Can Tummy Tuck Change or Distort the Pelvic Area?

Is it possible for the pelvic anatomy to be distorted during Tummy Tuck, through the imbrication of the muscle and fascia?

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11 Doctor Answers | Asked by JS in Hartford, CT

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Distortion of the pubic area with tummy tuck

As with all surgeries, there is a golden amount of tissue to remove that maximizes the results and minimizes potential complications. Too little yields unsatisfactory results. Too much yields aesthetic and biologic problems. If aggressively performed, the pubic structures can indeed be elevated in a strange fashion with a tummy tuck. Plication sutures tighten the fascia (not the muscle, as is commonly thought). The plication sutures rarely cause deformation of the pubic area. In fact,... more

Working above the pelvic area

Dear JS: I'm not sure I understand your concerns, but I will try to answer. Tummy tuck, with its imbrication of the lax anterior abdominal wall tissues by midline abdominal imbrication, would not directly affect the internal pelvic organs, which are positioned lower within the pelvic space. The tightening of the lax skin and subcutaneous tissues may provide desirable support to (or re-suspension of) the mons pubis externally. Patients could have pre-existing laxity of the pelvic floor... more

Plication restores the anatomy and should not distort it

During the tummy tuck procedure the fascia of the abdominal muscle is usually tightened in one or two layers. There is a great tendency nowadays not to produce too much tightening as this could have more postoperative complications. The pelvic anatomy should not be affected by this plication as the degree of tissue mobilization is limited. Some discomfort could be left early but things will get better after sometime.

Pelvic anatomy is safe during Tummy Tuck

By imbricating the muscle, you are in a way decreasing the volume intra-abdominal to an extent. But will the plication affect your pelvic anatomy in a way to prevent perhaps pregnancy or other issues? Unlikely. During a tummy tuck, the work that is done is all extra pelvic or outside the pelvic and abdomen so there should not be any issues. Hope that helps.

Pregnancy and Pelvic changes

While abdomenoplasty does not seem to affect pelvic anatomy, pregnancy does. At the time of pregnancy, your body releases an enzyme that loosens the attachments between the two sides of the pelvic bones. This enzyme allows the pelvis to widen for birth. The only problem is that the bones may not return to their position after birth. Thus, pelvic anatomy is changed.

Tummy tuck should not.

A tummy tuck should not change the pelvic region. It might pull the pubic mound (mons) up but the labia and other vaginal structures should not be affected. A thigh lift may deform the labial region.

Abdominoplasty does not alter internal anatomy

Muscle and facial plication used during the tummy tuck procedure to tighten the abdominal wall does not affect the pelvic anatomy. Your body will feel and function the same way after. Imagine gently pushing in on the area with a girdle or a binder. The effect is the same though the muscle plication will hold with the girdle or binder off. The outside you is the new and improved, on the inside its the same old you. Best of luck.

Tummy tuck and pelvic distortion

It is unlikely that you would have any pelvic distortion after a tummy tuck. Yes, the muscles fascia in the midline is tightened, but the underlying bony architecture is not changed.

Steven Wallach, MD

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Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

The pelvic area can be distorted after a Tummy Tuck

To JS, Hi! If a Tummy Tuck is not perforrmed properly, the pubic hair area can be increased and the genitalia can be excessively raised. This is caused not by muscle imbrication but by too much skin tightening.

It is possible, but the technique and details matter

Hi there- The short answer to your question is that yes, it is possible that your pubic area could be altered by tummy tuck surgery. The longer answer is that your individual anatomy and the precise technique used will affect the risk significantly, and even in patients with severe ptosis (sagging and distortion) of the area, the appropriate tummy tuck technique will actually aesthetically IMPROVE the area. Poor attention to this point of anatomy and technique can result in a poor... more