How Do Other Patients Finally Decide to Get Tummy Tucks? I'm Having a Hard Time.

Ever since I had my twins almost 5 years ago I've toyed with the idea of a tummy tuck. I can't decide whether the benefits outweigh the risks. I am generally happy with my figure when I'm in clothes but without it's another story. I can't bear to let my husband touch my tummy and am very self conscious of it. The day I delivered the twins I weighed 198lbs and now I'm 125lbs, I'm 5ft 4in. I have stretch marks below my belly button but only a couple around the top of BB. What should I do? Thanks!

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11 Doctor Answers | Asked by caldo in 5051

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Tummy tuck, surgical risks

Your concern regarding risk versus benefit of a tummy tuck is very common. What you have not voiced but may be your concern is what if your "vanity" over your abdomen causes you to have surgery and something happens and your family is left without a Mom. This is a very real concern on women's part but without a thorough consultation with an experienced surgeon you probably don't have a good handle on how many patients have an exciting change in their life from the... more

Being a candidate for a tummy tuck

Tummy tuck surgery is very safe and is one of my favorite surgeries to perfrom. The results can be phenomenal when the right patient is chosen. Based on your photos, you are an ideal candidate for this surgery. No amount of working out or exercise is going to get rid of the loose skin or stretch marks. This can only be acheived with a tummy tuck.

Benefits & Risks Must Be Weighed With Tummy Tuck

As you have suggested, you must always weigh the benefits and risks with any elective surgical procedure. Ypu certainly appear to be a very good candidate for a tummy tuck. I cannot provide the risks in your particular situation as I have not examined you andf am unaware of your history (smoking, for example, would significantly increase your risks for problems). Only you can decide when the beneits outweigh the risks.

Difficulty in making a decision regarding a tummy tuck

Thanks for the excellent photos - they are very helpful. They clearly demonstrate that you would be an excellent candidate for a tummy tuck. Mentally, it sounds like that is your issue (this is very common). If you are healthy and when performed by a reputable board certified plastic surgeon, you should expect fairly low significant risks and a nice improvement (of course, there are no guarantees in anything). You should consult with one or more board certified plastic surgeons in your... more

Twins and Whether to Tummy Tuck or Not

Dear Caldo, First, you are to be congratulated for your dedication to getting your weight back down after having your twins but somethings will not respond to diet and exercise and will require surgery to correct. The loose skin with stretch marks and the muscle separation(diastasis) are best corrected with an abdominoplasty(tummy tuck) and from your photos, you are a good candidate for this procedure and should get a very good result. Your concern about being vain and... more

Excellent candidate for abdominoplasty

You are and excellent candidate for the abdominoplasty operation. You have: 1) Loose skin in a vertical dimension from the belly button to the pubic are 2) Laxity in your rectus abdominis muscles- twin babies can push the normally vertical rectus muscles to the side and allow the abdominal contents to push outwards in a standing position 3) Fatty tissue as padding in the lower part of your abdomen The abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) can remove the extra skin and... more

Decision to get a tummy tuck

Patients with mostly skin excess and spreading apart of the abdominal muscles represent the best candidates for tummy tuck surgery. This is in contrast to patients who are obese and have more of a rounded protuberant shape with more intraabdominal fat. You appear to be in the former group and may be a good candidate for a tummy tuck. Seek out a board-certified plastic surgeon in your area for complete evaluation if you are interested.

Tummy Tuck After Twins

Diet and exercise will make you feel better and look better but it cannot reduduce the excess skin in your abdomen or fix a gap between your rectus muscles in your abdomen. You are an excellent candidate for a tummy tuck and should see a large improvement. If you would enjoy having the body contour change seek a consultation with a good plastic surgeon to think through the pros and cons for yourself.

How to decide if a tummy tuck is the best thing to do

Looking at your photos you appear to have a lot of loose skin above and below the umbilicus. Your muscles appear to be loose as well and you likely have rectus diastasis because of your pregnancy. Of course a full consultation should be done by your Board Certified Plastic Surgeon but from what I see just in your photos I strongly suspect a full abdominoplasty will be recommended as the best treatment. Best wishes.

How Do Other Patients Finally Decide to Get Tummy Tucks?

Based only on the posted photos I agree a full tummy tuck or abdominalplasty is a very good option. Seek in person evaluations from boarded PSs in your area.

Tummy tuck

Thank you for the question and for sending your pictures. You are an excellent candidate for abdominoplasty surgery assuming you're not planning on having any more children. You have done an excellent job dropping weight and it is clear that you take good care of yourself. However, despite your best efforts, the twin pregnancy has stretched the abdominal wall muscles and the overlying skin to the point where no amount of exercise or dieting will improve your situation. The... more