Do You Have to Tighten the Abdominal Muscles During a Tummy Tuck?

asked 1 year ago by lluvyanna in new york , new york
Latest answer by Otto Joseph Placik, MD
Question viewed 335 times
Tags: muscle, tightening

a friend of mine is having her tummy tuck surgery next month im going in oct, but she has a very tight tummy just with some lose skin and stretch marks. does she need to have the muscles tightened and sutured during her TT?

8 answers to Do You Have to Tighten the Abdominal Muscles During a Tummy Tuck?

No

It is not a requirement of the procedure, but in many cases it is a useful adjunct. You plastic surgeon can discuss the risks and benefits of the procedure with you. Just have your friend be open with her concerns and they should be addressed. Good luck, Dr T

Scott Tucker, MD
Winston Salem Plastic Surgeon

Skin Only?

Muscle tightening during tummy tuck is not necessary. Many patients have laxity of their muscles due mostly to pregnancy. There are a small number of patients that just have loose skin but no laxity of the muscle and thus need a skin only tummy tuck. Dr. ES

Earl Stephenson Jr., MD, DDS
Atlanta Plastic Surgeon

Muscle tightening with abdominoplasty is usually beneficial

When we talk about muscle tightening with abdominoplasty, we are really pulling together muscles that have been separated from prior pregnancy. Most of the time when the skin is stretched out enough to need a tummy tuck then the muscles have been pushed apart too, and this is not correctable with exercise just like the skin laxity. Sometimes though the muscles happen to be in good position so the repair isn't needed, but this is not typical.

Richard Baxter, MD
Seattle Plastic Surgeon

Muscle tightening is part of a tummy tuck, but not always necessary

The traditional tummy tuck involves removal of excess skin, relocation of the belly button and tightening of the abdominal muscles. The term "tightening" really means that the muscles are brought back to the midline and sewn together. This is because with pregnancy or weight changes, the muscles can separate slightly. While mose people who get a tummy tuck require muscle tightening, this is not always the case. I rarely perform muscle tightening in men. Also, some women do not... more

Matthew Schulman, MD
New York Plastic Surgeon

Muscle Tightening is Needed in 95% of Tummy Tuck Cases

Regarding:" Do you have to tighten the abdominal muscles during a tummy tuck? a friend of mine is having her tummy tuck surgery next month im going in oct, but she has a very tight tummy just with some lose skin and stretch marks. does she need to have the muscles tightened and sutured during her TT?" Tummy skin is stretched by an unrelenting, prolonged increase in volume of the abdomen and it cannot get stretched without a simultaneous stretching... more

Peter A. Aldea, MD
Memphis Plastic Surgeon

Usually, yes

If a tummy tuck is being done after having children or weight loss, I usually tighten the muscles. It gives a better result.

William B. Rosenblatt, MD
New York Plastic Surgeon

tighten the abdominal muscles during a tummy tuck

Not always but an in person examination is the correct way to proceed. In about 10% of all tummy tucks the muscle is left alone. Regards from MIAMI DR. B