Iy you have significant skin laxity above and below the umbilicus such on photo #1 and #2 then I do not believe a mini tummy tuck would make you very happy.
A full TT with abdominal wall tightening would suit you best in my opinion. Your BBL looks great! (Douglas L. Gervais, MD, Minneapolis Plastic Surgeon)
Based on photos #1-2, you appear to have excess skin both below and above your belly button. Because of that, a full tummy tuck would benefit you most in order to eliminate as much excess skin as possible and leave you with a flat belly and a belly button in an aesthetically pleasing location. (Nicholas Tarola, MD, Nashville Plastic Surgeon)
In my opinion (and without actually examining you), a full tummy tuck would be worth the longer scar. I think at the end of the day, you would benefit much more from the standard tummy tuck and that the mini is still going to leave you with some loose skin which you might regret later on. In my mind, the indications for a mini tummy tuck are fairly narrow.
I typically offer it to patients who have very little loose skin and perhaps have a bad cesarean section that they want revised anyway. I will leave a reference below to give you an idea of what I mean. (Thomas P. Sterry, MD, New York Plastic Surgeon)
This depends on your expected tummy tuck results. A full abdominoplasty can do everything.and will most likely give you the best overall result. However, if the lower abdominal bulge was the only thing really bothering you. A mini tt with possible floating of your belly button could address that and potentially have a very good result.
You need to see a board certified plastic surgeon who is familiar with all variation of of TT. You can then get an exam, discuss your desires, and then make the best decision for what you want. (Paul W. Papillion, MD, Nashville Plastic Surgeon)
Which would you recommend; full tummy tuck or a mini tummy tuck?
A mini TT will remove about 1/2 the skin below your navel and provide no improvement at all above the navel leaving you with a drastically unimproved abdomen at considerable cost. Save your money or do the full tummy tuck. (Ronald V. DeMars, MD, Portland Plastic Surgeon)
Tummy tuck type
Based on these photos alone it appears you need a full tummy tuck to get the best outcome. It appears because of the amount of loose skin in the lower abdominal area a mini tummy tuck would not remove enough skin. Consult with a few plastic surgeons for a full examination in person for more information. (William Bruno, MD, Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon)
Full tummy tuck vs mini
I agree with other surgeons that in order to correct the loose skin around your belly button, you would need a full abdominoplasty. However, an extended mini abdominoplasty with floating belly button (detaching it which allows tightening of muscles, and some modest tightening) would avoid any incision at the belly button, and tighten the lower abdomen nicely which is where your laxity is.
With a history of prior liposuction, you will have less looseness, and with a full abdominoplasty, you would probably need a small vertical incision because you do not appear to have enough skin laxity to excise all of the lower abdominal skin. An in person consultation would give you more information. (Thomas A. Mustoe, MD, FACS, Chicago Plastic Surgeon)
Full tummy tuck versus a mini tummy tuck
It is hard to answer that question with just one picture, but you need to understand the differences between a full and a mini, the mini will not address the skin on your upper abdomen since the belly bottom is not relocated, and it may also worsen the hooding that shows in the picture, and it will not allow you to have the separation of your muscles corrected. My suggestion is go to a board certified plastic surgeon in your area and get a complete evaluation, that will help you decide. (Patricia Yugueros, MD, Atlanta Plastic Surgeon)
Tummy tuck: Mini vs Full
Based on your pictures alone, it appears you would benefit most from a full tummy tuck. You appear to have enough loose skin to your abdomen that a mini tummy tuck would not address your needs. Make sure you see a board certified plastic surgeon in person to get the best information. (Naveen Setty, MD, Dallas Plastic Surgeon)
Full or Mini-Abdominoplasty
There are two main issues with someone who has a thin abdomen with loose skin: how long the incision needs to be, and what to do with the belly button.The more loose skin you have, the longer the incision needs to be to remove the excess skin. From your pictures, it seems that you would need a longer incision, more like the length that everyone associates with a full abdominoplasty.
The decision about whether to leave your belly button in place, lift it with the skin then reattach it to the muscle in a lower position, or cut around it like in a traditional full abdomjnoplasty can really only be made after an examination to determine which would work the best for your abdomen. (Donald Griffin, MD, Nashville Plastic Surgeon)
Mini vs full TT
Hi. To improve your lower abdomen, upper abdomen, and tidy up around the belly button – you need a full TT. If you have a lot of skin looseness when you lean forward – you need a full TT. If you’ve had children, and have muscle separation – only a full TT can repair the muscle throughout its entire length. A mini would just take out a little pinch of skin towards the bottom of the abdomen, and not do much else. It’s rare to see someone who would get a stunning result from just a mini. (Thomas Fiala, MD, Orlando Plastic Surgeon)