Tummy Tuck Q&A
94%
WORTH IT RATING
"Worth It Rating" shows the % of consumer reviewers that stated the procedure was "Worth It" or not. See more RealSelf Worth It Ratings or Add Your Review
2,299 Reviews
Tummy Tuckbefore & after photos
View Before and Afters

Average Tummy Tuck Cost: $7,925

Learn about Tummy Tuck

7,723 people and 861 doctors are talking about Tummy Tuck

Get Free Email Updates

Hanging Belly, Will Cardio be Enough or do I Need a Tummy Tuck?

asked 6 months ago by Marrejay in Newyork
Latest answer by J. Jason Wendel, MD
Question viewed 277 times
Tags: after pregnancy, hanging

Will cardio work or is a tummy tuck needed..i have a two year old and a 1 year old. i have lost 20 lbs n the sagging still remains...i am 22 years old...

16 answers to Hanging Belly, Will Cardio be Enough or do I Need a Tummy Tuck?

+2

To Tummy Tuck, or not...

At 22 you stand a better chance of having your skin shrink with your 20 pound weight loss than someone in their forties. However, our skin's snappiness is caused by a protein called elastin. This is similar to elastic, like in the waistband of streachy pants. Having your tummy skin stretch twice from your two pregnancies has probably caused it to lose some of it's snap. Once the skin continues to hang and hasn't improved for a few months it... more
Donald F. Roland, MD

New York Plastic Surgeon
+1

Tummy tuck after pregnancy

If the sagging skin and tummy laxity has not improved in one year then it is not likely to improve. I can't say for sure without a picture but a tummy tuck is likely necessary to correct this for you.
J. Jason Wendel, MD

Nashville Plastic Surgeon
+1

Cardio or tummy tuck?

Thank you for your question. This is a very common problem for women following pregnancy. Given the fact that you are 22 and have had two children I think it would be very reasonable to assume that you could get your body in shape with proper nutrition and exercise. Having said that if the abdominal muscles have really been pulled apart or your skin stretched too much as the result of your pregnancy you may very well require a tummy tuck to get the result that you... more
Donald M. Brown, MD

San Francisco Plastic Surgeon
+1

"Sagging" Skin of Tummy?

Thank you for the question. Appropriate diet and exercise should always be the first " modality" used to look and feel your best. Based on your description tummy tuck surgery may be indicated at some point. Ideally this would be done when you have reached a long-term stable weight and after having completed pregnancies. I hope this helps.
Tom J. Pousti, MD

San Diego Plastic Surgeon

www.poustiplasticsurgery.com

+1

Concern regarding lax abdominal skin

Without at least some photos, it is impossible to provide you accurate information on your condition. Furthermore, no present weight , height or maximum weight were provided. With that in mind, cardio will not tighten the skin. If you still have lax and hanging skin then some form of tightening procedure may be the appropriate choice for you and among these is a tummy tuck. Your best bet is to see one or more board certified plastic surgeons in your area.
Steven Turkeltaub, MD

Scottsdale Plastic Surgeon

www.turkeltaub.com

+1

Exercise or a tummy tuck for hanging belly?

Obviously, exercising and eating healthy is beneficial to losing weight. Excess skin on the abdomen usually will never improve with exercise alone. Considering an abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) after you have completed childbearing would be an option.
Donna Rich, MD

Houston Plastic Surgeon
+1

Tummy Tuck Post-Pregnancy

Congratulations on your weight loss! It is difficult to tell without personally evaluating you, but people who have especially slack skin in their midsection and abdominal muscle weakness need more than what diet and exercise alone can offer. Typical candidates for a full tummy tuck are women with drooping abdomens after pregnancy, women and men who've lost a great deal of weight, menopausal women, or older people with loose skin due to age. In the tummy tuck, the skin from the rib cage... more
Michelle Copeland, MD, DMD

New York Plastic Surgeon
+1

Hanging Belly, Will Cardio be Enough or do I Need a Tummy Tuck?

Since no photos posted, I guess you will need a TT to attain the result desired. But if you have not had pregnancies you should consider this as an important decision.
Darryl J. Blinski, MD

Miami Plastic Surgeon
+1

Diet and Exercise are often not enough to create flat belly after pregnancy

Hi there- Without an exam, it is impossible to say for sure, but most women will not be able to return to a flat belly appearance after 2 pregnancies without a tummy tuck. Finish your family first- then see a surgeon Certified by The American Board of Plastic Surgery.
Armando Soto, MD

Orlando Plastic Surgeon

www.DrArmandoSoto.com

+1

Tummy tuck or cardio for excess skin

Over stretched excess skin is very common after pregnancy, and will not go away with cardiovascular excercise alone. Pregnancy also stretches your abdominal muscles. A tummy tuck addresses both the skin and muscle problem and is the best way to fix your sagging belly.
Rondi Kathleen Walker, MD

Washington Plastic Surgeon

www.walkerplasticsurgery.com

+1

Indications for a Tummy-tuck

The most common indications for a tummy-tuck would be; loose abdominal skin, especially in the lower abdomen and loose abdominal wall muscles. Th most common causes of loose abdominal wall skin are either pregancy and/or weight loss. Also with pregnancy, the abdominal wall muscles get pulled apart, leaving a gap in the midline of the abdomen. A tummy-tuck corrects both of these issues. Weight loss unfortunately, can only go so far. Stretched out skin has lost... more
Robert M. Jensen, MD

Medford Plastic Surgeon
+1

Exercise can't solve excess skin

Cardio is important to your well being, though when skin exess remains after pregnancy or weight loss, exercise alone will not be enough. Tummy tuck will address the skin excess or sagging and get your trim figure back in shape. Best of luck, peterejohnsonmd.com
Peter E. Johnson, MD

Chicago Plastic Surgeon
+1

Cardio Will Not Correct Excess Skin

Neither cardio nor any other intense exercise program will correct excess skin, although both will have positive results on any excess fat in the abdomen. A tummy tuck is probably the only means to improve your situation. Obtain a consultation with a BC plastic surgeon with whom you can discuss the benefits and risks.
John Whitt, MD

Louisville Plastic Surgeon
+1

Hanging Belly

Without reviewing pictures of your abdomen it's impossible to tell if you have excess that will need to be surgically removed or slightly loose skin.
Jeffrey Hartog, MD

Orlando Plastic Surgeon
+1

A tummy tuck is a great way to reshape the abdomen after children

Even though it's hard to give you an exact answer without seeing you, a tummy tuck is a great way to remove the excess skin after childbirth. Diet and exercise are wonderful and I encourage all of my patients to eat well and exercise frequently. However, it's hard to get the loose hanging skin to look good just with diet and exercise. Having had a lot of experience with patients just like you, they are thrilled with the result they get with a tummy tuck. A... more
Jeffrey E. Schreiber, MD

Baltimore Plastic Surgeon

www.BaltimorePlasticSurgery.com

+1

Tummy Tuck for a Hanging Belly

Doing cardio exercises is a good idea but it is unlikely to improve an abdomen once the skin starts to hang, You may consider a tummy tuck if you are done having kids. You should discuss this with a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon.
Karol A. Gutowski, MD

Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Ask a question