Tummy Tuck: Q&A

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I'm a 32 Year Old, Mother of Two Girls. I Been Dreaming of a Flat Tummy Since I Was a Teen?

I scheduled my full tt. I suffered from severe vomiting during my both pregnancies, with my last baby 11 months ago only gain 12 pounds. Gave birth natural. My weight now is 112 and my height is 5'2. I don't have any stretch marks but if I bend or eat I get a huge bulge . my concern is that since My pre op I lost 17 pounds and it looks to me like I don't have enough skin to pull down and most of it is locate in my lower abdomen. I'm concern I won't be able t get a full TT. Any advise please.

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15 Doctor Answers | Asked by cangregita in Brooklyn, NY

Doctor Answers (15)
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Tummy Tuck

If you were a good candidate for a full tummy tuck before your weight loss and nothing else has changed, then you should still be a good candidate now. See your surgeon again before your surgery to discuss your concerns. If the excess skin is truly only below your umbilicus then you may not need a full tummy tuck. The muscle (bulge) can still be tightened even without doing a full tummy tuck. Alternatively, if there is some excess skin above the umbilicus then a full tummy tuck may be done,... more

Pre -Op Anxiety

It sounds like you are a good candidate for an abdominoplasty;- although losing 17 pounds since your pre-op evaluation is a remarkable feat. I 'm sure that you have discussed this weight loss as well as your contouring concerns with your surgeon. If not , please do so. If you were a candidate for a full abdominoplasty before the weight loss, you should still be a good candidate now. But remember the objective is to give you the best results not the biggest surgery... more

If you have had children, chances are that you can have a full tummy tuck

There is a saying among plastic surgeons that any woman who has had children can have a tummy tuck (a full one). You likely have sufficient skin laxity to allow redraping of your upper abdominal skin and elimination of the loose skin of your lower tummy. Experienced plastic surgeons flex the patient's hips in surgery to help with this, and at the same time keep the incision low, within the bikini line. It sounds like you have a very weak abdominal wall, which is why it... more

Am I a candidate for a full Tummy Tuck?

It is difficult to give an impression without photos. But with your history of 2 pregnancies and your doctor's decision to proceed with a full TT( assuming your doctor is a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon) it would seem that the chosen procedure ia a correct one. However, if you still have doubt about your upcoming procedure you shoud seek a second opinion, just to be fully convinced. Good luck!

Weight Loss Enhances Tummy Tuck Results

Congratulations on your post pregnancy weight loss! The concerns raised regarding tummy tucks after pregnancy are very common. Many mothers are interested in the impact of weight loss on their results. Weight loss before and after abdominoplasty typically enhances the results of the procedure. The loss of intra-abdominal fat or fat around the organs associated with pregnancy induced weight gain is beneficial for your health as well as body contour. The loss of... more

Tummy Tuck and Loose Skin

Your question is excellent. In my opinion, most patients who have had babies have enough skin for a classic tummy tuck. Even thou you think you might not, most people do. Tummy tucks can be modified, however, for those with lesser amounts of skin. This includes moving the umbilicus down as part of a mini tuck. Another option is having a small vertical incision at the bottom of the abdominal skin flap. This would be where the belly button used to be. It is small and not a big deal for most... more

Full tummy tuck for abdominal bulge

If you have significant abdominal muscle weakness or separate of the muscles from the midline (rectus diastasis) then you need to have the muscles repaired during your tummy tuck. If you have enough skin laxity from upper abdomen alone then you should be a great candidate for full tummy tuck. If you only have minimal skin excess at upper part of your abdomen, then you really have two options left. First, mini tummy tuck with possible umbilicoplasty or full tummy with small vertical closure... more

Do you trust your DR

I would assume that your doctor would not have scheduled you for a full tummy tuck without examining you and deciding that you had enough skin. If not, see another doctor.

Tummy tuck candidate?

If you have lost weight, I would expect your lower abdominal skin to sag more rather than less. Losing weight is a great way to lead into a tummy tuck. Remember that abdominoplasties are individualized operations. Even if you don't have a huge bulge, you may benefit from the procedure. However, without photos and an exam, one can only conjecture whether you are a candidate for the operation. If you have concerns, see another plastic surgeon for a second opinion.... more

Weight loss does not change your chances of good result with tummy tuck.

Hi. If you were a good candidate before, you still are after 17 pound weight loss. Weight loss does not cause you to have less excess skin or less muscle separation. You are just flatter because some fat is gone.

Can I have a tummy tuck if my skin is not a loose?

Thank you for your question. What you are describing is a situation in which the abdominal wall muscles have separated but the skin has rebounded nicely. The muscle separation is known as diastasis rectus. It is generally repaired by sewing the muscles together in the midline during a full tummy tuck. Even with muscular separation there are some women who do not have enough loose skin to perform full tummy tuck. In this situation there are still some options. The... more

Enough skin for a full Tummy tuck?

Thank you for your question. It is impossible to precisely determine whether a full tummy tuck is possible without examining your belly. During a full tummy tuck, the skin is extensively mobilized which creates a fair amount of excess. If there is not enough skin, there are a couple of options. The incision could be placed a touch higher, which allows less skin removal. A short 3cm vertical scar could be placed to close the umbilicus if there isn't enough excess skin to allow a traditional... more

Weight loss since preop

If you had enough skin before the weight loss, you almost certainly still have enough excess skin for a TT. SInce you are concerned, though, it makes sense to have another preop visit with your surgeon to review your current status since the weight change. This beats facing a decision that requires some thought moments before going in to surgery. Thanks for the question, best wishes.

Great question

It seems as though you are in tune with your body and have some great concerns. After a proper evaluation by your plastic surgeon, he or she can tell you what is possible or what is best for you. Just based on your information, you may do great with a mini-tummy tuck that tightens your lower belly, then possibly some lipo elsewhere.

Flat stomack

Dear cangregita, Congratulation for a BMI of 20 . According to your description of a "huge bulge " , it sounds to me that you are a good candidate for a full tummy tuck. You might not have alot of lax skin but your muscles are lose from the chest bone to the pubic bone. They need to be tightened all the way and more, in order to give you a flat stomack. That can be done only by a full tummy tuck. As far as the skin, since you say that your skin is not... more