Tummy Tuck: Q&A

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How Do You Know if You Need Muscle Repair During a Tummy Tuck? my Muscles Feel Tight?

I am older and in good phyiscal shape and weight. Loose skin mostly below the bb, but def need bb revision of some sort. My abs feel really right and I have a flat stomach. Haven't had a child in 27 years. Is it possible to get good results from skin only tt? Thanks

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8 Doctor Answers | Asked by Never too late in PA

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Do I need muscle repair?

A muscle repair is not an absolute must during tummy tuck. The best way to determine if you need the repair is to have your surgeon examine your abdominal muscles and feel if there is a space in between the muscles.

How Do You Know if You Need Muscle Repair During a Tummy Tuck?

This is a great question and one that I am asked quite often during consultations. In general, most patients would do better with a muscle plication (stitching the muscles together in the middle) in order to achieve a "corset" like tightening of the abdomen and sides. This is especially true in a female with multiple gestation. That said, I have seen many women who truly have tight abdominal muscles and require only skin excision and belly button repair. This is easily achieved with a... more

Erez Sternberg, MD

10 reviews

Jacksonville Plastic Surgeon

Never too late

Thanks for your question. Without seeing your picture it is hard to know. Most TT surgery plicates the muscle in the center to restore it back to its natural position. Often with pregnancy and age the muscle will splay to the side. The diastasis repair reorients the muscle centrally and provides a stronger/flatter abdominal wall. Skin only TT can be done in the patient with exceptional tone and musculature. Every person is unique and it is important to disucss this with a Board... more

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How Do You Know if You Need Muscle Repair During a Tummy Tuck

If a lax and protruding abdominal wall is part of the problem, some muscle repair is needed for best outcome. If the abdominal wall is solid, and there is no separation of the rectus muscles, you can expect a nice outcome with a skin only abdominoplasty. It is never too late. When you are ready for an in person consultation, RealSelf has listings of surgeons in your area. You should consider cross referencing the listings from the The American Society of Plastic... more

Muscle repair during tummy tuck

Hello Never too late in PA. Regarding your question, yes it is possible to get a good result from a skin only tummy tuck. However, it has been my experience that most people need some degree of muscle tightening to give a nice hourglass figure, especially with a history of childbirth which usually stretches out the rectus abdominis muscle fascia leading to a condition called rectus diastasis. Without seeing a picture of your abdomen or doing a thorough physical exam, I... more

You full fill the whole requirements for avoid muscle repair/llenas los requisitos para evitar tocar los musculos rectos

Yes you are a nice candidate to realize a small incition , removing excess abdominal skin besides a lipo and avoiding to touch both rectus abdominal muscles si unicamente se podria realizar un TT con liposuccion con reseccion de piel pero sin tocar los musculos, es un buen caso que llena los requisitos para evitar toicar los musculos rectos abdominales

To tighten or not..

Hi, Yes, you can get a good result without tightening. It all depends on how tight / wide your muscles are to start with. Generally, most tummy tucks are done after pregnancy which tends to stretch the muscles. 95% of my tummy tucks are with muscle tightening. However, there is the occasional patient with firm tight abs but loose skin and stretchmarks. That is the person would benefits most from a non muscle tightening procedure. Hope that answer is... more

Tummy Tuck without muscle tightening

Thank you for your question. It is possible to get a nice result with a tummy tuck without tightening the rectus muscles in the right person. Patient selection is the key, as the muscles need to be tight and toned, and without the separation that is the result of pregnancies in many cases. The goal of tightening the rectus muscles is to provide a flat, tight foundation that the skin can then be tightened over. This can help restore the waist line and remove the lower belly laxity that... more

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These answers are for educational purposes and should not be relied upon as a substitute for medical advice you may receive from your physician. If you have a medical emergency, please call 911. These answers do not constitute or initiate a patient/doctor relationship.