I am 48 yrs old and have had 5 full term births. I am 5'9' tall and weigh about 140 lbs. I had a full tummy tuck on 2/2/09, mainly because the skin above my belly button was wringled. When I bent over, my tummy would sag.
I'm now almost 2 months out from surgery and my upper abs are sticking out, not sure that is 'swelling.' When I bend over, my tummy still is saggy-looking, and when I sit, my tummy still hangs over my jeans. Also, when I sit and suck in my tummy, you can see the wrinkly skin. Will this tighten up over time?
I asked my doctor and he said the only way to get rid of that is to make a vertical cut up my tummy. That just doesn't sound right to me. I think maybe he didn't take enough skin and maybe he didn't tighten the muscles enough. What is your opinion?
Answer: Residual looseness after tummy tuck It is difficult to evaluate your concerns without examining you directly. If you are two months postop, it is possible there is still swelling present that may subside. Also it is possible that there is fat present that might benefit from liposuction. It's usually a bad idea to perform aggressive liposuction during a tummy tuck, especially in the central abdominal area, due to a high risk of complications. In general, if a full tummy tuck was performed, your concerns sound a bit unusual. If a mini tummy tuck was performed, that could explain the upper abdominal bulge (if the fascia was not tightened) or the extra skin still present. In some patients who have had a great deal of weight loss-- and 5 full term pregnancies could fall into that category-- the elastic fibers of the abdominal area skin are stretched and ripped. It's not possible to restore those ripped elastic fibers, so there may always be a slight amount of looseness when the patient bends forward that it may not be possible to correct. Your board certified plastic surgeon can hopefully answer these questions for you and guide you through any additional procedures that may help you further, if any are even warranted.
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CONTACT NOW Answer: Residual looseness after tummy tuck It is difficult to evaluate your concerns without examining you directly. If you are two months postop, it is possible there is still swelling present that may subside. Also it is possible that there is fat present that might benefit from liposuction. It's usually a bad idea to perform aggressive liposuction during a tummy tuck, especially in the central abdominal area, due to a high risk of complications. In general, if a full tummy tuck was performed, your concerns sound a bit unusual. If a mini tummy tuck was performed, that could explain the upper abdominal bulge (if the fascia was not tightened) or the extra skin still present. In some patients who have had a great deal of weight loss-- and 5 full term pregnancies could fall into that category-- the elastic fibers of the abdominal area skin are stretched and ripped. It's not possible to restore those ripped elastic fibers, so there may always be a slight amount of looseness when the patient bends forward that it may not be possible to correct. Your board certified plastic surgeon can hopefully answer these questions for you and guide you through any additional procedures that may help you further, if any are even warranted.
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CONTACT NOW Answer: Tummy tuck Thank you for your question. To provide a valid medical opinion I will need to see pictures of you body from different angles. I would suggest to be treated by board certified plastic surgeon with experience in this procedure, to get the best desired results. Respectfully,Dr. Emmanuel Mallol Cotes.-
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CONTACT NOW Answer: Tummy tuck Thank you for your question. To provide a valid medical opinion I will need to see pictures of you body from different angles. I would suggest to be treated by board certified plastic surgeon with experience in this procedure, to get the best desired results. Respectfully,Dr. Emmanuel Mallol Cotes.-
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September 1, 2015
Answer: Loose skin following tummy tuck
Skin elasticity is a major factor in determining the final result. Pulling tighter is not always the best solution because pulling too tight can cause the skin to die. So it comes down to a judgement call.
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CONTACT NOW September 1, 2015
Answer: Loose skin following tummy tuck
Skin elasticity is a major factor in determining the final result. Pulling tighter is not always the best solution because pulling too tight can cause the skin to die. So it comes down to a judgement call.
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January 31, 2017
Answer: Tummy tuck tightening
It is diffiuclt to answer this question without evaluating you in person. Everyone's body is different. You also did not geive details like your height and weight.
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January 31, 2017
Answer: Tummy tuck tightening
It is diffiuclt to answer this question without evaluating you in person. Everyone's body is different. You also did not geive details like your height and weight.
Helpful 1 person found this helpful
September 1, 2015
Answer: Tightening after a tummy tuck
Tummy tucks are a very popular and effective way to contour the abdomen. During the surgery, we lift up the skin and fat and assess the status of the muscle. It is looseness in the muscle, we may tighten this layer with suture. Finally, we replace the skin and fat and close this layer. Patients usually have tightness in the skin and fat layer.
If you notice some extra skin and some looseness, it is possible that your tummy tuck was closed without too much tension. One advantage of this is to allow your tummy tuck to heal without tension or difficulty. If you are concerned and would like additional tightness, it is always possible to perform a revision to tummy tuck where more skin and fat can be removed and the tissue tightened. Your best bet is to work with a board-certified plastic surgeon who has a great deal of experience with abdominoplasty and body contouring techniques. They can assess your tissue and determine how much can be safely removed.
To learn more about tummy tucks, see photos, and help you decide which one is best for you, please visit us at the link below:
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September 1, 2015
Answer: Tightening after a tummy tuck
Tummy tucks are a very popular and effective way to contour the abdomen. During the surgery, we lift up the skin and fat and assess the status of the muscle. It is looseness in the muscle, we may tighten this layer with suture. Finally, we replace the skin and fat and close this layer. Patients usually have tightness in the skin and fat layer.
If you notice some extra skin and some looseness, it is possible that your tummy tuck was closed without too much tension. One advantage of this is to allow your tummy tuck to heal without tension or difficulty. If you are concerned and would like additional tightness, it is always possible to perform a revision to tummy tuck where more skin and fat can be removed and the tissue tightened. Your best bet is to work with a board-certified plastic surgeon who has a great deal of experience with abdominoplasty and body contouring techniques. They can assess your tissue and determine how much can be safely removed.
To learn more about tummy tucks, see photos, and help you decide which one is best for you, please visit us at the link below:
Helpful