Will I Need a Different Procedure to Reduce the Appearance of Stretch Marks After my Tummy Tuck?

I have lost over 100 pounds but the stretch marks from my rapid weight gain are still very noticeable. Is an entirely different procedure needed to get rid of large stretch marks, or will a tummy tuck resolve them?

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8 Doctor Answers | Asked by anon

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Reduce the Appearance of Stretch Marks

An abdominoplasty will remove many of the stretchmarks below the belly button and make many of the remaining ones less obvious. Other methodologies such as laser have limited success with stretchmarks. see video

Stretchmarks

Stretcmarks result from stretching of the skin from weight gain, muscle size gain, breast implants etc that damage components of the skin. They cannot be erased where they stand. Stretchmarks below the belly button can be removed by a tummy tuck if there is sufficient overall abdominal skin excess to allow the procedure. Those that are above the level of the belly button can only be shifted downward where they will hopefully be low enough to be covered by an undergarment. The stretchmarks... more

Questions about stretch mark treatment in addition to a tummy tuck

A tummy tuck or lower body lift will remove the stretch marks that are contained in the skin removed. Those that remain usually are significantly improved in appearance due to being stretched and flattened out making them less apparent. There is no other effective "special" treatment that will remove them.

Only Stretch Mark Cure Is To Excise Them

In general, a full abdominoplasty ( or tummy tuck) does a good job of removing unwanted stretch marks that are below the belly-button. However, if there are stretch marks above the belly-button, these will still remain. They will be tighter after the surgery and generally less noticeable, but will still be present. Stretch marks are simply tears of the lower layers of the skin, like a scar, and are not susceptible to any sort of topical treatment like creams, etc. The... more

Stretch marks and tummy tucks...

Typically, many stretch marks are removed during a tummy-tuck. The remaining stretch marks are generally pulled tighter making them less obvious in their appearance.

Stretch marks still present post tummy tuck

Stretch marks present below the umbilicus will typically be removed at the time of abdominoplasty. the remaining ones usually are less noticible as they are stretched. Laser treatments can help those somewhat.

Rick Rosen, MD

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Norwalk Plastic Surgeon

Excision Only Sure Way To Remove Stretch Marks

The only sure way to remove stretch marks is to surgically excise them. A full tummy tuck usually removes the stretch marks in the lower (ubilicus down) abdomen only. Stretch marks located around the belly button or umbilicus are usually moved to the new lower abdomen. Stretch marks in the epigastrium or just below the sternum are not likely to change that much. If you have had this massive weight loss, you might want to consider a body lift which will also address... more

Getting rid of stretch marks

Stretch marks are a result of damage to the dermis (portion of your skin) that is not reversible. The best way to truly get rid of them is to remove the affected skin, such as with a tummy tuck. A tummy tuck will get rid of the lower abdominal stretch marks, but if you also have them above the belly button, you may not rid of them completely. There are some lasers and radiofrequency treatments that may help lessen the appearance of stretch marks, but they do not get rid of them. Creams or... more