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Is It Common NOT to Do Muscle Tightening with a Tummy Tuck? (Photos)

asked 8 months ago by Meech in Corpus Christi, TX
Latest answer by Vishnu Rumalla, MD
Question viewed 548 times
Tags: female, muscle repair, muscle tightening

I'm 38 yrs old. 5'3 and 140 lbs and a parent of 2. I'm scheduled for a tummy tuck at the end of this week to correct my pooch left over from my c-section. My doctor told me that my core is strong and won't require muscle tightening. Is that common? Why would he not tighten my muscles if it's a part of the procedure. I figured if i am paying for it, why skip the most important step? Am i wrong?

19 answers to Is It Common NOT to Do Muscle Tightening with a Tummy Tuck? (Photos)

Muscle tightening is usually done with tummy tuck

It is extremely rare for a woman not to require muscle tightening (plication) after having delivered children. I would say this is done in nearly 100% of tummy tucks-it's what creates a flat profile. I would discuss this in detail with your plastic surgeon before having surgery. Best wishes, Dr.Bruno

William Bruno, MD
Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

www.williambrunomd.com

Tummy tuck without muscle tightening

There are three things that can detract from a perfectly flat tummy. abdominal wall laxity or " looseness" caused by stretching due usually to pregnancy or less often massive weight gain and loss. skin laxity and looseness due to similar causes as mentioned above excess fat A patient needs muscle tightening only if the abdominal wall muscles are loose. If the muscles and abdominal wall are adequate then "skin only abdominoplasty"... more

Jay Burns, MD
Dallas Plastic Surgeon

Tighten or not to tighten the muscles in a TT, that is the question

Thank you for the photos. First of all I hope you consulted with a board certified plastic surgeon. Looking at you photos, I would definitely do a muscle plication and liposuction of you flanks and hips. The fee quoted to you might not have the muscle tightening in it. You should clear this up prior to your scheduled surgery or seek another opinion. You do not want to have two surgeries instead of one performed appropriately. Good luck.

George Marosan, MD
Bellevue Plastic Surgeon

Must have muscle repair

Thanks for the picture. A muscle repair is essential for you because ofthe diastasis of your muscles that I can see on your pictures. I feel you will be dissapointed without it.

Vishnu Rumalla, MD
Dallas Plastic Surgeon

Muscle Tightening with a Tummy Tuck

In patients that have had only one or two children and that are young and athletic, sometimes they don’t have a diastasis rectus and don’t need tightening of the muscles. Most of the time, more than 90%, patients will need diastasis rectus muscle tightening because there is a widening or laxity of this area from pregnancy.

Rod J. Rohrich, MD
Dallas Plastic Surgeon

Muscle tightening during tummy tuck

Muscle tightening is routinely part of every abdominoplasty. It would be very rare not to need tightening of the muscles, especially after child bearing.

Donna Rich, MD
Houston Plastic Surgeon

Muscle Tightening and The Tummy Tuck Procedure

Great question! Every surgeon operates differently so if you are concerned I advise you to get a second opinion from a board certified plastic surgeon. Although examining a patient in person is much more efficient, from the looks of your photos and given the fact that you are a mother of two, I believe that a combo of muscle tightening and liposuction of your hips, flanks and abdomen would be suitable for you. Post pregnancy a woman’s body goes through many changes, and one... more

Siamak Agha, MD, PhD
Orange County Plastic Surgeon

Muscle Tightening During Tummy Tuck

Given that you have had two children, it is likely that you would benefit from muscle tightening. It appears on the side view, that you have some convexity of your abdomen. Muscle plication would probably help this. You should make sure that you and your surgeon are on the same page about this. Also make sure that he is a Board Certified plastic surgeon.

Laurence Weider, MD
Dallas Plastic Surgeon

Muscle tightening during an abdominoplasty

It is rare that I do not tighten the abdominal muscles during an abdominoplasty. You have had two children and your photos show that you have some abdominal protuberance that could be improved with muscle plication. Women's habits change over a lifetime and although you are exercising now chances are that you will not always be doing so ( I speak from personal experience). This is your opportunity to have those muscles brought together forever. Why skip over... more

Lori H. Saltz, MD
San Diego Plastic Surgeon

www.ljcsc.com

Is It Common NOT to Do Muscle Tightening with a Tummy Tuck? (Photos)

The majority of the expert posters feel some form of muscle tightening is the better option. Maybe you and your chosen doctor need further discussions to clear the air.

