If you are bothered by loose or excess skin in your upper abdomen, particularly beneath the breasts, a reverse tummy tuck may help refine this area. This surgery is meant for carefully selected patients with mild upper abdominal skin laxity. At Washington Women Plastic Surgery, your treatment is customized to your unique anatomy and goals.
Refine Your Upper Abdominal Contour
A reverse tummy tuck is a procedure that improves mild loose skin in the upper abdomen, particularly beneath the breasts. At Washington Women Plastic Surgery, our surgeons use a refined approach that differs from a traditional reverse tummy tuck. Rather than creating one long scar across the chest beneath the breasts, they remove excess skin through two small crescent-shaped incisions placed beneath each breast, stopping short of the midline. The remaining upper abdominal skin is gently elevated and secured beneath the breasts to create a smoother contour. Because this technique does not involve tightening the abdominal muscles, it is not a traditional tummy tuck. In appropriate candidates, it can also be combined with a breast lift for comprehensive upper body rejuvenation.
Benefits of Reverse Tummy Tuck:
- Smoother upper abdominal contour
- Improved skin firmness beneath the breasts
- Smaller scars than a traditional reverse tummy tuck
- No scar crossing the breast midline
- Preserves the abdominal muscles
- Can be combined with a breast lift
- Natural-looking upper body rejuvenation
- Enhanced confidence in fitted clothing
What Happens During the Reverse Tummy Tuck Consultation?
During your consultation, our surgeons, Dr. Lauren Patrick and Dr. Catherine Hannan, will take time to understand your concerns, evaluate the amount and location of excess upper abdominal skin, and discuss your aesthetic goals. We will determine whether our specialized approach is appropriate for your anatomy and explain how it differs from a traditional reverse tummy tuck. Because we believe two perspectives are better than one, we collaboratively develop your personalized treatment plan together. We will explain whether your procedure can be combined with a breast lift, review the expected scars, recovery, and anticipated results, and answer every question so you feel informed, comfortable, and confident moving forward.
You Might Be a Candidate If…
- You have mild loose skin in your upper abdomen
- You notice excess skin beneath your breasts
- You have maintained a stable weight
- You are bothered by upper abdominal skin after pregnancy or weight loss
- You want to avoid the scar of a traditional reverse tummy tuck
- You are in good overall health
- You have realistic expectations about your results
Reverse Tummy Tuck FAQs
How is Your Reverse Tummy Tuck Different?
Our approach differs from a traditional reverse tummy tuck. Rather than creating one long scar that crosses the midline beneath the breasts, we use two smaller crescent-shaped incisions beneath each breast. This allows us to improve upper abdominal skin laxity while avoiding the midline scar that we believe tends to heal less favorably.
Where Will My Scars Be?
Our incisions are placed within the natural crease beneath each breast and stop short of the midline. We carefully plan incision placement to make scars as discreet as possible.
How Long is Recovery?
Recovery varies depending on your procedure and whether it is combined with other surgeries. Most patients experience temporary swelling, bruising, and soreness before gradually returning to normal activities within a few days according to their personalized recovery plan. Strenuous workouts should be avoided for at least 4 to 6 weeks.
Inspiring Confidence With Natural Results
Washington Women Plastic Surgery is led by Dr. Lauren Patrick and Dr. Catherine Hannan, two board-certified plastic surgeons who trained together at Georgetown. Their shared experience and commitment to excellence have shaped a unique collaborative model that allows patients to benefit from the combined expertise of two highly skilled surgeons.
