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

A tummy tuck would clearly be overkill for your abdomen and the scar would not be a good trade-off. A local procedure around the bely button may make it a bit better but not very much. You might be best served by doing nothing at all. (Richard P. Rand, MD, FACS, Seattle Plastic Surgeon)

On this one picture, it appears you have some loose skin just in the immediate periumbilical region, about 2 inches around the belly button, then you have some excess subcutaneous fat, another 4 inches. It appears to me, you have some rectus abdominis muscle weakness in the area below the umbilicus.

If you want to obtain the best result, accepting a longer scar, then abdominoplasty will be the best, but you may need a short vertical scar in the pubis area. An umbilicoplasty will improve the area around the belly botton but will not address the muscle weakness.

Tummy tuck surgery hernia

Some liposuction may improve the appeareance of the bulging around the skin laxity, then a purse string closure may decrease the size of the umbilicus. A good physical exam will provide more data to formulate the best surgical plan. (Victor M. Perez, MD, FACS, Kansas City Plastic Surgeon)

Tummy Tuck to repair umbilical hernia and scar

It is possible to just fix the umbilical tummy tuck hernia and to revise the upper abdominal scar. It is also possible to fix the hernia with a tummy tuck. To make the correct decision depends on how much loose skin there is in hte lower abdomen. (S. Sean Younai, MD, FACS, Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon)

Abdominoplasty hernia

All I have to say is that you have a very nice abdominal shape. I can see your stretch marks and scar, both of which are very slight. My best advice to you is to enjoy the time with your children and reassess at a later stage in life. You will get improvement of the stretch marks and appearance of your belly button with a full abdominoplasty, but I do not think that the overall aesthetic result will improve on your current condition. Keep on chasing those kids around and get reevaluated when they are teenagers! (Stephen M. Chen, MD, Richmond Plastic Surgeon)

Hernia repair and umbilicoplasty likely your best option

It appears that you also have an umbilical hernia. I think that unless you address the underlying hernia that the cosmetic result for any umbilicoplasty or abdominoplasty procedure will not be satisfactory. I frequently perform umbilical hernia repairs at the same time as an abdominoplasty.

Photo of tummy tuck hernia

Nonetheless, from what I can see from your photo it appears that maybe just an umbilical hernia repair with an umbilicoplasty may meet your goals. The best way to determine what will best help you meet your goals is to see a board certified plastic surgeon and discuss the options with him or her. (John K. Wakelin III, MD, Columbus Plastic Surgeon)

Abdominoplasty not necessary

Based on your picture, it does not look like you need an abdominoplasty. An umbilicoplasty will not erase your scar, but may help the shape of your belly button. Also, it does appear as though you have an umbilical hernia which needs repair. You may benefit from some liposuction at the same time as the surgery.(David Shafer, MD, New York Plastic Surgeon)

Fix the tummy tuck hernia

The Tummy tuck hernia

The belly button can get quite damaged with the pregnancy process. But once it is it can be difficult to get it back to the way it should be, especially with the previous incision. A woman’s belly button is oval in shape, an “innie” and has a hood at the top. It is this hood that really make the belly button more appealing. If the surgeon knows how to do the umbilicoplasty, and you can tell by looking at his abdominoplasty pics then he should be able to do a nice hood that should please you. (Christopher L. Hess, MD, Fairfax Plastic Surgeon)

Tummy tuck, by definition, leaves umbilical scar

I actually think an umbilicoplasty would help you as long as you are realistic about the amount of skin that can be tightened. An umbilicoplasty can smooth out some of the wrinkling, repair the umbilical hernia and even tighten the midline fascia above and below the belly button.

Tummy tuck hernia photo

It cannot tighten the skin, and when you bend over you will still see some wrinkling. (Ricardo L. Rodriguez, MD, Baltimore Plastic Surgeon)

It looks to me like you have an umbilical hernia, and that will need to be fixed. This can be done at the time of umbilicoplasty.  (Scott E. Kasden, MD, Dallas Plastic Surgeon)

Umbilicoplasty might be best to remove tummy tuck hernia

I agree with Dr. Moelleken that an abdominoplasty seems like more than you need. Having said that, there is probably no good way to remove the scar above the umbilicus. You may have an umbilical hernia, and so an umbilicoplasty might imprve the appearance and would be an opportunity to fix the tummy tuck hernia if that is what is causing the bulge. (Richard Baxter, MD, Seattle Plastic Surgeon)

Addressing post pregnancy tummy

Tummy tuck hernia how to repair

Every post pregnancy tummy is different. In general we want to do the least invasive approach that will give significant improvement. It appears that you might have a small tummy tuck hernia in the umbilicus that could be fixed simplythrough the belly button.

If your muscles are lax, then we need another incision. Sometimes a limited incision gives a limited result. The key is deciding what is right for you which will take an examination. Try to choose a surgeon who specializes in these procedures. (Stanley G. Poulos, MD, Greenbrae Plastic Surgeon)

Tummy tuck vs. smaller procedure

In my opinion a full tummy tuck is not right for you. You mentioned your abdomen is still flat. That means you don’t need tightening of the fascia, the deep layer covering the muscles. The long pubic to umbilicus distance will mean either a high scar or a vertical incision where the belly button used to be if a full tummy tuck were performed.

It may be preferable to perform a periumbilical umbilicoplasty, a belly button plasty with just an incision around the belly button. While this will not remove all the extra skin around the belly button, it will be a good compromise, and leave the least amount of scarring. It would also be a good incision through which to fix what appears to be a belly button hernia. (Brent Moelleken, MD, Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon)