Does a mini tummy tuck address abdominal separation? my abs separated when i was pregnant. would they be repaired as part of a mini tummy tuck?

A : A mini tummy tuck exposes the muscles from the pubic area (at the incision) up the the belly-button. Muscle separation in this area can be addressed. To repair muscle separation higher then this either the belly-button must be floated, or a full tummy tuck performed. Which will work better is determined by your anatomy. Be certain to seek a board certified plastic surgeon to assist in choosing the best operation for you.

The : The mini tummy tuck will allow repair of this seperation below the belly button. This plication should be part the mini tummy tuck. If you have bulging, muscle seperation or excess skin/fat above the belly button then consider a full abdominoplasty. It creates a more dramatic change and repairs changes from pregnancy both above and below the umbilicus. The scar is longer but it should lie below any bathing suit, underware or low cut jeans. After complete healing and maturation of the scar it is a light, medium width (usually about 1 mm) scar.

A : A mini tummy tuck will address the loose skin between the incision and the belly button. Most of the time the muscle wall will be tightened at the same time in the lower abdomen. If you have a lot of muscle wall laxity you will need to have the entire muscle wall tightened. The amount of skin removed will vary depending on the looseness of the skin and how low the incision is located. The only stretch marks that are removed are the ones just above the incision line. A mini tuck works great to help with the redundant roll of loose skin in a fairly thin, muscular abdomen. Best wishes dr. Peterson.

In : In most instances the muscle separation extends from the pubic bone up to the "solar plexus" or breast bone. A mini tummy tuck generally only treats the muscle separation from the pubic area to the belly button.

Not All: In my opinion, the mini tummy tuck is an  operation that  produces very limited results and is very rarely indicated. It involves a shorter incision but does not address the majority of the abdominal wall issues (only below the umbilicus) present for most patients who seek consultation. For example, the area of skin excised is quite small.

Mini results: Yes, abdominal muscles are repaired in a mini tummy tuck, below the belly button. They can be repaired above the belly button, but then your belly button moves down quite a bit. It is very rare to find a patient that is a good candidate for a mini, most need a full tummy tuck for the best results. http://www.dassmd.com/tummy-tuck/index.html.

Upper vs. Lower: A mini-tummy tuck will not address looseness of the upper abdomen, only the skin below the belly button. It is still surgery, usually done with general anesthesia, so it should not be thought of as a less invasive procedure. There are still surgical risks which is why you should make sure to discuss this, or any plastic surgery procedure, with a board-certified plastic surgeon.