Probably need a Tummy Tuck

After several pregnancies, most women have a number of changes to the abdomen. The majority of these changes occur below the belly button. There has been localized stretching of the skin and of the muscle layer of the abdomen, resulting in stretch marks most of which are usually located between the pubic area and the belly button and also stretching of the tough layer called the fascia over the abdominal muscle layer. This localized stretching results and to very common appearance is of the abdomen after pregnancy one of which is fullness of the lower abdomen from the stretching of the muscle layer and the other is stretch marks of the skin. In addition, most women will have some excess fat in the region of the abdomen and hip areas.

 

An abdominoplasty or tummy tuck addresses each of the problem areas of the abdomen that occurs after pregnancy. The excess skin is removed and with the most if not all of the stretch marks. The weakness of the abdominal muscle/fascia layer is tightened with stitches in order to restore a flatter contour to the abdomen and to accentuate the waist. In addition, in my practice, liposuction is performed with an abdominoplasty and probably 90-95% of cases to improve the appearance of the hips or to create better definition in the area above the belly button.

 

In contrast, liposuction alone will only remove the excess fat. It will do nothing to address the stretching of the muscle/fascia layer so there will be persistent protruding of the lower abdomen. In addition, you will need to rely on skin contraction alone to adapt to the new contour after liposuction and this lower abdominal skin, which has been stretched with pregnancy does not have the ability in many cases to contract at all and certainly it will not contract to the same degree to which it can be tightened with an abdominoplasty.

 

In general, after two pregnancies, most women will do better with abdominoplasty than liposuction alone; however, you do need to consider your age and the appearance of your skin and the appearance of the lower abdomen in order to make the final decision.