Why Does my Stomach Do This? Do I Need a Tummy Tuck? (photo)

I am a 32 year old mom of 3, 5'3", 115 lbs. Two big babies and one smaller, all csections. My stomach after baby #3 (who is 1 now) has never returned to "normal" for me. It looks decent when I'm standing up straight. But, it does a weird thing when I bend over and I'm not sure if this is diastatis, the fascia being stretched out? I also got an umbilical hernia with pregnancy #3. Do I need a tummy tuck to get my flat stomach back? Do I need lipo Or do I need to work my butt off in the gym?!?!

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8 Doctor Answers | Asked by momofboysx3

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Will a Tummy Tuck Help?

There is no substitute for an exam but from your photos it does not appear that liposuction would be beneficial. Also, a mini tummy tuck will only help the lower part of your abdomen and not the upper part that is bothering you. I think a full tummy tuck could address your issues but would result in a vertical incision in the lower tummy from release of the navel. An umbilical float procedure may be appropriate but this limits the amount of skin removal to avoid bring the... more

Why Does my Stomach Do This? Do I Need a Tummy Tuck?

No, if you feel uncomfortable, a liposuction can improve your abdomen, but you need gym to improve your muscle. Spanish translation provided by doctor: No, si se siente poco confortable, una lipoaspiracion puede mejorar su abdomen, pero usted necesita gimnasia, para mejorar sus musculos.

Why Does my Stomach Do This? Do I Need a Tummy Tuck? (photo)

You are kind of in a tough spot! Not bad enough for a full blown TT(you look great standing straight up) but not a candidate for Lipo, and a Mini won't tighten the upper part of your tummy that relaxes when you bend over...Find a surgeon that does a Belly Button float procedure! It may tighten a bit of the upper tummy skin, would fix the hernia and tighten your muscle all the way up!

Tummy tuck vs. Liposuction

After three pregnancies you have maintained yourself admirably. Exercise will continue to enhance your physique, but will not correct a small umbilical hernia or remove excess skin. You certainly do not need nor would benefit from liposuction. A mini tuck would not improve the laxity above the belly button, so to obtain the flattest abdomen a full tummy tuck would be best. Also the umbilical hernia is easy to fix at the same time.

You Have Loose Skin, A Mini Tummy Tuck Can Fix This

First, I have to say that your stomach looks fantastic for a mother of 3! Judging from your pictures, it seems to me that you don’t have much fat on your stomach. However, it does seem that you have excess skin, which hasn’t been able to snap back to your post-pregnancy body contour. As a result, it’s loose skin that you’re most likely affected by rather than anything else. A tummy tuck can remove this excess skin. You most likely would only need a mini tummy tuck, since the... more

Jerome Edelstein, MD

13 reviews

Toronto Plastic Surgeon

Abdominoplasty vs mini Abdominoplas

Dear Jules, congrats on keeping this shape after three pregnancies. Few patients are good candidates for a mini abdominoplasty (tummy tuck). Based on your picture is seems like you are a good candidate for a mini tummy tuck. In this procedure a small incision is made encompassing the C-section scar that you currently have and a small amount of skin is removed from the lower part of the abdomen. Your umbilical hernia repair can be performed at the same time. Best of luck... more

Tummy Tuck, Liposuction, and Umbilical Hernia Repair

I am not sure I would recommend tummy tuck or liposuction. Working out may be all that you need. The hernia can be repaired. Kenneth Hughes, MD Los Angeles, CA

Yes. No. Yes, but won't tighten loose skin!

I hope that's clear! Loose skin and umbilical hernia are absolutely NOT correctable with liposuction (and it doesn't look like there's much fatty excess on you anyway). Tummy tuck is required to remove loose skin, tighten your stretched fascia and repair the hernia, and flatten your abdomen, though absolute flatness is also partially a component of intra-abdominal contents. But you don't look fat at all, and should be capable of near-flat if not completely flat! Exercise is... more