Tummy Tuck: Prices, Photos, Reviews, Info, Q&A

Mini vs Full Tummy Tuck candidate

You appear to be an excellent candidate for an abdominal contouring procedure. Given the excess fat and skin that you have (esp visible on the sitting pictures), you’d likely have the best result from a full tummy tuck with liposuction. The most important thing is to meet with a board certified plastic surgeon with whom you feel comfortable. (Niki Christopoulos, MD, FACS, Chicago Plastic Surgeon)

Possible candidate for mini tummy tuck?

The photos made it easier to analyze your tummy area, so thank you for providing a full range of photos. With some skin looseness, muscle laxity, and fatty fullness, a full tummy tuck would be the best procedure.

When considering a tummy tuck, here are some tips:

1. Keep your scar low, so that it’s hidden even in the smallest bathing suit
2. Have your surgeon use Exparel, a long acting pain reliever injected at the time of surgery for reduced pain and shorter recovery
3. Have your surgeon use Xarelto and Lovenox to reduce the risk of blood clots
4. Have your surgeon tighten your rectus diastasis and flatten your tummy muscles
5. Have your surgeon use progressive tension sutures to stitch the tummy skin down instead of a drain


Mini tummy tuck candidate before

6. Use incremental compression garments during and after surgery to reduce risk of bloody clots
7. Use Prineo tape bandages that stick on for six weeks to improve the tummy tuck scar
8. Seek a surgeon who does at least 100 tummy tucks per year
9. Choose a board-certified plastic surgeon and visit several offices
10. Begin post-operative massage one to two weeks after surgery to speed recovery (Henry Mentz, MD, Houston Facial Plastic Surgeon)

Would I be a candidate for a mini tummy tuck?

Based on your photographs it appears that you would benefit from both skin removal and some tightening of the abdominal wall in order to achieve the best result. The only way to achieve that is with a full abdominoplasty and muscle plication.
A mini tummy tuck would address the excess skin that is seen in the photo of you sitting down but would not significantly change the appearance of your abdomen when you are standing. (Mathew A. Plant, MD, FRCSC, Toronto Plastic Surgeon)

Mini verses full tummy tuck

Without examining you, I cannot say exactly which surgery would be better. However, just looking at your photos, you would probably do well with a mini tummy tuck and liposuction. The full tummy tuck will give you the tightest abdomen. I suggest meeting with a board certified plastic surgeon and discussing your options. (Connie Hiers, MD, San Antonio Plastic Surgeon)