If you have a good deal of loose skin, a mini tummy tuck is liable to leave you disappointed.
After 4 children I would not shy away from at least some muscular tightening as well depending upon how things looked at surgery. (John P. Di Saia, MD, Orange Plastic Surgeon)
You are an excellent candidate for a Full body tummy tuck. You have loose skin and severe stretch marks.
Nothing besides a full body tummy tuck will correct both of these problems – you will see a correction of > 90% of your stretch marks and have a nice flat abdomen. (David Shafer, MD)
The short answer is that you would do better with a full body tummy tuck. To be sure of course you would need an exam. The most telling part of the exam is in the sitting position.
I suspect that you have significant overhang of skin on or close to your thighs, and probably some loose skin above your belly button.
You also have a lot of stretch marks, most of the lower ones would be removed with a full body abdominoplasty. With your history of 4 children and a yo-yo diet your muscles could be brought together again and tightened. (Larry S. Nichter, MD, MS, FACS, Orange County Plastic Surgeon)
If you have very little fat, some loose skin and a lot of stretch marks then the best tummy tuck choice for you will probably be an UMBILICAL FLOAT. The scar is VERY low and the umbilicus is raised from below and relocated about an inch lower on your abdomen without any external umbilical scar (it is floated down). The muscles can be tightened and what little fat you have can be removed. (David Finkle, MD, Omaha Plastic Surgeon)
Benefits of a Full tummy tuck procedure
Based on the picture you provided, you are definately a great candidate for a full (standard) tummy tuck procedure. The benefits of a full tummy tuck are much greater than a mini, which involves minimal results.
A full tummy tuck involves tightening of the rectus muscles stretched from pregnancy, as well as removal of the loose, excess skin along with the stretchmarks on the abdominal area. A mini tummy tuck procedure limits the surgeon from providing the best results possible. It involves work done from the belly button and under.
Very few mommy’s benefit from a mini tummy tuck. The most important thing to consider is finding a board certified plastics surgeon to perform your surgery. (Tom J. Pousti, MD, FACS, San Diego Plastic Surgeon)
Full tummy tuck procedure will remove more stretch marks
The majority of your stretch marks would probably be removed with a full body tummy tuck. I would consider that over the mini and you will probably be happier. (Steven Wallach, MD, Manhattan Plastic Surgeon)
Tummy tuck procedure can help you
You can benefit from a tummy tuck. After four children it is hard to believe that your muscles has not separated and gotten lax. The skin is severely damaged with stretch marks above the belly button.
You look ideal for a full tummy tuck for the best results. But you have to accept the bikini scar from hip to hip. (Samir Shureih, MD, Baltimore Plastic Surgeon)
Looking at the picture, it appears that a standard abdominoplasty (full tuck) may be a better option vs. that of a mini-tuck. Another option would be a full tummy tuck wherein the umbilicus (belly button) is “floated” wherein it is detached, pulled down with the rest of the skin and then re-attached. This is best addressed by your plastic surgeon. One thing defrinite, a mini-tuck will not completely remove all the stretchmarks. In fact, even a full tuck may not. It is best to address your end points or what you are trying to accomplish before making a commitment to surgery. (J. Vicente P. Poblete, MD, West Palm Beach Plastic Surgeon)
Judging from your picture, it looks like you don’t have much excess fat and you still have a pretty good shape. However, a full body tummy tuck would probably be better to address your concerns, as a mini tummy tuck is limited to concerns affecting the lower abdomen (below the navel).
A full body tummy tuck can address the loose muscles and stretch marks more adequately, achieving a bigger improvement for you. If you haven’t already done so, perhaps you can look for another plastic surgeon with extensive experience in abdominoplasty for their opinion? (Jerome Edelstein, MD, Toronto Plastic Surgeon)