Need Help and Its Uncomfortable(lower Hanging Belly Fat)? (photo)

I'm 5'4", 246, 30 years old and as you see in the photos, I'm dealing with a lot of hanging skin. This I developed after a weight gain of 98 pounds with my last pregnancy due to complications. The heaviness of the fold is now uncomfortable and embarrassing. I'm trying to get down to 160 but I know this will only get worse. Any suggestions because its not comfortable and I can't lay on my stomach and have pain in that region a lot.

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age 25-34 5 ft 4 in to 5 ft 7 in 230-249 lbs

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12 Doctor Answers | Asked by sassynatty in michigan

Doctor Answers (12)
Community Comments (1)

5'4" 246 lbs with Hanging Belly

You may be a candidate for panniculectomy if you have rashes or infections underneath your hanging belly. In addition, you should be evaluated for hernia. See your plastic surgeon for more details and an exam.

Treatment of Uncomfortable Hanging Abdomen

Congratulations on your goal of losing weight. You need to do so since you will need significant tightening of your muscles. This will put a lot of pressure on your intraabdominal contents if you have the surgery before losing the weight. This can cause an increase in the risks of lower extremity blood clots that can be fatal. As you lose the weight, the discomfort should improve and the eventual results of surgery will also be improved.

The best weight at the time of a tummy tuck is as close to your desired weight.as possible

In my esperience when patients add a lot of weight they deposit it in the abdominal wall but also inside the abdominal cavity. If a tummy tuck were done prior to weight loss the intra-abdominal fat would remain and hinder achieving a flatter tummy. Therefore, I recommend to my patients to loose as much as they can prior to the surgery. That will leave more loose skin which will be removed by the tummy tuck. Furthermore, if the patient looses more weight later, they... more

Keep it up!

Congratulations on your ongoing accomplishments. Although the amount of overhang may increase, the weight of the overhanging tissue will decrease some, and the symptoms should gradually improve. Many medical supply shops will have trusses that can be worn to support the overhanging skin, but they don't work well for everyone. With some more time to go before reaching your weight it is worth a try. You will most certainly be an excellent candidate for a tummy tuck when you have... more

Tummy Tuck Timing

Thanks for your question and congratulations on your weight loss, it is one of the hardest things we ask our patients to do. You're right that as you lose weight you may notice more sagging skin. You'll have a better cosmetic result if you can be as close to your ideal body weight as possible. Sometimes patients in our San Francisco area practice have staged procedures which can include liposuction to reduce existing fat followed by a tummy tuck... more

You go girl! Goal weight loss before tummy tuck. Ask Dr Ellen

Hello SassyNatty, Congratulations to you on your determination and continued success! At a rate of -18 lbs per month, you are making great headway and will get the best results from your future tummy tuck if you stick with your weight loss program and close in on your goal weight. I think it makes sense to keep the tummy tuck as your goal and not do an intermediary step like a panniculectomy: do it once and do it right. The good news for you is that you are seeing... more

Ellen A. Mahony, MD

4 reviews

Westport Plastic Surgeon

Not ideal body weight and tummy tuck?

Hello and thank you for your question. I understand your frustrations and applaud you for being determined to lose weight. Your ideal result will be only after you lose weight down to your goal weight. However, some ladies elect to have a 'panniculectomy' to remove just the skin and fat that is hanging below the belly button. This motivates them to work out and lose more weight and eventually have the definitive abdominoplasty once they get to their goal... more

Need Help and Its Uncomfortable(lower Hanging Belly Fat)?

You could be a candidate for an apronectomy of this excess skin/fat. But ONLY in person evaluations will see if your are a candidate. Most cases we would like to see some weight lose prior to any surgery.

Excess abdominal skin is removed in tummy tuck

Thank you for your question and for providing the photo. It is great that you recognize that you need to lose weight. It may be difficult with this much extra skin. Some surgeons might consider performing your surgery prior to the weight loss, as you will then be better able to exercise and lose the weight. I agree completely that you should be evaluated by a Board Certified plastic surgeon. You can find out if you have a hernia, which may need to be addressed,... more

Hanging Belly Fat

Ultimately you will be a candidate for a tummy tuck. In the meantime you need to workout, build muscle and strengthen those abdominal wall muscles. When you carry those babies around for nine months they suck all the muscle mass off of you which is why it is hard to get back in shape. It might take you a year - having surgery in the short term would lead to a less than optimal result with a significant chance for redo surgery.

Robert Kearney, MD, FACS

6 reviews

La Jolla Plastic Surgeon

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Comments (1)

sassynatty 13 Dec 2012

Thankfully, I don't suffer rashes, skin irritations or any other issues with the skin fold. I want to get to my pre-pregnancy weight before even considering any type of procedures because I want to do it once and be done. Right now, I'm averaging 18 pounds per month with diet and exercise and by May 2013. Then start seeing certified surgeon for professional assessment.

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