Difference between mini tummy tuck and full
Tummy Tuck type
From the lateral view, your navel doesn’t seem high to me. Your fascia seems lax and you have a moderate fat pad above the umbilicus. My inclination would be to recommend full tummy tuck. (Scott E. Kasden, MD, Dallas Plastic Surgeon)
The location of your umbilicus is not certain in the photo that you provided. There are advantages and disadvantages to both procedures as there are with all operations. From your lateral only photo, I think that you would probably get a nice result from either procedure, but I would want to assess your muscle before giving a definitive opinion. (John Whitt, MD, Louisville Plastic Surgeon)
Most women need full tummy tuck.
The difference between mini tummy tuck and full
Mini tummy tuck is done too often, because it sounds less scary. You have loose muscles and excess skin above the belly button, so you need a full tummy tuck. It’s usually worth it. (George J. Beraka, MD (retired), Manhattan Plastic Surgeon)
Full vs mini tummy tuck
Although a photo is no subsititution for a physical exam, I believe you have enough laxity to perform a formal or full tummy tuck. A frontal photo would also be helpful to see if there is hooding of skin above the umbilicus. This would confirm my opinion. Your skin is lax and your muscles are loose. You need to have the skin removed and the muscles tightened. In my opinion, a mini tummy tuck will leave loose skin and create a suboptimal result.
Difference between mini tummy tuck surrgery and full
In your case with a low c section scar and high umbilicus, I prefer to remove the necessary amount of skin and discuss the possibility of a small vertical incision which will be within a garment line. This vertical incision may be necessary if all the skin from the umbilicus to the hairline can not be removed. This will yield a better contour than leaving behind lax and damaged skin. As I mentioned, I believe all the skin can be removed but I would discuss this option with your board certified surgeon. (Robert W. Kessler, MD, FACS, Corona Del Mar Plastic Surgeon)
The solution to myofascial laxity is a full tummy tuck
The position of your belly button is not a relevant concern. You’ve clearly got laxity of the structural layers of your abdominal wall (the fascia and muscles) – the only way to deal with this issue is a ‘full’ tummy tuck that included myofascial plication. Amongst women, there is great variation in the position of the belly button along the vertical axis.
Difference between mini tummy tuck operation and full
The belly button position does not come into play regarding the decision making in your case. Seek out a board certified plastic surgeon in your area for a full discussion on the risks and benefits of abdominoplasty surgery. (Scott C. Sattler, MD, FACS, Seattle Plastic Surgeon)
The reason there are multiple options are because there are various risks/side effects and different possible goals. If you examine your anatomy, there is probably some diastasis to your muscles, some disproportionate fat, some laxity or even excess of your skin, and some visible stretch marks. You also mention a high umbilicus (although you can’t really see it in the photo, and a low C-section scar that implies a full abdominoplasty might be difficult,though not impossible.
You have to ask yourself what your goals are. Are you interested in getting rid of the stretch marks, tightening the skin, recontouring your profile, or limiting your scar.
Difference between mini abdominoplasty and full
Depending on what your priorities are and what you are willing to accept as side effects or risks, a specific procedure can be designed for you. It may not give you all you want, but it will hopefully be a “best fit” option.
It will often take me at least two or even three separate sessions with a patient to sift through all these options and variables. No need to rush. Just to confuse you even more, you could do some liposuction and a modified abdominoplasty, moving the umbilicus down a bit without a scar, and using the C-section scar that would be shorter than a full abdominplasty scar. (Robin T.W. Yuan, MD, Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon)
Perfect candidate for a Full Tummy Tuck
The difference between mini tummy tuck surgery and full
In my opinion, you are a perfect candidate for a full Tummy Tuck (Abdominoplasty). In the present photo you appear to have a stretched out abdominal wall. I would bet that if you bent over, as if jumping into a pool, and relaxed your tummy, you would demonstrate a “Hammock Sign” with a large pooch (currently hidden by keeping your muscles tight).
A full tummy tuck WILL flatten your tummy to a flat / sunken youthful athletic look, narrow your waist, lift a slightly sagging Mons pubis, remove the lower tummy stretch marks and smooth some of the anterior thigh cellulite dimpling. It is a VASTLY superior procedure than the too often misused mini-tummy tuck. (Peter A. Aldea, MD, Memphis Plastic Surgeon)
