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Diastasis - I Look 6 Months Pregnant After 4 Children

asked 1 year ago by 694173anon in MA
Latest answer by Tom J. Pousti, MD
Question viewed 7,307 times
Tags: female, after pregnancy, diastasis recti

I look heavily pregnant after 4 children- the youngest child is 5. Can anything other than a full tummy tuck help me? I cannot afford the time for a full procedure- would lipo help me a bit? i have no stretch marks and when I managed to lose about 15 lbs 2yrs ago, the skin seemed to retract nicely.

16 answers to Diastasis - I Look 6 Months Pregnant After 4 Children

Tummy tuck is needed to correct a weakened abdominal wall

Based on your photo and history it appears that you need a tummy tuck, which will tighten and restore your abdominal muscles to their pre-pregancy condition. There is no role for liposuction in your situation, based on your photos. The tummy tuck will also allow for removal of excess skin, which may have occurred after four pregnancies. If you try to do a minimal procedure here (liposuction) you will end up with very minimal/poor result. Best wishes, Dr. Bruno... more

William Bruno, MD
Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

www.williambrunomd.com

Tummy tuck?

Thank you for your question and picture. Unfortunately, any procedure other than a full tummy tuck will be a waste of your time, effort, and money. Furthermore, with any other procedure performed, you may be left with a result worse than what you are starting with. In your case, it would be better to do nothing surgically until you have the " time for a full procedure”. Best wishes.

Tom J. Pousti, MD
San Diego Plastic Surgeon

www.poustiplasticsurgery.com

Diastasis repair

Your best result would be an abdominoplasty to reposition the rectus muscles. Liposuction would do nothing for the protruding abdomen. The abdominoplasty would restore the muscles to normal position, remove some fat and excess skin of the lower abdomen. I would visit with a board certified plastic surgeon about the diastasis repair and rule out any associated hernia.

Andrew Turk, MD
Naples Plastic Surgeon

Is a Tummy Tuck the Only Answer

I doubt very seriously that you can achieve any measure of significant improvement of contour without a full abdominoplasty. You issue may be some fat but probably due to very lax abdominal muscles that need tightening that only an abdominoplasty can achieve. Dr. ES

Earl Stephenson Jr., MD, DDS
Atlanta Plastic Surgeon

Do I need da tummy tuck?

You need a full abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) to reposition your rectus abdominus muscles. Anything less will leave you very disappointed. If you find a "surgeon" who says they can fix it any other way, run. Also, a gazillion situps won't fix it. The muscles are spread apart and only surgical repositioning will fix it. Lisa Lynn Sowder, M.D.

Lisa L. Sowder, MD
Seattle Plastic Surgeon

www.sowdermd.com

Tummy tuck corrects diastasis recti, fat deposits and loose skin

After reviewing your photo, I would recommend a tummy tuck combined with liposuction. A full tummy tuck corrects the aftermath of pregnancy: 1. The separation of the abdominal muscles (diastasis recti) is repaired to reduce the bulge 2. The loose skin is tightened 3. Fat deposits can be reduced with liposuction Liposuction alone would not correct the bulge due to the muscle separation or the loose skin and would, in all likelihood, lead to... more

Andrew Lyos, MD
Houston Plastic Surgeon

When should you skip Liposuction and wisely choose a Full Tummy Tuck?

Regarding: "Diastasis - I Look 6 Months Pregnant After 4 Children I look heavily pregnant after 4 children- the youngest child is 5. Can anything other than a full tummy tuck help me? I cannot afford the time for a full procedure- would lipo help me a bit? i have no stretch marks and when I managed to lose about 15 lbs 2yrs ago, the skin seemed to retract nicely" As Plastic surgeons we run into your situation all the time. The majority of women do not understand just how... more

Peter A. Aldea, MD
Memphis Plastic Surgeon

You need to repair the diastasis of the muscles.

From your photo I think that the only option which will give you results that you will be happy with is a full tummy tuck. I perform mini tuck and also SmartLipo and I can't give you what you need with any of those other procedures. Bottom line...you need a full tummy tuck. If you think you can't afford a tummy tuck that will correct your problem and make you happy, then you really can't afford to spend any money on anything else which wont correct your problem and more

Richard H. Fryer, MD
Salt Lake City Plastic Surgeon

Large diastasis -muscle separation - without tummy tuck

You answered your own question. If you lost 15 lbs two years ago and looked great than that is your easiest solution. However, I don't completely believe this to be true. It appears that you have a true diastasis or hernia or profound visceral fatty collections. The latter cannot be treated whereas the former two require surgery for improvment. If your skin is truly elastic, you could undergo a minimal incision endoscopically assisted diastasis repair. see video

Otto Joseph Placik, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Diastasis

YOU NEED A TUMMY TUCK! Do not even consider liposuction a very bad idea in your case. In person evaluation will educate you on the correct choices. Get one.

Darryl J. Blinski, MD
Miami Plastic Surgeon

Tummy tuck for protuberant abdomen

You need a tummy tuck. You look like an excellent candidate for the surgery. It is the only way to tighten the muscles and skin with fat removal. Liposuction alone only removes fat, it would do little for your overall contour so don't waste your time and money. After 4 kids, this is your best option. We all have kids, find some time for a 1-2 week recovery, it is important to take some time out for yourself! Liposuction alone also involves recovery, so do the best procedure for you... more

Hayley Brown MD
Henderson Plastic Surgeon

Diastasis without time for tummy tuck

Diastasis is a separation of the sit-up muscles in the abdomen in response to pregnancy. The good news is that the diastasis is not a true hernia and there is little risk of 'medical' consequences if untreated. Judging from your photos, it is likely that with effort you can indeed pull your stomach muscles tighter, and weight loss can help just about everyone. In the presence of the laxity, liposuction will not provide a quick fix, and eventually a tummy tuck with diastasis... more

Peter E. Johnson, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Fixing diastasis after having children

It appears as though you're and exellent candidate for a tummy tuck. I know that you don't want to take the time off to recover, but in order to visualize the abdominal wall in order to tighten it and the muscles, you will most likely need a full tummy tuck. A full tummy tuck will also remove an excess skin left over after tightening the muscles. A mini-tummy tuck helps to tighten the muscles with a scar that isn't as long as a full tummy tuck, but it's... more

Jeffrey E. Schreiber, MD
Baltimore Plastic Surgeon

www.BaltimorePlasticSurgery.com

Liposuction vs. Tummy Tuck

After going through 4 pregnancies, the abdominal wall has in all likelihood stretched out significantly, and the photograph clearly demonstrates this. Exercise and/or liposuction alone is not going to correct the problem. the muscles and fascia need to reconstructed back to their pre-pregnancy anatomy, and the only way to do this, is with a tummy tuck. Even though the recovery and restrictions post op are more significant, the results are well worth it if you are hoping to... more

Wilfred Brown, MD
Fairfield Plastic Surgeon

No easy answer

Looks like y ou need to loose a few pounds and then you would be a perfect candidate for a tummy tuck. Nothing less will give you the desired result.

William B. Rosenblatt, MD
New York Plastic Surgeon

Do I need a tummy tuck

There is no "magic wand" in plastic surgery. The achieve your expectations, you need to have an abdominoplasty / tummy tuck. This procedure will remove the extra skin, tighten your abdominal muscles and contour your cures. This is what will give you the best results. Anything less would not be as effective. Please make sure that you are seen by a board-certified plastic surgeon. Good luck with your surgery.