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

A reverse tummy tuck is a method of liftin the skin upwards instead of pulling it downwards. The skin incision is placed immediately below and under both breasts.

It generally removes loose skin in the midriff area. (Otto Joseph Placik, MD, Chicago Plastic Surgeon)

Most people do not need this, and most plastic surgeons have not performed this!

This is an old concept that has received some recent attention in the plastic surgery literature.

Typical candidates are post-bariatric patients. People who have lost significant weight. This is to treat the residual upper abdominal skin excess after a traditional tummy tuck.

The reverse tummy tuck

This is done by excising the skin and lifting it up, rather than down. The scar will be under the breast folds, but has to go across between the breasts, typically with a small “V.” (Rafi S. Bidros, MD, FACS, )

Reverse abdominoplasty or upside down tummy tuck for the upper abdomen

The reverse tummy tuck is a very good option in a small number of patients. The traditional tummy tuck tightens the entire front of the abdomen from the ribs to the pubic area, by removing a football-shaped area of skin between the belly button and the pubic area.

The skin above the belly button is then lifted up and pulled down to the bottom edge of where the tissue was removed, leaving a scar horizontally across the lower abdomen.

Reverse tummy tuck surgery

Some patients however have good skin tone in the lower abdomen but some laxity in the upper part. In these cases it might make sense to tighten by pulling up instead of down. The major trade-off is the scar in a more visible location. It can be hidden along the bottom crease of the breast, and works well if a breast lift is needed at the same time so that it can be done with the same scar. The more visible part is where it crosses the middle. (Richard Baxter, MD, Seattle Plastic Surgeon)

A reverse tummy tuck tightens the upper abdomen

Most patients with loose skin/muscle in the tummy area will be better off with a regular tummy tuck procedure. A reverse tummy tuck tightens the upper abdomen only and most people have loose skin either all over or mostly in the lower abdomen. Thus, few people are good candidates for a reverse tummy tuck. The reverse tummy tuck is done through incisions in the fold underneath the breasts.

Reverse tummy tuck scar

The skin is then lifted, pulled upwards and trimmed. This is the reverse of a standard tummy tuck where the skin incision in made very low and the skin is pulled down. (Caroline Min, MD, Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon)

Reverse abdominoplasty is not a great procedure

A reverse abdominoplasty is not a great procedure in my opinion. The incision is under the breasts and the tension on the area tends to pull the breast down. I have been practicing plastic surgery for 25 years and have done only one of these.

That one time I regretted it. There are many other ways to modify your body in that area which are less potentially deforming. (Talmage J. Raine, MD, Chicago Plastic Surgeon)

Abdominal scars influence the type of abdominoplasty to perform. In rare cases, an abdominoplasty is performed using an incision underneath the breast and pulling up of the abdominal flap instead of the usual lower incision with pulling down of the abdominal flap and skin.

Reverse tummy tuck after

The incision is usually placed underneath the breast in the inframammary fold. The abdominal flap is raised superiorly and the excess skin is removed from the upper abdomen. Be cautious of the reverse abdominoplasty in terms of flap vascularity, incision placement, and scar widening. Always seek a board certified plastic surgeon who is experienced in this procedure. (Raffy Karamanoukian, MD, FACS, Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon)

Plastic surgeons do their best to hide scars in surgery. In select patients with excess skin, fat, and tissue in their upper abdomen, the best place to hide a scar may actually be at the top of the abdomen instead of in the bikini area (as usually done in a regular tummy tuck). An upside down tummy tuck, or a reverse abdominoplasty, will place the scar under the breasts, at the top of the abdomen, and will pull the skin of the abdomen up.

Reverse tummy tuck operation

Patients who may be candidates include those who have had upper abdominal surgery and already have a scar in this position.

Could you be a candidate? The best way to find out is to be evaluated by a board certifed plastic surgeon and make sure that your surgery is personalized to fit your body and your aesthetic goals. (Pat Pazmino, MD, Miami Plastic Surgeon)

This is an operation to tighten the abdomen but takes the extra skin out under the breasts rather than in the bikini line area as in a traditional tummy tuck. This results in a “Golden Gate Bridge” scar across the upper abdomen and is quite unsightly. Consequently and appropriately, this operation is rarely done. (Richard P. Rand, MD, FACS, Seattle Plastic Surgeon)

A reverse abdominoplasty is performed to treat laxity of tissues in the upper abdomen. The incisions are usually placed in the breast folds so that they are pretty well hidden. This is sometimes performed on patients that have had a previous abdominoplasty but still have upper abdominal laxity. (Steven Wallach, MD, Manhattan Plastic Surgeon)