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

A tummy tuck can do wonders for your contours. However you should find a local surgeon who can help you navigate the maze of options.

Liposuction does not add any recovery time to your tummy tuck.

And I only recommend that you achieve a weight you are comfortable with and can easily maintain. You will have a scar and only you can decide if that is a worthwhile tradeoff.

As for funny looking belly buttons, some procedures do not have scars around the belly button and only the doctor evaluating you can determine if that would be possible. (Curtis Wong, MD, Redding Plastic Surgeon)

Based on your photos and your height/weight which gives you a body mass index of approximately 25 which is just on the high border of healthy weight, you are a good candidate to have a tummy tuck without losing more weight. However, I would not discourage weight loss if you have ot met your goal.

The tummy tuck questions

Tummy tuck scars are generally well concealed since they are beneath the panty line. If you had a Cesarean section, the scar will run in the same direction and level, but will be longer. It is uncommon to have a strange looking, non-centered belly button. It is difficult to make a recommendation if liposuction is appropriate without a physical examination, however it will not prolong your recovery if you decide to have it with your tummy tuck. (Mark Schwartz, MD, New York Plastic Surgeon)

In my opinion, you do NOT need liposuction with your tummy tuck, and do NOT need to lose weight before tummy tuck (unless you want to). Because the amount of abdominal wall stretching sustained during your twin pregnancy and other features of your presenting anatomy, you should have an outstanding result from abdominoplasty with an obscure scar.

Tummy tuck questions photo

The size, location, and quality of your scar depends on who does the tummy tuck, and the techniques incorporated in your procedure. Recovery is variable, but suffice it to say that for several days after the procedure (up to probably ten days), you’ll need help with child care if they are still very young.

Our patients are generally pleased with their belly buttons and tummy tuck scars. Find a surgeon in your area that you like and that you are confident (from his or her “before and after” photos of other patients) can help you achieve the result you want. (Steve Laverson, MD, San Diego Plastic Surgeon)

Tummy Tuck concerns: Scars, time off, belly button, how much weight to lose

Tummy tuck questions image

Scar is diminished when you good blood supply at the incision site, and tension is decreased at the skin. For these reasons I prefer the Lockwood technique. See link below about Lockwood technique and scarring. Time off: Time limiting factor is the abdominal muscle repair.

You have to wait until that heals well, therefore you want to wait a good 4 weeks for sedentary work, 6 weeks for more strenuous work. Belly Button: Centering is pretty basic, and if you see any off centered belly buttons in your surgeons portfolio, beware. I don’t like using the round scar because it looks like a donut in the middle of your belly. Look around in our portfolio.

I do a semicircle in the above part of the belly button and an inverted “V” on the bottom so it looks like the natural where the skin at the lower end of the belly button is smooth but aboe is like a semicircle. How much weight to lose: A BMI of >30 increases rate of complications. Google BMI calculator to calculate yours. It looks like you are fine from your pictures.  (Ricardo L. Rodriguez, MD, Baltimore Plastic Surgeon)

Tummy tucks questions

You appear to be a good candidate for an abdominoplasty. There are two scars from an abdominoplasty. The first is a low transverse scar, this scar is usually placed in a low position , that can be hidden by your bathing suit or underwear.

The second scar is the umbilicus. This is the most noticeable scar since it can not be hidden by a bikini. It is important to place the umbilicus in the midline and there are various techniques that can be used to create a natural appearance. (Jeffrey Zwiren, MD, Atlanta Plastic Surgeon)

Preoperative assessment before tummytuck.

You should be a good candidate for a full tummytuck, and the scar should be able to be kept reasonably short and low positioned. The umbilicus( belly button) should always be kept in the midline and never out of position. After a tummytuck.

Always consult with Plastic Surgeons who do this surgery frequently. I don’t believe that you need to lose any weight before you consider this surgery from what I can tell from your pictures. (Francis (Frank) William Rieger, MD, Tampa Plastic Surgeon)