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Tummy Tuck Alternative

asked 1 year ago by Shellykm in Chambersburg, PA
Latest answer by Robert Whitfield, MD
Question viewed 179 times
Tags: age 18-24, alternative

Hi, I am 22 years old and gave birth to my son 3 years ago. The result is a post-pregnancy pooch, wrinkles and some loose skin, but mostly under the belly button. I still look a couple months pregnant as a result. I consider myself active and have pretty strong abdominal muscles. What procedures would suit me? Ive heard of Velashape, thermage, and the mini tuck. Please tell me what is right for me. Thank you to anyone with advice.

15 answers to Tummy Tuck Alternative

+1

Tummy tuck

Given your profile and complaints if bulging the plication or tightening of the abdominal will help. Removal of skin and could then be done. In your case it would appear the low horizontal incision would be necessary. This is a standard incision. The use of liposuction would depend on the thickness o the hip, flank and lower back dependin on what your areas of concerns exist.
Robert Whitfield, MD

Milwaukee Plastic Surgeon
+1

Tummy tuck or other

After review of your photos, I believe you would benefit from a standard tummy tuck.  A mini tummy tuck or lipo alone will not remove the excess skin after childbirth.  Most patients are happier after a full tummy tuck vs a mini tuck.  Donald R Nunn MD  Plastic Surgeon.
Donald Nunn, MD, DDS

Atlanta Plastic Surgeon
+1

Tummy Tuck Candidate?

If you have loose skin and a round belly (diastasis) which does not improve with exercise, then you may be a good candidate for a tummy tuck / abdominoplasty.  There is no exercise, laser, injectable or magic wand that can completely improve diastasis or separation of the abdominal muscles leading to a round appearance.  There is also no magic wand for loose and hanging skin - only surgery can remove this.  If your problem were only extra fat, then liposuction may be an... more
David Shafer, MD

New York Plastic Surgeon

www.ShaferPlasticSurgery.com

+1

Alternative for Tummy Tuck

Tummy tuck is a great procedure to get rid of loose, excess skin as well as tightening the abdominal muscle after pregnancy.  Based on your description and photos, you would benefit from tummy tuck.  However, if you are considering having more babies in the future, you may consider liposuction.  However, liposuction will not give you the kind of contour that tummy tuck can give you.
Sugene Kim, MD

Houston Plastic Surgeon
+1

Tummy tuck alternatives for young individuals

After a pregnancy some skin looseness and stretch marks can appear, yet at age 22 there are considerations of scar, future pregnancy, to consider. The safest alternative is liposuction and exercise focusing on posture and tone. We don't have much faith in laser or Thermage. Best of luck, peterejohnsonmd
Peter E. Johnson, MD

Chicago Plastic Surgeon
+1

Tummy Tuck Alternative

Based on your posted photos I recommend Smart Lipo TRIPLEX operation, using the 1064,1320, 1440 wavelengths. This allows you to "flatten" your abdomen without an incision, and if you have more pregnancies there is no issue. Regards 
Darryl J. Blinski, MD

Miami Plastic Surgeon
+1

Tummy tuck gives the best results

It is good that you know all the options, but you have to place them in order. The procedure that will get rid of the excess skin, tighten the muscle and remove the excess fat is tummy tuck. All the other options you mentioned in your question give  you an inferior results.
Moneer Jaibaji, MD

San Diego Plastic Surgeon
+1

TUMMY TUCK ALTERNATIVES

Hi Shelly, If you desire the flattest and tightest abdominal contour, the only choice would be an Abdominoplasty including lipolysis and diastasis repair.  The other treatments you mention are not as definitive and probably not give you the results you desire.  Good luck.
Todd B. Koch, MD

Buffalo Plastic Surgeon
+1

Mini tummy tuck vs thermage

Velashape and thermage would not give you much of a result. Some sort of abdominoplasty would give the most dramatic result. If you have minimal loose skin above the belly button, a mini tummy tuck may be an option. This may involve some liposuction, possibly some tightening of the abdominal wall, and removal of skin in the lower abdomen without a belly button incision. An exam is obviously important to assess what areas need correction.
David A. Bottger, MD

Philadelphia Plastic Surgeon
+1

Tummu Tuck Alternative

No one can state with certainty without an exam, but it appears that you might obtain a good result with a mini-abdominoplasty.  The main factor would be how much diastasis you have.  I personally am not a fan of Thermage.
John Whitt, MD

Louisville Plastic Surgeon
+1

Tummy tuck

There are different procedures for different amounts of fat, skin and muscle laxity. If you have wrinkly skinnit is unlikely thatnanything short of a tummy tuckmwill give you angood result
David L. Abramson, MD

New York Plastic Surgeon
+1

Tummy Tuck Alternative

If the muscles have been stretched they need to be tightened to get a flat lower Tummy.  This can only be accomplished with a full or or lower tummy tuck
Robert D. Goldstein, MD

Bronx Plastic Surgeon
+1

Nothing compares to a full tummy tuck

You must realize that nothing will give you as flat and tight a tummy as a full tummy tuck.  All other treatments are compromises and will deliver less.  Especially the Thermage etc non-surgical ones.  Also, laser lipo WON'T shrink your skin! regardless of what you might hear on the radio or in magazine ads. Get a clear understanding of your expectations and visit some excellent plastic surgeons for advice.
Richard P. Rand, MD, FACS

Seattle Plastic Surgeon
+1

Nonsurgical options don't do what a tummy tuck does

None of the nonsurgical procedures such as velashape or thermage, which are  marketed for scuplting and tightening the abdominal area, will do what a tummy tuck does. Unfortunately neither does exercise. A mini-abdominoplasty is occasionally an option for women who only have loose skin in the lower abdomen, but you would need a personal evaluation and examination to see if that is an option.
Richard Baxter, MD

Seattle Plastic Surgeon
+1

Post pregnancy tummy

If you are done having children, then more extensive procedures can help you. If you suck your stomach in and look in the mirror, that is about how flat you should be after a full tummy tuck with muscle plication. If you don't want the downtime, then just doing the full skin tummy tuck without muscle plication will probably give you the best results. There is really no substitute for removal of stretched out skin with stretch marks. Less than that will give lesser results. A minituck... more
Victor Au, MD

Chapel Hill Plastic Surgeon

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