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Tummy Tuck or Laser Skin Tightening Post Pregnancies?

asked 2 years ago by sembjc28 in Indiana
Latest answer by Robert L. Kraft, MD
Question viewed 4,134 times
Tags: stomach, female, 130-149 lbs, 5 ft 4 in to 5 ft 7 in, after pregnancy, firming, pregnancy, shrink, tightening

I am 130lbs, 5'5". I work out hard core everyday and have been for about 2 months, I have noticed my stomach shrinking and my skin firming up a little but, I have considered a Tummy Tuck but want to avoid that if there is a better alterntive, I do not want the scar.

My stomach looks great when I stand up, but when I sit down, its pretty disgusting. (2 kids, 18 months apart) Will laser skin tightening work or should I just do the tummy tuck procedure or just continue to work out?

16 answers to Tummy Tuck or Laser Skin Tightening Post Pregnancies?

Post pregnancy tummy tuck versus laser skin tightening

Laser will not produce the results you are seeking. It has marginal efficacy and the amount of tightening produced will be minimal. Your pictures indicate that you are a candidate for an abdominoplasty. Liposuction may be an adjuvant procedure to enhance the result.

Robert L. Kraft, MD
New York Plastic Surgeon

Best treatment for the abdomen after pregnancy

Almost every week I hear from another company that has a new great machine to get rid of excess skin without surgery. Of course there machine is touted as being better than all of the others out there. I lost faith in these companies years ago. According to present day plastic surgery lore, there are 5 types of abdomens: 1. requires no surgical treatment 2. is best treated with liposuction only 3. is best treated with a combination of liposuction & a mini abdominoplasty/tummy tuck 4. is... more

Aaron Stone, MD
Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon

Abdominal skin tightening

In general, plastic surgeons assess the abdomen in a neutral standing position, not so much when sitting or bending since these dynamic changes are less controllable and are dependent on muscle tone and skin elasticity. Laser liposuction does not tighten skin per se and will not significantly change the way you look when sitting. You might consider a mini-tuck or modified tummy tuck approach. The other thing you have to understand is that plastic surgery does not have a good answer for all... more

Robin T.W. Yuan, MD
Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

Tummy Tuck or Laser Skin Tightening Post Pregnancies?

TT is your only option. anything else will not address your skin which appears to have striae (stretch marks) that are like scars which will never go away and never allow the skin to shrink. keep working out you you still have room for improvement on your own.

Rafael C. Cabrera, MD
Boca Raton Plastic Surgeon

Laser lipo vs TT

I would recommend an abdominoplasty. Liposuction could be incorporated for the flanks. Laser liposuction results are disappointing and I do not recommend them, particularly for you. Make sure you see a board - certified plastic surgeon

Samer W. Cabbabe, MD
Saint Louis Plastic Surgeon

Skin tightening - Laser or Tummy Tuck

With the picture shown, your best results would be from a combined mini (or full) tummy tuck and laser liposuction. Most of the skin laxity is in the lower abdomen, with the amount of stretchmarks, the loose skin will be best removed. I would combine a laser lipo treatment mainly to the upper abdomen and flank (hips) area for improved contouring to the areas that will not be removed with the tuck. Generally, if the problem is: skin alone - tummy tuck fat alone - liposuction (laser or... more

J. Vicente P. Poblete, MD
Cleveland Plastic Surgeon

Tight Tummy = Tummy Tuck NOT "laser"

If you want to have the tightest tummy you ever had - have a tummy tuck. Yes, you will have a scar that stays hidden in your underwear but in exchange you WILL have a flat tummy that lasers, exercise, acupuncture, lotions, pills, will never get you as well as a narrower waist. While exercise is good, it cannot take in and narrow your abdominal wall muscles which were stretched by your pregnancies - only a tummy tuck can do it. To fully understand everything you need to know about Tummy Tuck... more

Peter A. Aldea, MD
Memphis Plastic Surgeon

You need full tummy tuck

As you stated ,you have more laxity while sitting and this means that you have separation of the abdominal muscle due to the pregnancies. You would benifit from combined lipo and tummy tuck.

Kamran Khoobehi, MD
New Orleans Plastic Surgeon

Would Tummy Tuck or Laser Skin Tightening be best for me?

Hi there- The devices marketed to improve skin tightness and the appearance of laxity, such as Thermage, have, in the estimation of most reputable physicians, been a disappointment. I have not seen results in my experience, or in that of others, that would allow me to recommend it to you responsibly. I would keep exercising, get as much improvement as you can on your own, and if you still have concerns, see a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon about a Tummy Tuck.

Armando Soto, MD
Orlando Plastic Surgeon

www.DrArmandoSoto.com

Significant skin tightening requires excisional procedures

While resurfacing procedures do cause skin tightening, it is only a marginal amount. These procedures originated on the face, as the face has an excellent ability to heal (and thus can withstand aggressive resurfacing procedures). Even so, significant facial laxity must be addressed with an excisional procedure (face lift), and then resurfacing can be performed to address fine lines. When these technologies are applied off the face, your surgeon has to be more conservative. The blood... more

Michael A. Bogdan, MD
Dallas Plastic Surgeon

Full Tummy Tuck best option for post pregnancy skin tightening

Full tummy tuck is your best option to correct the issue you describe. Laser skin therapies are limited at best. Laser Liposuction can slightly improve these issues. Regards.

Darryl J. Blinski, MD
Miami Plastic Surgeon

Liposuction versus Abdominoplasty

Based on your description and your picture, you look like you would benefit most from a full abdominoplasty. Laser liposuction will remove the fat and tighten your skin somewhat. However, nothing except a tummy tuck will remove your stretch marks or contour your abdominal muscles as well. Good luck.

David Shafer, MD
New York Plastic Surgeon

www.ShaferPlasticSurgery.com

Tummy tuck versus laser skin tightening

I have not seen any really good long lasting results with laser skin tightening-- some folks feel Thermage may work for this, but in my experience the results have been very minimal. In your case, I think if you want the best contour and shape of your belly and you are willing to have an incision for this, a tummy tuck will not only remove the excess skin but it will also tighten the underlying muscles that have been stretched from the pregnancies-- this is something that topical... more

Shahram Salemy, MD
Seattle Plastic Surgeon

www.drsalemy.com

Exercise or lasers won't tighten abdomen skin

Unfortunately it is an urban myth that you can exercise and get skin on top of the muscle to tighten. The muscle and the skin do not communicate in any way. The fact that you have significant amount of stretch marks on your skin is an indication that the skin has lost all of it's elasticity. That is why when you sit down the skin does not tighten up anymore, it just is loose. In order to get rid of that damaged skin a tummy tuck is really the way to go. You should see a great improvement... more

Robert B. Pollack, MD
La Jolla Plastic Surgeon

Tummy Tuck vs Laser

I agree with Dr. Rand that there is no significant skin tightening in the abdomen with laser. In order to deal with a moderate to severe amount of excess skin, it must be removed. The other consideration is that you appear to have some degree of muscle laxity; this also can be addressed only with a tummy tuck. The scars (which usually do well with time) are a necessary evil.

John Whitt, MD
Louisville Plastic Surgeon

Lasers don't tighten the abdomen after kids

Either continue to exercise and see how far you can get or do the tummy tuck. That is the only way to get rid of the laxity of the skin. Lasers have no benefit in this realm. Good luck!