It’s very unusual to not perform muscle plication tummy tuck as part of an abdominoplasty, as it almost always adds to a better result.
Plication will tighten the inner abdominal wall which complements the removal of extra skin and fat.
Make sure you’re seen by a board certified plastic surgeon before signing up for any procedure. (Keith M. Blechman, MD, New York Plastic Surgeon)
In my experience well over 95% of my patients seeking a tummy tuck need the muscle plication tummy tuck to tighten the muscles and fascia especially after pregnancy.
It makes a big difference. If the patient has rock solid abs and no diastasis OK one can pass on it but those individuals are eare (Robert Savage, MD, Wellesley Plastic Surgeon)
The difference can be dramatic
Many women seeking abdominoplasty’s have had previous pregnancies. During the pregnancy the abdominal wall stretches. This can lead to a separation between the abdominal wall muscles and laxity of the abdominal wall in general. An abdominoplasty procedure can treat the underlying abdominal wall laxity by performing a muscle plication tummy tuck. The results can be dramatic. This helps flatten the tummy and narrowing the waistline. Excess skin is also removed via in incision placed low on the abdomen. Patients who have abdominal wall laxity should have a plication in order to give them the best appearance after surgery.
If a plication is not performed in this situation, and only excess skin is removed, the abdominal wall laxity will still be seen and will leave the patient with excess fullness of their tummy. This may leave the patient less than satisfied. If there any questions regarding the plan, then raise these questions with your surgeon or consider a second opinion. (Austin Hayes, MD, San Diego Plastic Surgeon)
There is much difference in outcome with abdominal wall reconstruction. With the abdominal wall reconstruction the diastasis is fixed and therefore have a flatter abdomen. (Aramis Vega, MD, Newark Plastic Surgeon)
If your muscles are stretched or apart (called a diastasis) from prior pregnancy/weight changes/etc, then there is a visible visual difference, and you would have a lesser result/less of a change from your procedure. make sure your surgeon also offers muscle-plication and not only the procedure you are considering, and ask why it is felt that you specifically do not need this option.
It is a good idea to get more than one opinion and consultation from plastic surgeon’s certified by The American Board of Plastic Surgery. (Joseph D. Alkon, MD, Portland Plastic Surgeon)
Depends on your abdominal wall tone/degree of diastasis.
It is uncommon to perform a full tummy tuck and not perform plication of the abdominal fascia/muscles as it is frequently the case that in addition to skin laxity there is a stretching/laxity or separation of the muscles (due to weight gain/loss or pregnancy). If your muscles and abdominal wall are tight and there is no significant bulge (mostly in the mid-line) when you try to blow-out or expand your abdomen then your muscles are likely tight.
However if there is a noticeable bulge or large amount of stretching they you would likely benefit from plication of the muscles/facia. This is best evaluated by your surgeon at the consultation. Occasionally with mini-tummy tucks where there is minimal to no muscle laxity and only skin in the lower abdomen/below umbilicus it is possible to perform a mini-tummy tuck without plication.
However muscle plication tummy tuck is almost always performed with a full tummy tuck as it wouldn’t make most patient’s (or surgeons) happy to undergo a full tummy tuck without plication and still have a bulge since the area is opened/exposed already during the operation. (Joseph B. Eby, MD, FACS, )
For most patients muscle plication tummy tuck makes a big visual difference
The tummy tuck procedure typically involves plication of the abdominal wall muscle that have spread during pregnancy or weight gain/loss. Omitting this part of the procedure will leave most patients with continued abdominal wall laxity and, in my opinion, a less than optimal result. Be very careful with your decision-making.(Tom J. Pousti, MD, FACS, )