanced technology of ultrasound-assisted VASER liposuction. As an official trainer of VASER liposuction, I perform full body liposuction cases every week. VASER liposuction has been the only modality that has consistently resulted in outstanding liposuction outcomes. VASER liposuction ensures a smooth contour regardless of degree of excess fat by virtue of being able to remove any and all remaining fat comprehensively and uniformly. If skin redundancy is observed, Renuvion technology can be simultaneously applied to tighten your skin to optimize your overall contour outcome. A Skype or FaceTime consultation with a VASER specialist will help you get an accurate recommendation and pricing.

Respectfully,
Arian Mowlavi MD, FACS
Realself 100 Hall of Fame Inductee

Respectfully, 
Arian Mowlavi MD, FACS
Realself 100 Hall of Fame Inductee

Mats Hagstrom, MD (license on probation) · Answer

The number of patients who are good candidate for a mini tummy tuck are actually pretty few. Usually that procedure is appropriate for women who have not had children and just have a small bit of skin laxity on their lower abdomen.

You have muscle separation a.k.a. diastaasis and while you don’t have a lot of skin laxity you do have it on both the upper and lower abdomen.

I understand the reluctance I’m not wanting a full tummy tuck. I wouldn’t want to have one either but that is what you need if you want a tight flat abdomen.

If you want a mini result then get a mini tummy tech but it will not properly address pregnancy related changes because a mini tummy tuck does not allow the surgeon to properly address muscle separation.

The correct procedure is a full tummy tuck but nobody has to have cosmetic surgery and it’s a free world.

When making an assessment for someone’s abdomen there are four variables that we look at. These are skin laxity, excess subcutaneous fat, muscle separation a.k.a. Diastasis recti and visceral fat.  Of these two my best guess is diastasis recti is you’re number one variable followed by skin laxity as the number two.

To get a more accurate assessment and better understanding of treatment options I suggest scheduling a few in person consultations with local board-certified plastic surgeons. During consultations ask providers to show their entire collection before and after pictures of tummy tucks and pay close attention to who gets the most natural looking belly buttons with very low set scars that follow anatomic contours naturally.  These are the hallmarks of quality work. Getting a natural looking belly button is the hardest part of the procedure and surgeons who do that consistently are meticulous and detail oriented and that’s what you want.

With a mini tummy tuck the belly button is typically not moved so other than having a possible down pulled appearance it should not change much at all.  there is a procedure called a floating bellybutton which I personally do not care for but you may hear people mention it.

Best,

Mats Hagstrom MD

I cannot get rid of my lower pouch - am I a candidate for Mini Tummy Tuck? (photos)

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