Tummy Tuck: Q&A

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Will a TT After Pregnancy Help Address Stretch Marks? (photo)

Hi, I'm 18 and 31 weeks 5 days pregnant with my first child, Ive noticed that I've already gotten really bad stretch marks, and still have atleast 8 more weeks to go . I'm looking into getting a tt about a year after my son is born. I have two questions though. 1)Do you think my stretch marks can be fixed with this procedure? 2) If I were to get pregnant in the future how bad would that mess up the tt ? 3)(not sure if this can be answered ritenow)But, would a "mini tummy tuck" be better for me?

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11 Doctor Answers | Asked by Brittany823 in Richmond, VA

Doctor Answers (11)
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Stretch marks and tummy tuck

Hi, It is impossible to tell you if you will need a mini tuck or regular tummy tuck after you have your children and are ready for body contouring. The stretch marks on the outer hips will not be removed with a regular or mini tummy tuck. You need to accept them although they should become lighter over time. The stretch marks below the belly button to the pubic hair will all be gone providing that all of this tissue can be removed and in the majority of... more

TT after pregnancy can eliminate most post pregnancy stretch marks

Hi, Because another pregnancy will stretch and undo repairs done through an abdominoplasty, I usually recommend that you are fully done with having children before considering one. TT is a costly and lengthy recoup procedure. Now, that being said, if you are not done with having children and the stretch marks really bother you; you can always have a mini tuck which only involves taking off tissue below your belly button. No muscle/fascia repair is done (as in a full... more

Tummy tuck after pregnancy

Getting a tummy tuck after pregnancy will accomplish a number of things. First it will remove most of the skin between the pubis and belly-button, thus removing all the stretch marks in that area. Second, it will tighten the abdominal wall muscles that were stretched out during your pregnancy, giving you a flatter tummy. Finally, it is usually combined with some form liposuction of the flanks, further contouring the waist. If you plan on having additional children, I would strongly... more

Tummy Tuck after pregnancy for stretch marks

Thank you for your question and photographs. I'm sure you are nervous and excited with anticipation for your baby. I hope all is going well with you and your baby. To answer your questions: 1. Yes, the stretch marks below the belly button are the ones removed during a tummy tuck. 2. I recommend you wait for the tummy tuck until you are completely done having children. 3. I don't know how much "snap back" you will have so I don't know if you... more

Will a tummy tuck help address stretch marks?

A tummy tuck removes excess, sagging skin and tightens up stretched fascia/muscles after pregnancy. If the stretch marks are in the lower tummy where the redraped and tightened skin is overlapping and trimmed away, those stretch marks are gone. Stretch marks higher than that will be pulled down but not removed. Stretch marks may look better in the tighter skin of the abdomen after a tummy tuck than they did in the looser skin before. Determining whether you need a... more

Tummy Tucks and Stretch Marks

The tummy tuck is an effective way to remove stretch marks from the lower abdomen. The stretch marks are not really "treated", they are physically removed with the excess skin. The more skin that can be removed, the larger the area of stretch marks that can be treated. Usually all stretch marks on the lower middle abdominal wall can be removed with a tummy tuck. Mini tummy tucks remove less skin so stretchmarks that reach half-way up the the belly button can be removed.... more

Joseph Mele, MD

4 reviews

Walnut Creek Plastic Surgeon

www.DrMele.com

Tummy tuck for stretch marks

I tell most of my patients to wait until they have had all their children before considering any elective abdominal procedures such as a tummy tuck. With all the time, investment, and money put in to your procedure, you would want to have the best possible result. A subsequent pregnancy will likely stretch out your abdomen again to some degree. I could not tell you if you are a good candidate for a mini tummy tuck until your body has stabilized and recovered after your... more

Tummy Tuck Candidate?

Thank you for the question and pictures. Tummy tuck surgery will remove excess skin and subcutaneous tissues and a significant percentage of stretch marks. Generally stretch marks that are below the belly button will be removed without difficulty. Abdominal wall muscle repair is also done during the tummy tuck procedure. In my opinion, the mini tummy talk is an operation that produces very limited results and is very rarely indicated. It involves a shorter incision but... more

Stretch marks

You may still increase some in size depending on how soon you delivery. If the baby comes late and is a bigger baby you may see more stretch marks and loose skin. A full tummy tuck will give you the best results.

Michael Hueneke, MD

6 reviews

Nashville Plastic Surgeon

Tummy Tuck - Will a TT After Pregnancy Help Address Stretch Marks?

It will help remove them. A tummy tuck is a procedure that removes a certain amount of the skin and fat of the abdomen. If the procedure extends (under the skin) all the way up to the ribcage or so and a new bully button is fashioned (actually your old one through a new spot) then it's called a full TT. If you have lipo of the upper abdomen and the only tissue lifted up and tightened is limited to the region below the BB, it's called a mini- or modified TT. ... more

Tummy tuck takes care of most stretch marks

Hello, Yes, a tummy tuck usually removes most or all of the stretch marks that are commonly seen after pregnancy. Most women have stretch marks below their belly button (perhaps a few just above the belly button as well). A full tummy tuck will usually remove all of the tissue up to and just above the belly button. A mini tummy tuck usually only removes a portion of the tissue below the belly button and is therefore better for women with not a lot of stretch marks or... more