Question:
TUMMY TUCKS, DIFFERANT KINDS WHAT'S THE DIFFERANCE?

I have read that they have so many differant kinds of TT how do I know what I need. I know my Dr. will tell me that but I kinda wanted to know about how much money I am looking at before I go. I am self pay. I have heard of BELT LIPECTOMY, EXTENDED TT, MUSCEL TIGHTENING What exactally is muscel tigthening? Sounds good, LOL.... Any other types of TT? I basically have a flabby stomach all over. I have lost 84 pounds with 25 left to go before surgery so that will be 110 pounds gone so I will be even more flabbyer. I had a C-section 15 years ago and I have hanging skin (apron) at the bottom of my stomach. The smaller I get the smaller it gets but it will never go away that's for sure so that is my main focaus and to have a flat stomach. What do you guys think? Thanks    — DBXX (posted on May 19, 2004)

May 19, 2004
I had a full extended abdominoplasty as part of my lower body lift. I believe what this did for me was the 360 degree cut. I know extended means it wraps around past the hips to pick up rolls in the back. I'm assuming the full means, all the way. The full may also refer to the need for a vertical incision in addition to the horizontal incision. In reality a belt lipectomy would be very similar to what I had (full extended....). Normally muscle tightening automatically goes along with an abdominoplasty, otherwise it would be just a panniculectomy. However, all surgeons use the terms differently. It strictly comes down to your anatomy and how the surgeon will be able to remove the skin. Only he or she can determine that based on looking at your body.
   — zoedogcbr

May 20, 2004
I had a tt/mr/br in december of 2002 and a buttlift and revison's inmarch of 2003, I would like my tummy to be tighter,but because of my age (51) and the elasticity of my skin after having 3 kids and weighing close to 300 pounds,I am truely happy wiht my tummy, new perky boobs and tight butt LOL!!! my scar goes all the way around now, my ps extended my scar when he did my revison's and dogear removal, that was wehn he gave me a buttlift,, I was awake wjil he did the buutlift and revision's too check out my before and after pics on my profile website..
   — bikerchic

May 20, 2004
My understanding of various types of tummy tucks is as follows: (1) Removal of skin only (no muscle work); (2) removal of excess tummy skin below the belly button, plus muscle work, which involves cutting and pulling together the underlying muscles that are so often distended beyond natural repair following huge weight gain and/or pregnancy; (3) removal of excess skin from above and below the belly button, plus muscle work, which addresses the spare tire above the belly button as well as the lower belly area; (4) removal of excess skin from above and below belly button, plus muscle work, plus extension of the incision nearly or all around the back of the waist in order to remove some excess skin from the hips, outer thighs, and butt by "lifting" the torso and cutting off extra skin.<P>I've seen various names ascribed to these various procedures, which makes it confusing, and there are subtle differences among them that I haven't attempted to get into for fear of messing up more than I probably already did. ;-) Obviously, the more extensive the procedure, the more scarring there is. If you go for PS consults, be sure you ask the PS to tell you where such scars would be located so you're not surprised.<P>I chose procedure number 4, because I knew I wanted muscle tightening, I wanted the spare tire above the belly gone (figured that'd only look worse with a basic TT below the waist only), and I didn't want "dog ears" extending around to my hips where the extra skin met up with an untreated area if only the front was done, and I figured removal of skin by extending the incision around the back would help eliminate some Sharpei (wrinkly) action on my butt and thighs. I've seen this procedure called, variously, a belt lipectomy, a lower body lift, and an extended tummy tuck (which is what my PS calls it). (A thigh lift and butt lift are entirely different operations, however, and inner and outer thigh lifts are also different, from what I understand).<P>I'm also a self-pay. It's expensive. I'm hoping my extended TT will be enough to satisfy me generally about the somewhat sorry state of affairs with my torso, 'cause I ain't going through any more PS! :-)
   — Suzy C.

May 22, 2004
Hi. All the other posters have described the various lifts well...and doctors DO use the terms loosely. What ever they call it, just be sure you are satisfied with the exact goals of the surgery, and look at before and after pics of other patients similiar to you. My advice is to use a board-certified plastic surgeon only for this type of work.
   — DrL

May 24, 2004
if your flabby all over your gonna need more then just skin removal..i suggest a TT with the muscle work.not all surgeons do this. it takes at lot more time to do.make sure your dr is board cert. in PS.my surgeon was awsome. the line is so faint you cant even see it.my man made belly button looks great.good luck to you.Tracey
   — traceybubbles