Dual Tummy Tuck™

Dual Tummy Tuck™ in St. Louis, MO

Advanced Abdominal Contouring Without Belly Button Relocation

Dr. Samer Cabbabe

If you’ve been told you don’t need a full tummy tuck—but a mini tummy tuck won’t address your concerns—you’re not alone.

The Dual Tummy Tuck™ is a specialized abdominal contouring procedure developed by Dr. Samer Cabbabe for patients who require complete muscle tightening and skin correction above and below the belly button, without relocating the belly button.

This procedure is not widely known or offered in the plastic surgery community. As a result, many patients are never told this option exists—or are offered something described as “similar” that is not the same operation.

What Is the Dual Tummy Tuck™?

The Dual Tummy Tuck™ is a custom hybrid procedure that combines:

• A true full reverse tummy tuck to tighten the upper abdomen
• A standard lower tummy tuck to address laxity below the belly button
• Complete abdominal muscle tightening, performed with or without mesh reinforcement
• High-definition liposuction in all cases
• Strategic fat transfer to the hip dips and/or breasts when appropriate
• No incision around the belly button
• No belly button relocation

By tightening the abdomen from both directions and combining it with advanced liposculpting, Dr. Cabbabe restores core strength and contour without forcing belly button movement—particularly important in patients who lack enough excess skin or who are at risk for umbilical compromise.

What “Reverse Tummy Tuck” Really Means (And Why It Matters)

Many procedures labeled as a “reverse tummy tuck” are actually limited or mini versions with minimal correction.

A limited reverse tummy tuck typically involves:

• Minimal undermining
• Small skin excision near the breast crease
• Very limited upper abdominal tightening

A true full reverse tummy tuck, as performed in the Dual Tummy Tuck™, involves:

• Complete elevation of the upper abdominal skin
• Redistribution of tension using progressive tension sutures
• Reconstruction of the inframammary (breast) fold to prevent downward pulling of the breast
• Durable upper abdominal correction without drains

Without proper breast fold reconstruction, tightening the upper abdomen can pull the breast downward—a complication Dr. Cabbabe frequently sees in revision patients.

Who Is the Dual Tummy Tuck™ For?

This procedure was designed for patients who fall between traditional categories, including those who:

• Have abdominal muscle separation with minimal skin excess
• Have moderate laxity above and below the belly button
• Have had prior liposuction, leaving skin looseness without enough redundancy
• Have breast implants, allowing the upper incision to be hidden beneath the breast fold
• Have had prior umbilical hernia repair, where belly button relocation increases the risk of umbilical necrosis
• Are not candidates for umbilical float techniques
• Want to avoid vertical scars and belly button distortion

High-Definition Liposuction & Fat Transfer

High-definition liposuction is always performed as part of the Dual Tummy Tuck™.

This allows precise sculpting of:

• The waist
• Abdominal transition zones
• Overall torso shape

The harvested fat is then used strategically to:

• Fill hip dips and improve lower-body balance
• Augment the breasts when appropriate, often during breast revision surgery

This transforms the procedure from skin tightening alone into a true shape-driven contouring operation.

Surgeon Explainer: Why I Created the Dual Tummy Tuck™

“I created the Dual Tummy Tuck™ for patients who were not good candidates for standard tummy tuck techniques—but were still being forced into them.”

Many patients I see:

• Don’t have enough skin for a traditional tummy tuck
• Are not candidates for umbilical floats
• Need full muscle tightening above and below the belly button

Forcing belly button relocation in these cases often leads to:

• Vertical scars below the belly button
• Distorted or low-set umbilici
• Incomplete correction
• Breast distortion from unbalanced upper abdominal tension

By combining a true full reverse tummy tuck, a standard lower tummy tuck, muscle repair with or without mesh, and high-definition liposuction, I can:

• Preserve the belly button and its blood supply
• Avoid unnecessary scars
• Prevent breast fold distortion
• Restore strength, contour, and balance

Because this approach is not standardized or widely taught, most surgeons do not offer it.

Can This Be Combined With Breast Surgery?

Yes. The Dual Tummy Tuck™ is commonly combined with:

• Breast implant revision
• Correction of bottoming out
• Implant malposition repair
• Fat transfer to the breasts

The upper abdominal incision is hidden beneath the breast fold, allowing breast and abdominal contouring to be addressed in one surgery and one recovery.

Recovery

All Dual Tummy Tuck™ procedures are performed using Dr. Cabbabe’s drainless technique.

Patients benefit from:

• No external drains
• Lower seroma risk
• Faster, more comfortable recovery

Most patients return to work and light activity in about three weeks.

Schedule Your Dual Tummy Tuck™ Consultation

If you’ve been told:

• “You don’t need a full tummy tuck”
• “A mini tummy tuck should be enough”
• Or you’re unhappy with prior results

You may be exactly the patient this procedure was designed for.