Anchor vs. Regular incision

I am scheduled for a TT with lipo next week. I noticed that many of you have had the anchor incision. Neither of the docs I went to mentioned this as an option. I am concerned as to whether that was because they felt I didn't need it or if it was because of their lack of experience with WLS patients. Anybody on here had a regular incision? How did you like your results? Do you wish you had the anchor?

I had a regular mini tummy tuck (no muscle tightening) and I prefer not to have the anchor scar witch run vertical from your breast line to your horizontal tt line (whole thing looks like an anchor).  But, a regular TT will only address loose skin below the belly button.  If you have loose skin that bothers you above the belly button then you will need the anchor cut to address it otherwise it will still be there.  You need to decide which is worse loose skin above the belly button or the scar.

my doctor thought i might be able to get a way without this and man i wish i just had it done b/c you are right.....it did not address anything above my belly button but they took 8.5 pounds below the belly button

so awww i have to have the anchor done soon

I too just went w/ the regular incision. I'm young enough that I didn't want to have the full incision from breast to belly. Is there some loose skin still, sure but not bad. When I'm laying flat I wouldn't even notice this. Not sure if it will improve over time w/ more exercise or not but it's something I can live w/.

I am scheduled for a regular TT. I do not have a lot of loose skin above my button & my PS  stated he will be pulling the skin down - so my button will now be way down at the hair line & he will give me a new button.

 

 

It all depends on how much skin you have above your belly button.  Some of it can be smoothed out but it won't be totally flat and you WILL still have some muffin going on up there.

I had a vertical.  I only lost 1 1/2 lbs of skin total during my TT and I wonder what the results would have been if I DIDN'T have the vertical - but too late now.  I'm just waiting for it to heal up so its less noticeable.  I'm also 50 years old and had NO hopes or dreams that it would ever tighten up, but I probably could have lived with it.  BUT - with that said, I LOVE not having a muffin spilling over my jeans. I also had the muscle tightening.

Come right out and ask the Dr's what they think - THEN ask them what it will look like if it ISN'T done.  Basically you can tell yourself by pulling your panni down smooth and a little of the upper part, and bending over - look in a mirror and you'll see what's left. 

 

 

I had an LBL without the anchor cut on the tummy. I regret it and will hopefully be adding the anchor cut with my next round of reconstruction. If I had it to do over I would have gotten the anchor first time around.

Robin

 I was 26 when I had RNY and lost 90 pounds, so my skin was still pretty elastic at that point and I didn't need plastics.  Two postop c-sections, and a staph infection later, however, a tummy tuck was a necessity.  My problem was completely between my belly button and my csection scar(s).  Above the belly button was by no means firm, but was relatively flat.  I am SO glad that I had the horizontal cut.  When this heals, for the first time in my ENTIRE LIFE, at 31 years old, I will be able to wear a 2 piece swimsuit.  My upper abdomen is not quite as tight as my lower, but it is totally flat and no scar.  The biggest factor is what you have going on above your belly button.  Essentially your upper abdomen becomes your lower abdomen.  I got some really good advice when I asked the same question you did--if you have muffin issues above the belly button without clothes on then you might need the anchor cut.  If not, it probably isn't worth the scar and extra recovery.  The lipo also helps smooth the abdomen out as well.  
So, yes I had the regular incision, yes, I like my results, and no, I don't wish I had the anchor.
Good Luck!  

 I actually just had an anchor TT on Friday and was released just yesterday from the hospital.  My dr and I decided on the anchor because most of my loose skin was above my belly button and he wouldn't be able to contour a proper hour-glass waistline with the standard horizontal incision.  I don't really know what the results are yet since I'm still completely bandaged up.