You are caught in the middle not because either of them is wrong, but rather because you have options that many ladies do not have.
Yes, you have an umbilical hernia. But, you also have faint stretch marks and a high riding belly button.
Depending on whether you’re holding your muscles tight in the picture or not, whether you’re OK with keeping the post partum skin in order to avoid the horizontal tummy tuck incision, and depending on whether you’re likely to have another kid of not, options exists.
If you done having kids, and OK with not removing the maximal amount of skin, you can get a great result by repairing the umbilical hernia, and floating the skin and umbilicus downward.
This necessitates a low horizontal incision situated in you bikini area. If you want minimal incision and just want the hernia repaired, that can be done through your umbilicus.
Both are outpatient procedures. Both are the correct answers. You just have to be honest with yourselves about your real objectives. Either way, you should expect a great result. (Larry C. Leverett, MD, FACS, Phoenix Plastic Surgeon)
An abdominoplasty would not completely remove your stretch marks. It would mostly just lower them, because you do not have significant skin excess in the upper abdomen to allow enough skin ‘redraping’.
Other than stretchmarks, you do not have any other criteria that would suggest an abdominoplasty would be beneficial: skin redundancy or excess, excess fatty tissue, or abdominal muscular laxity.
Your belly is well defined and the muscle wall is tight!Unfortunately, there is nothing we can do to remove stretch marks except by tummy tuck mommy makeover. However, there are various high tech devices currently being evaluated looking at stretchmark reduction.
Perhaps in the near future something will be available that produces a significant result. (Gerald Minniti, MD, FACS, Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon)
Tummy Tuck or No Tummy Tuck with a mommy makeover
My opinion via the internet review of the photos and info is – NO tummy tuck for you. Best to try and look art the posted photos vs other tummy tuck befores . (Darryl J. Blinski, MD, Miami Plastic Surgeon)
You should be very proud of the appearance of your abdominal wall! It is not unusual to receive different opinions from different doctors; I can see why this has happened to you.
I tell patients that if they were to ask 5 plastic surgeons their opinions, it is likely that they would receive 6 different pieces of advice.
Ultimately, whether or not to proceed with tummy tuck surgery will become a very personal decision only you can make after you have carefully considered the pros/cons associated with the procedure. It is likely, based on your question, that you are aware of the downsides.
Given that your abdominal wall is in relatively good shape, I would not be surprised if you decide that the tummy tuck surgery is ‘overkill’. (Tom J. Pousti, MD, FACS, San Diego Plastic Surgeon)
There’s no way to answer your question about TT vs no TT just from looking at the photos. The only way to know for sure is via physical examination. However, your photos do not demonstrate a great deal of loose skin and muscle weakness. Perhaps re-visiting your concerns with a board certified PS in your area would be appropriate. (Aldo Guerra, MD, Scottsdale Plastic Surgeon)
I do not think that the tummy tuck scar would be justified by the minimal improvement in contour.
Tummy Tuck or No Tummy Tuck ?
The question should not be tummy tuck or no tummy tuck, but what KIND of tummy tuck is right for you? You don’t really want a procedure anyway, isn’t it a result you’re after? Your tummy tuck procedure must be individually designed to improve your issues without the disadvantages of traditional abdominoplasty.
Your anatomy may not be suitable for conventional procedures with a long high scar, but that doesn’t mean your abdominal wall cannot be tightened through a short low imperceptible scar through which only the small amount of loose skin you have can be removed, and your belly button enhanced. My preference is for a C-section type of scar easily hidden behind a bikini bottom. (Steve Laverson, MD, San Diego Plastic Surgeon)
It appears that you have a tight abdomen with very little excess skin or fat. Other than a small amount of excess skin (hernia?) above the umbilicus you have good definition and your picture looks like what most patients would like to have AFTER a tummy tuck! I would not recommend surgery and instead would maximize diet and exercise involving core strengthening. (Mark Deutsch, MD, Atlanta Plastic Surgeon)
Tummy tuck options with mommy makeover
No one can determine what is best for you without a personal exam, but there are a few things to know that may help guide your decision: Options are mini-abdominoplasty, mini with an umbilical float, and reverse abdominoplasty. From the pictures my guess is that a standard full tummy tuck would leave a high scar and not be a good trade-off.
Since your umbi is high and there appears to be a small umbilical hernia and some degree of muscle separation, most likely the mini with a float is at the top of the list. (Richard Baxter, MD, Seattle Plastic Surgeon)
You have a near flat stomach with no visible skin overhang. It is difficult to evaluate you in terms of diastasis from the pictures but you seem to have a good muscle tone. You are not the typical candidate for tummy tuck surgery and the benefit from this surgery in my opinion will be if any, marginal. (Maan Kattash, MD, FRCS, Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon)
In my opinion, you do not need a tummy tuck. You have minimal stretch marks and some hooding of your umbilicus.
The hooding could be repaired easily during your breast augmentation with a small amount of risk and a much smaller price than an abdominplasty. (Christopher J. Morea, MD, Raleigh-Durham Plastic Surgeon)
Your anatomy is quite common after children. Basically, you are in excellent shape and have minimal skin excess, but the underlying tissues in the midline have been stretched out. This often causes an umbilical hernia and/or diastsis recti. I often correct this scenario with an extended miniabdominoplasty which is performed through an incision slightly larger then a Cesarian section scar.
Through this incision the skin is undermined to above the belly button and the muscles are sutured together in the midline. This is much less of an incision and less recovery than a traditional abdominoplasty. (Paul E. Chasan, MD, Del Mar Plastic Surgeon)
Based on your photos I don’t feel you would benefit much from a tummy tuck as you do not appear to have much excess skin and have only minimal stretch marks. You would likely only qualify for a mini-tummy tuck which would likely still not be worth the scar. (William Bruno, MD, Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon)