Standard Tummy Tuck vs Fleur De Lis? (photo)

Based on your photos I would absolutely recommend a midline incision for you to have the best contour. If you do a traditional tummy tuck without the midline portion, your skin will bunch up in the middle and you probably will not be happy. I would discuss this in more detail with your surgeon before your surgery.Best wishes,Dr.Bruno

Looking at your limited view photos, I would not suggest either. In my opinion, you would do best and achieve the best body contour with a lower body lift and tummy tuck without the vertical incision. If you discussed this with your surgeon and agreed upon an extended tummy tuck only, a fleur de lis technique might be beneficial. With the extended tummy tuck, your incision will end up almost around your torso, without the benefit of fixing the sagging buttocks and lateral thighs. A lower body lift/tummy tuck addresses all these areas, including the sagging and excessive pubic mound with very small additional scarring.It's much easier to talk to your surgeon about your concerns now, than after surgery. Remember, scars are permanent. Good luck.

You have to know it is kind of difficult to evaluate accurately on photos, but you are in the border line of a Fleur de Lis candidate. I think you may explore to do just the Extended Tu my Tuck in order to get rid of the saggy skin on your abdomen and also sides where you also have developed flaccid skin, not just a Full TT.If after a year you feel your skin would need the vertical you may get it done by then.Be encouraged. Dr. Cardenas

You have a lot of skin excess and the options are tummy tuck standard, fleur de lis and total body lift. Each have pros and cons and the first question is whether your buttocks have excess skin and whether you want to try and improve this area. A tummy tuck may address a lot of your issues but you may still have some excess in the midline and it looks like you have skin excess on the flanks that will not be well addressed by a standard tummy tuck. The excess could be removed in a vertical line as a secondary procedure following a tummy tuck but the flank excess would not be addressed by this op. A fleur de lis would help the excess in the midline and the flank excess but comes with the price of a vertical scar. A body lift does need to be considered here also and you should consult with someone that can show you examples of the results of each and take you through the pros and cons. I have sent you a link to my website and you can navigate to body lift also to compare.

It looks like you would get the best contour from a fleur-de-lis abdominoplasty - a traditional abdominoplasty would leave you with too much skin excess in your upper abdomen, and would compromise your final cosmetic result.

The standard horizontal / transverse abdominoplasty incision at the pubic hair line remove mostly horizontal excess tissue by pulling down and some vertical excess by pulling out to the sides.  Those patients with significant vertical laxity (often large weight loss patients) benefit from horizontal plus vertical incision.  The blood supply and contouring is better, but the surgeon must take great care to have level incision and avoid healing problems at the inverted T juncture.  Most patients (especially those who already have a vertical incision) will take the extra scar for the better contour.

From your photos, you could go in either direction. The skin is better removed with the additional scarring, but a midline scar is difficult to hide. I normally reserve this for patients with a pre-existing scar. Otherwise, communication with your surgeon, or a second opinion can be very helpful. Best of luck!

Congratulations on your weight loss! You are a good candidate for a standard tummy tuck. It looks like your abs are in good shape so probably may not even need them tightened. Tightening them will increase the looseness of the skin in the upper abdomen, and may increase the need for a vertical scar. You can, however, add that scar in the future if you are unhappy with the residual laxity. You can't, however, take that scar away. Good luck!

Sometimes after significant weight loss, a standard tummy tuck is not sufficient to remove all of the excess skin. A midline incision is sometimes required. other times, a reverse upper adbominoplasty, with incisions hidden under the breast crease could be an answer.

Thank you for the photos and your question though obviously a full examination is needed. Based on what I can see from the photos you would probably benefit from a full abdominoplasty without the midline scar.

Dr. Corbin