Tummy Tuck Only Option for Loose Skin After Lipo and C-section?

Hi! It sounds like you need a tummy tuck. I don't think anything else will help. You don't have to lose weight before having a tummy tuck. The muscles can be repaired and the excess skin and fat can be removed even if you are somewhat overweight. You will still be overweight afterwards, but you will have a flat stomach. In Manhattan, I find that demanding that a patient lose weight before benefitting by a tummy tuck can be unrealistic.

Abdominoplasty is definitely the best treatment for excess belly skin. Your muscle can be tightened at the same time. Noninvasive attempts to tighten skin do not work well in my opinion and are associated with potential problems. You probably will improve your result with a 20 pound weight loss.

Dear Texas Mom, After children and liposuction, the best way to address loose skin on the abdomen will be a tummy tuck. You already have 1/2 the necessary scar, and the results can be drastic. Do not be mislead by other non-invasive tightening procedures - they might give a minimal change, but I'd be surprised if it would make you happy. (I view them as marketing gimmicks.) If you could achieve a weight of 135, you will get a better result from the tummy tuck, but even at 158, you are a... more

As you said, it would be best for you to be at an optimal weight before having any surgery and 135 lbs is a good goal for you at 5'3". Typically loose skin is best treated by tummy-tuck; however, it depends on how much loose skin you have. Some patients can have an umbilical float tummy tuck, which has no scar around the umbilicus, if the loose skin is confined to below the belly button. If you have very minimal loose skin, some of the skin tightening treatments such as Thermage can... more