Do any Doctors Tighten Skin on Sides of Abdomen Instead of Cutting at Bikini Line?

asked 1 year ago by K.Wray in Portland
Latest answer by Otto Joseph Placik, MD
Question viewed 222 times
Tags: scar, technique

I have had 2 pregnancies that has left me with stretch marks and some loose abdominal skin. I am very fit otherwise and have no diastasis. Wear a size 2. I don't like the look of traditional tummy tucks, the way the abdomen looks afterwards. When I pull my skin tight on either side of my abdomen my stomach looks almost like it did before babies. Would any doctors be willing to perform this surgery? Of course I would have 2 scars on my sides, but I still think it would be preferable. Risks?

6 answers to Do any Doctors Tighten Skin on Sides of Abdomen Instead of Cutting at Bikini Line?

Alternative incisions for tummy tuck

If you can think it up it probably has been done at least once. I have seen scars running along a patients sides to pull the skin but they look like seams and are very visible in a bathing suit. The tradiional tummy tuck scar is not visible beneath a traditional bikini. Instead of having two outside incisions most surgeons would use a single midline vertical incision but this highly visible as well. Discuss these options or preferences with your surgeon.

Otto Joseph Placik, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

It's extremely unlikely that you will have a nice result by tightening the sides only

While many results look nice when we pull the skin by hand, this often doesn't translate into a real surgical result. The procedure you are describing can be done, it is almost never done. This is because almost no one has loose skin only on the sides. If you have loose skin on the sides from pregnancy, then you most likely have loose skin in the front. If you only tighten the skin on the sides, you will have an irregular result where tight skin meets... more

Parham Ganchi, MD
Wayne Plastic Surgeon

Alternative Tummy Tuck Scars

The question posed by a size 2, fit mother of 2 is whether a tummy tuck can be done leaving scars on the sides. The answer to this question depends on the particulars of the situation. In this case, the author indicates the muscles aren't stretched. This seldom turns out to be the case at the time of surgery after two pregnancies. Even the most fit mothers often benefit from muscle tightening. Other issues to be considered are how much loose skin is... more

Barry Stuart Handler, MD
San Diego Plastic Surgeon

Lateral excsions to tighten the abdomen

This is actually a very interesting question. For patients who have lost a lot of weight either thru diet or thru bariatric surgery there often is looseness in two directions ( horizontally as well as vertically) - therefore a traditional tummy tuck which only reduces the skin in one direction is not adequate. For these patients a lateral excision is sometimes done ( with the resulting scar running along the entire side of the trunk) which then... more

Susan E. Downey, MD
Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon

Modifications to traditional Tummy Tuck are possible

Hi there- Many modifications to the traditional tummy tuck may be brought to bear for the benefit of any individual patient and her goals. In order to understand your goals and the options available to you, however, an exam and careful discussion would be necessary. I recommend you find a surgeon certified by The American Board of Plastic Surgery who has a lot of experience in advanced body contouring and schedule a consultation. Here's some advice on how to find a... more

Armando Soto, MD
Orlando Plastic Surgeon

www.DrArmandoSoto.com

Tightening the skin after a pregnancy

Sometimes the skin excess is not just up and down, but also to the sides. This is especially true in patients who have lost a massive amount of weight. In such situations to tighten the abdomen a vertical scar is added to pull in the sides. The result is similar to what you described, except that there is only one vertical scar compared to two scars (one on each side) to create the effect that your hands create. We have treated a number of women who are in a... more

Martin Jugenburg, MD
Toronto Plastic Surgeon

www.torontosurgery.ca

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