Question:
Anyone had or know of anyone who had this type of tummy tuck?

I'm trying to figure out where I saw this: A vertical scar tummy tuck(?). It's a much more extensive surgery than the traditional TT. The incisions include a long one from the breast bone, all the way down to the navel. I understand it's supposed to give more upper abdominal tension and leaves you w/more of an hourglass shape but I can't figure out where it is that I saw or heard about it. Any info would be helpful. Thanks ahead of time...    — Ms S. (posted on July 11, 2003)

July 11, 2003
I have what is sort of referred to as an "anchor incision". Not only do they cut along your bikini line area, but they also cut down the middle to pull you in that way. So, now I have a firmer flatter belly and a thinner waist line. My surgeon used my open rny incision line for the one down the middle, so I dont have any more scarring than usual. Hope this helps.
   — skymaxjr

July 11, 2003
It's called an abdominoplasty. They tighten the muscles, as well as remove the extra skin. It's much more extensive than simply removing the panni, but the results are much better because they can pull you in tighter, giving you a really nice hourglass shape, and removing the skin above the belly button as well as below. The incision is called either an anchor cut or fleur-de-lis. The pannilectomy (sp?) only removes the lower apron. Plastic surgeons usually like it when they see our scars from open surgery because they can reuse those scars to do the abdominoplasty, they just make it look much prettier when it's closed up again. After all, that's their job. :)
   — Leslie F.

July 11, 2003
I had an extended abdomnioplasty on March 31, 2003 and I'm THRILLED!! The scar on my hips go almost all the way around me thats why its an 'extended' one. I had alot of 'rolls' he had to get rid of. The scar is also much thinner than my Open RNY scar and there isn't 'railroad tracks either'. He didn't use ONE staple on me. I don't have any pics yet. If you go to www.egrari.com (my surgeons website)you can see his abdomnioplasties in the Gallery section.
   — Kris T.

July 11, 2003
I had an anchor-incision tummy tuck....a vertical incision from breastbone to pubic area, combined with a "smiley-face" incision from hip to hip....and I couldn't be happier with the results. I was initially concerned about the large incision because I had had a lap RNY and was so happy that I couldn't even find those little incisions anymore. However, when my plastic surgeon explained the benefits of the anchor incision, I decided that the "cosmetics" just weren't worth fretting about. The anchor incision is ideal for those of us who are apple-shaped, or who have always carried alot of our extra weight at the belly-button or above. The vertical incision allows the surgeon to "pull in" all that extra skin and fat from the sides in toward the middle, giving a wonderfully sleek look to the ribcage area and a great hourglass waistline. Those folks who are more pear-shaped get really great results from the more traditional tummy tuck with only a hip-to-hip incision. My surgeon didn't use any external sutures or staples...just "super glue" and tiny pieces of tape to close the incision. I am now almost two years post-op tummy tuck and only have a faint white line down the center of my abdomen, and can't find the hip-to-hip incision at all. I wore a tankini to the beach a few weeks ago and it was not obvious that I had even had an abdominal surgery. An added plus for me was that I had had a traditional gallbladder surgery years ago, leaving me with a large, diagonal scar under my right ribcage. In the process of the anchor incision, that old scar was completely eliminated :-) Best wishes...feel free to email me privately if you have further questions.
   — Diana T.

July 15, 2003
I have the hip to hip incision on my tt. I like it MUCH better then the anchor cut. There was NO need for it. My PS was able to do a complete abdominoplasty with just the hip to hip incision and he tightened all of my abdominal muscles to give me a 6 pack. He said that the only people who need the anchor cut are those who have a LOT of excess skin above the belly button area, otherwise the hip to hip incision can be done and give you the look that you like with much less scarring.
   — Patty H.

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