Will Exercise Take Care of Extra Skin Caused by 3 Pregnancies?

I had 3 full term pregnancies, my tummy was flat before them. Now I'm left with thin body but a big squishy belly.

I have lost all of the pregnancy fat and some more, my husband tells me that exercise will tone it back but I'm not so sure. Please help me.

Asked 25 months ago by Edith Rivera in california

Tags:

female after pregnancy belly exercise extra skin fat pregnancy skin thin

Exercise will not get rid of excess skin

Exercise might tighten your muscles, but will not remove excess skin as posed in your question. Often after a pregnancy, there can be permanent separation of the vertical muscles in the abdomen. It is essentially a hernia and in that case excercise will not put the muscles back where they were. Instead, a surgical procedure can be performed to tighten the muscle and remove excess skin at the same time.

Darrick E. Antell, MD

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Tightening the abdomen after pregnancy

Small amounts of excess skin seem less excessive if you enlarge the underlying muscle by exercise. Unfortunately the abdominal area after multiple pregnancies does not fall into this category. Unlike a bicep upper arm muscle the abdominal muscles do not enlarge to the same extent. You would basically have to get pregnant again to fill the envelope of excess skin. Also, the pregnancy process stretches the abdominal muscles and the connection between the strap like rectus muscles on either... more

Aaron Stone, MD

Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon

ASPS

Will exercise improve loose skin resulting from 3 pregnancies?

Hi there- Without a careful examination it would be difficult to say for certain, but if what you are bothered by it truly the loose skin and laxity of the muscle layer that so often results from pregnancy, there is unfortunately no amount of exercise that will correct the problem. Exercise could reasonably be expected to assist with weight loss (a problem it doesn't sound like you have) or with development and strengthening of the muscles, but fundamentally what occurs in mothers is a... more

Armando Soto, MD

Orlando Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

What to do with your loose belly after multiple pregnancies

Without pictures or examining you, it is impossible to comment on your specific case. However, in my experience, people in your situation would benefit most from abdominoplasty to surgically remove the extra skin. Exercise can reduce fat and strengthen muscles, but the skin would need to be removed surgically.