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

Tummy tuck with conventional incision or fleur de lis incision?

From the posted photos, It seems like your excess skin and accumulated fat is wrapping around your flanks and extend to your back. Aggressive liposelection combined with extended ” high lateral” abdominoplasty or one or two stage torsoplasty/belt lift is a better option than abdominoplasty with inverted T incision. (Fereydoon S. Mahjouri, MD, Minneapolis Plastic Surgeon)

I would recommend either a tummy tuck or Lipo-abdominoplasty. The “fleur de lis” does remove more skin but is prone to a wide scar, a less than aesthetic belly button and wound healing problems at the “T.” All the best. (Robert F. Centeno, MD, FACS, Fairfax Plastic Surgeon)

Tummy Tuck Vs Fleur De Lis ?

What is a fleur de lis tummy tuck after

It looks like you are probably a good candidate for either procedure, Full Tummy Tuck or Fleur-de-lis. It always comes down to what you’re unhappy with, and what you are willing to put up with. There is no question, the Fleur De Lis will remove more skin and provide a tighter result in the horizontal direction, but you have to be willing to have the vertical scar.

The Full Tummy Tuck will provide a very nice result, not as tight, but also without that tummy tuck scar. Also, if you undergo the Full Tummy Tuck and are unhappy, you can always go back and have the vertical scar tightening. This is also a safer way to proceed as there is less chance of healing problems if you separate these two operations. That way you are not burning any bridges either. (Daniel P. Markmann, MD, Baltimore Plastic Surgeon)

Choosing tummy tuck approach

what is a fleur de lis tummy tuck photo

It does appear that you would get a substantial improvement with a standard tummy tuck incision. However, it is possible that you may have some excess skin in the side to side directions. This is difficult to really tell from pictures alone. It is often seen in patients who lose a lot of weight. If there is really a lot of excess skin in that direction, that fleur de lis approach can make an even further improvement in your tummy tuck results. Make sure you consult with a board certified plastic surgeon. (Naveen Setty, MD, Dallas Plastic Surgeon)

Standard tummy tuck or fleur de lis?

What is a fleur de lis tummy tuck operation

You’ll do well with a standard extended tummy tuck. The fleur de lis vertical incision is rarely worth the scar, and in my practice is only considered in massive weight loss patients or those who have a vertical abdominal scar there already. A better alternative, in my opinion, is a long transverse incision – even a circumferential one, which goes all the way around the back as in a body lift. This scar is easily disguised using normal underwear, and allows you to have no visible scar once you have underwear on.

A “normal” tummy tuck scar in your case won’t do the job as your excess of skin extends around to the flanks. However a single long low scar is much better to have than a horizontal AND a vertical one, again, that’s just my opinion.  (Howard Webster, MBBS, FRACS, Melbourne Plastic Surgeon)

Standard Tummy Tuck or Fleur De Lis?

What is a fleur de lis tummy tuck surgery

Based on your photos you would get a nice result with either technique. With a standard tummy tuck there is a horizontal scar that allows the extra skin to be removed in one direction (up/down). The fleur de lis tummy tuck adds a vertical scar which runs from the upper abdomen and meets with the horizontal scar of the standard tummy tuck.

This allows skin and tissue to be removed in two directions (up/down and sideways) and is thus able to provide additional contouring. The advantage of the fleur de lis is that it may give you a better contour, however you would need to be willing to accept an additional scar.

Both techniques allow for muscle tightening/repair of rectus diastasis. I would highly recommend that you see a board certified plastic surgeon for further evaluation. (Mark Schwartz, MD, New York Plastic Surgeon)

What is a fleur de lis tummy tuck scar

High lateral tension abdominoplasty works well for this

Looking at your pictures, a standard abdominoplasty will work well for you. However with a standard elliptical abdominoplasty incision it is sometimes hard to get rid of the horizontal excess in the upper abdomen, the high lateral tension abdominoplasty (while longer horizontal incision) is often better at addressing the horizontal excess without the need to add the vertical incision which is an undesirable incision as it will be visible in bikini, etc (Scott J. Turner, MBBS, FRACS, Sydney Plastic Surgeon)

Standard abdominoplasty techniques don’t really address the upper abdominal circumferential laxity.

Well you certainly would see an improvement with a standard or extended abdominoplasty, I think that the circumferential excess that you seem to have might be more effectively addressed with a vertical component as well. While the reputation of the Fleur-de-lis abdominoplasty is one that suggests a bad midline scar, I have found that patients are usually pretty pleased with the improvements that are in the exchange for this scar. It would be a good idea to speak with a plastic surgeon who has experience utilizing this technique and can therefore give you a rational discussion. (Verne Weisberg, MD, Melbourne Plastic Surgeon)