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

What kind of Tummy Tuck?

There are many names for different versions of tummy tucks, but they all incorporate a few basic principles:

1. Incision length

2. Combining or not combining with liposuction

3. Is there a need for muscle tightening.

As for incision length, this is determined by how much loose skin is present, how far laterally the skin hangs over, and whether you have loose skin above the belly button. The more loose skin, the farther laterally it hangs over, and the more looseness present above the belly button, the higher likelihood that you will need a longer incision. (Donald Griffin, MD, Nashville Plastic Surgeon)

Mini tummy tuck vs tummy tuck my photo

Based on your degree of skin laxity and redundant skin you are not a candidate for a mini tummy tuck. The only way to remove the excess skin is to follow the lower abdominal fold out while you are in the sitting position. If you try to lessen the length of the incision you will have large bulges at either end. (Jeffrey Zwiren, MD, Atlanta Plastic Surgeon)

Based on your photos and if you are done having kids, I believe you would benefit from a full tummy tuck +/- lipo of the waist/flanks. A mini-tummy tuck will not give you the best results. A tummy tuck can be an effective tool for shaping and sculpting the body for better body appearance and improved self esteem after having kids.

Mini tummy tuck vs tummy tuck what type is for me

Sometimes no amount of diet and exercise can create a flat tummy. Tummy tuck plastic surgery actually tightens abdominal muscles stretched out by pregnancy and removes excess fat and skin from the stomach area to create a tighter, slimmer, smoother belly.

A tummy tuck can be combined with other procedures such as liposuction of your waists or flanks (i.e. love handles) to fine tune your result. A formal physical exam would be needed to make any recommendations. Please visit with a board certified PS who is a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons to learn more about your options. (C. Bob Basu, MD, FACS, Houston Plastic Surgeon)

Mini Versus Full Tummy Tuck?

Mini tummy tuck vs tummy tuck answer

There are a variety of tummy tucks that can produce a good cosmetic result in the appropriate patient: a mini tummy tuck, a modified with an umbilical float, or a variety of a full abdominoplasty, all of which may, or may not, include tightening of the muscle and liposuction. Generally if there is significant loose skin above the umbilicus (belly button), as there appears to be in your photos, a full tummy tuck will result in a greater correction and better outcome. Keep in mind that following the advice from a surgeon on this or any other website who proposes to tell you what to do based on two dimensional photos without examining you, physically feeling the tissue, assessing your desired outcome, taking a full medical history, and discussing the pros and cons of each operative procedure would not be in your best interest. I would suggest you find a plastic surgeon certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and ideally a member of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) that you trust and are comfortable with. You should discuss your concerns with that surgeon in person. (Robert Singer, MD, La Jolla Plastic Surgeon)

You would clearly have a better benefit from a full than a mini. You have a fair amount of redundant skin and fat above the belly button. You could be treated with mini, and liposuction to the upper belly, but your tightest appearance will be with a full. (Pablo Prichard, MD, Phoenix Plastic Surgeon)

A mini-tummy tuck is rarely sufficient. Usually, a full tummy tuck is the better choice.

Mini tummy tuck vs tummy tuck surgery

I probably perform 1 mini for every 100 full tummy tucks. No question, you would be better served with a full tummy tuck. Also, you would benefit from simultaneous liposuction of your abdomen, flanks, and thighs. Although a mini sounds good, it is limited in the amount of skin that can be removed (and it is difficult to perform a tight muscle repair all the way up your abdomen).

It does offer a shorter tummy tuck scar. However, if the scar is kept down low within your panty line, it does not matter much if it is a little longer. The trade-off is worth it and chances are you will not be concerned about the scar if its within the bikini line (and it gradually fades). Patient satisfaction and improved self-esteem, are exceptionally high after the combined procedure.

I’ve attached a link to this portion of my website in case you would like to read more and review some examples. (Eric Swanson, MD, Kansas City Plastic Surgeon)

Mini abdominoplasty vs tummy tuck answer

You will need a full tummy tuck and liposuction of your flanks to restore your body to pre-pregnancy shape. Complete your family and then go for it to get your body and confidence back.

A mini tummy tuck will only address the part of the abdomen below the navel, and only a small group of patients are good candidates. From your photos, the skin excess and abdominal wall laxity clearly extends above the navel, so a full TT is the correct procedure for you (Vasdev Rai, MD, Dallas Plastic Surgeon)

As stated by others, most women after childbirth will have enough loose skin to require a full tummy tuck. Your photos indicate that you too will benefit most from a full tummy tuck. (Delio Ortegon, MD, San Antonio Plastic Surgeon)

Full tummy tuck would provide a better result

MINI abdominoplasty VS abdominoplasty

You will be better served by a full tummy tuck. The amount of extra abdominal skin and soft-tissue that you have makes you a great candidate for a full tummy tuck (abdominoplasty). A full tummy tuck will allow your plastic surgeon to correct all of the abdominal contour issue you may have such as extra fat, extra skin, loose abdominal wall (muscles), etc. (Remus Repta, MD, Scottsdale Plastic Surgeon)

Only a full abdominoplasty will give you a reasonable result. There are very few patient sitter candidate for a mini abdominoplasty. (Vincent N. Zubowicz, MD, Atlanta Plastic Surgeon)

There is no substitute for a personal consultation to answer that question so I would advise you to see a board certified plastic surgeon to discuss your goals and concerns. In general, however, most patients are not candidates for a mini tummy tuck and this is particularly true for women who have had children.

Mini tummy tuck vs tummy tuck images of patient

The mini tuck itself has virtually no effect on the upper abdomen so, other than the improvement from liposuction, the upper abdomen will look about the same. Also, if the navel is not released then the pull on the skin of the lower abdomen will not be transmitted to above the navel. Many patients want to avoid the long scar but it is a price worth paying for the much more significant improvement that can be achieved with the full tummy tuck. (Richard Kofkoff, MD, FACS, Saint Louis Plastic Surgeon)

A mini tummy tuck is almost never indicated.

A mini tummy tuck has no place in treatment of your abdominal wall issues after examining the photographs. You should get a very good result from a more conventional abdominoplasty. (Vincent N. Zubowicz, MD, Atlanta Plastic Surgeon) Obviously, a picture is no substitute for an examination, but I would think that a full tummy tuck would address a lot of issues. It would help eliminate a lot of the loose skin and stretch marks present, allow for tightening of the stomach muscles, and possible improvement of the scars resulting from your previous surgery. (Edwin C. Pound, III, MD, Atlanta Plastic Surgeon)

Mini tummy tuck vs tummy tuck picture before

A mini tuck will not allow you to attain your goals. you have excess skin and only a full abdominoplasty with muscle reconstruction will give you the desired effect (Jonathan Saunders, MD, Newark Plastic Surgeon)

See a plastic surgeon in consultation for a history and physical exam to know for sure which procedure is best for you.

From being pregnant with twins you have a large diastasis, which is separation in your “ab” muscles. That will not improve with exercise. With a mini tummy tuck usually only the extra skin is removed and the muscles are not repaired. You would need a full tummy tuck so that your muscles will be repaired and you would get the results you are looking for. (Andrew Elkwood, MD, FACS, Red Bank Plastic Surgeon)

Your apparent anatomy would require a tummy tuck that should give you a spectacular result! Seek out a board certified plastic surgeon to help you. (Mark Eberbach, MD, Tampa Plastic Surgeon)

Very hard via the internet, but my guess is a full Tummy Tuck would serve you best.