Would A Mini-Tummy Tuck Fix The Skin Roll That Appears When I Sit Down?

Q: DR. Eppley, Overall, my stomach looks good standing, but when I sit down I notice skin folding that feels more like mild skin laxity rather than excess fat. I’m looking for an honest opinion on whether this is better addressed with observation, a conservative approach, or if any surgical option would even be worthwhile in my case. Given my prior experience with Dr. Eppley and how much I trust his judgment, I would really value his opinion on the abdominal concern and whether anything should be done at all.

A: The answer to your abdominal question which is whether there is merit in doing anything comes down to two considerations. First how much of a skin roll is present when sitting down and how laxitu does the lower abdomen  have when standing up. AS good way to make that determination is to take a marker when you are sitting down and outline the upper and lower margins of the skin roll from side to side. Then see what that looks like when standing and then do the pinch test, meaning grab the upper and lower margins of the marked areas centrally and see how easily it comes together. If it is hard to get together then a lower mini tummy tuck scar may not do well. If it comes together fairly easily then there’s enough skin laxity for a more favorable scar outcome.. The second consideration is how you feel about a lower abdominal scar as a trade off for that sitting skin roll.. Where that scar will be located and how long it might be will require me to have knowledge as to what that marked area looks like when standing up.

Dr. Barry Eppley

World-Renowned Plastic Surgeon