Floating belly button abdominoplasty revision
I would not comment specifically on your case without reading the operative report as well as discuss your case with your plastic surgeon.
Most of your laxity appear around the belly button and it might have been a tough call between a floating belly button abdominoplasty and a flu abdominoplasty since each has it own advantages and disadvantages.
Neither might give you all of what you want without significant costs (i.e. scars).
If a true floating technique was used then converting this to a full abdominplasty with a peri-umbilical scar carries the risk of losing the belly button ad you should be apprised of that risk. (Robin T.W. Yuan, MD, Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon)
Can I still have a full tummy tuck after a mini tummy tuck with floating belly button?
I am sorry to hear that you are disappointed. Converting you to a full tummy tuck caries some risks. If you had a full tummy tuck there is a good chance the belly button would not have enough blood circulation and the skin inside the belly button could die. This may require a reconstruction of a new belly button. It not the worse thing in the world and in the long run could still look very natural.
The other important thing to understand is that even with a full tummy tuck your skin will never be the way it was before pregnancy. The skin above your belly button has also been stretched out during pregnancy. I think with a floating tummy tuck your abdomen will look nicer but the skin will not be a nice as before the pregnancy. (Michael Zarrabi, MD, Santa Monica Plastic Surgeon)
Can a floating tummy tuck Still Be Done?
Because you appear to have sufficient loose skin of the upper abdomen, once your scars have softened, a floating tummy tuck may be possible. First, however, the scars need to soften, which takes time. I usually advise patients to wait 6 months or more. However, you should meet with your plastic surgeon and discuss why he told you you were not a candidate for a full tummy tuck.
He/she may have had a good reason to limit your surgery to your lower abdomen. Different plastic surgeons have different approaches to tummy tucks. Below is some information about a full tummy tuck without drains. (Heather J. Furnas, MD, Santa Rosa Plastic Surgeon)
Full vs. Mini Tummy Tuck
I would recommend a full tummy tuck at 6-12 months post procedure. I think you are a safe candidate for this and can get a much improved result. (Paul S. Gill, MD, Houston Plastic Surgeon)
Full tummy tuck
This is a difficult question to answer by the photos only. However, in brief, you can convert to a full tummy tuck once it has healed but you would need to wait a minimum of 3-6 months, maybe even a year to allow the scar tissue to soften before you were to undergo any revisions. Anything done to early will have very limited results from the resent procedure. (Lawrence Scott Ennis, MD, FACS, Pensacola Plastic Surgeon)
Revision
You have a fair amount of excess skin and stretch marks around your belly button which is compromising your result. The skin removal that you had was quite minimal. Removal of more skin could help, but you don’t have enough skin to do a traditional full tummy tuck. If more skin is removed, you may need to have an additional scar to remove your belly button. Because your belly button was “floated” down, it cannot be done in the usual manner. You may need a removal of your belly button and reconstruction of a completely new one. Please see a surgeon who is experienced in these types of revisions. Without examining, you it is difficult to ascertain what is needed to give you the result you desire. (Shim Ching, MD, Honolulu Plastic Surgeon)