Darryl J. Blinski, MD
Miami Plastic Surgeon

Tummy tuck without muscle tightening

Thanks for including photos - they're quite revealing. The generalized convexity of your abdominal wall is likely the result of separation of your rectus abdominus muscle (i.e. the muscles tightened during a tummy tuck). Performing a tummy tuck without tightening these muscles likely means that this shape of your abdominal wall will persist. It's important that you and your plastic surgeon are on the same page prior to surgery. If you have questions, ask him - he may have a very... more

Sam Jejurikar, MD
Dallas Plastic Surgeon

To Tighten or Not To Tighten Your Abdominal Muscles?

Dear Meech, With pregnancy, the abdominal muscles have to separate some in all women and that is normal. How much they separate is highly variable as is also how close they come back together after delivery. Also, with time, in many women, the abdominal muscles will continue to spread as age and gravity push the abdominal contents up against the wall leading to the middle-age pooch in the lower abdomen. These are reasons that many plastic surgeons will recommend... more

Herluf G. Lund, Jr, MD
Saint Louis Plastic Surgeon

www.stlcosmeticsurgery.com

Muscle tightening and tummy tuck

I believe that most women who have had 2 or pregnancies will require some form of muscle tightening. This is one of the main advantages of the procedure compared to liposuction. The benefit is significant in that you will get a more slender waist and get rid of that fullness in the lower abdomen. I would get a second opinion as to whether you need muscle tightening.

Robert M. Jensen, MD
Medford Plastic Surgeon

Muscle tightening with tummy tuck

An examination of your abdomen is necessary for a fully accurate answer, but a woman with 2 pregnancies and the photos you showed, I would typically feel that a muscle tightening procedure would be included. if you inhale and your abdomen tightens significantly, and if you have a separation of the muscles in the midline than that would confirm it. I would return and discuss things with your surgeon.

Rick Rosen, MD
Norwalk Plastic Surgeon

Does a tummy tucl always involve muscle tightening?

An abdominoplasty following childirth almost always necessitates muscle tightening. It is unusual not to perform one because the muscles are usually stretched and separated after pregnancy(ies). The phot does not allow to speculate whether the muscles ae firm. I would discuss again with your surgeon why he (she) feels that muscle tightening is not necessary. You may want to seek a second opinion regarding the need for muscle tightening. Good luck!

George Lefkovits, MD
New York Plastic Surgeon

Is it logical NOT to do a Muscle Tightening in a Tummy Tuck?

Mother's are quite familiar with the damages associated with one or multiple pregnancies. Consider the process for a minute. The normal non-pregnant uterus is the average size of a lime. With pregnancy it grows into the size of a large watermelon with PERMANENTLY stretches everything in its path: - in stretches the abdominal wall muscles AND splits the six pack (Rectus Abdominis) muscles thereby creating "The Pooch' or a larger volume abdominal cavity -it stretches and... more

Peter A. Aldea, MD
Memphis Plastic Surgeon

Muscle Plication and tummy tuck

Thank you for the question and pictures. I think you are very smart to wonder about the omission of abdominal wall plication during your tummy tuck procedure. Hopefully you're working with a well experienced board-certified plastic surgeon who has made a good decision to not plicate the abdominal wall muscles during your tummy tuck procedure. He/she will be in the best position to determine whether or not you will benefit from the muscle plication. Having... more

Tom J. Pousti, MD
San Diego Plastic Surgeon

www.poustiplasticsurgery.com

Muscle tightening in abdominoplasty

The vast majority of women will benefit from muscle tightening, especially if they have finished with their pregnancies. I have seen the occasional woman who has a very firm core, in which case there really is not any more to gain. I can't tell from the photos how "loose" your tummy muscles are. you would need to really relax your tummy and see how much it buges forward. The advantage of not doing the muscle tightening is that the recovery is quicker and there is less pain. more

Ronald Schuster, MD
Baltimore Plastic Surgeon

www.drschuster.com

Muscle tightening in tummy tucks

Each patient needs to be evaluated and examined to determine what the best procedure would be. Most women need some tightening of the abdominal wall during a tummy tuck especially after having children and c sectioning. Discuss this with your surgeon again to clear up any confusion prior to surgery. You don't want any regrets after.