Tummy Tuck Q&A

94%

WORTH IT RATING

2,303 Reviews

Ask a Question

View Before and Afters

Average Tummy Tuck Cost: $7,950

Learn about Tummy Tuck

7,742 people and 864 doctors are talking about Tummy Tuck

Get Free Email Updates

Will Stitches in the Ab Muscles Help Bloated Look?

asked 3 years ago by Terri in the oc in orange
Latest answer by Peter A. Aldea, MD
Question viewed 2,445 times
Tags: abdomen

My doctor said while doing the hernia repair through the belly button, he can put a few stitches in the ab muscles, above and below the navel. Will that help the bloated look in any way?

7 answers to Will Stitches in the Ab Muscles Help Bloated Look?

A "few stitches in the ab muscles " is NOT a real Tummy Tuck

From your photo you appear to have toned tummy muscles but they are separated. Putting a few stitches in the abdominal muscles is A WASTE OF TIME AND MONEY. It will NOT properly fix your muscle separation the way a properly performed Tummy tuck (Abdominoplasty) done by a real Plastic Surgeon (check www.PlasticSurgery.org) will. In my opinion, you are much better off seeing a Plastic surgeon. A well done tummy tuck will TOTALLY flatten your tummy, bring the separated abdominal muscles... more

Peter A. Aldea, MD
Memphis Plastic Surgeon

Tummy Tuck for Rectus Diastasis

You can have an improvement in the abdominal bulge with a tummy tuck and plication of the muscles. But just a few stitches will not help. You need to have a full plication from top (xyphoid) to the bottom (pubis). I would recommend consulting with a board certified plastic surgeon that could repair your hernia and do the tummy tuck at the same time. Good luck.

Farbod Esmailian, MD
Orange County Plastic Surgeon

Tummy Tuck to correct a "bloated" look

Based on your photo I think you're a great candidate for a tummy tuck, in particular to tighten the muscles of your abdomen-- this will flatten the abdomen significantly and improve the "bloated" look you have. You would probably not need very much skin removed, but just putting in a few stitches as your doctor is suggesting will not do it-- make sure to get at least a couple of opinions from a board-certified plastic surgeon before having any surgery.

Shahram Salemy, MD
Seattle Plastic Surgeon

www.drsalemy.com

Muscle repair through the belly button

Your doctor is in the best position to make a recommendation since he has examined you. It does appear that there is some separation of the muscles in addition to the umbi hernia, but the extent of this can't be accurately dtermined from the photo. Some muscle repair can be done through the umbilical incision, but access is very limited because the incision is small. If the muscle separation extends more than a couple of inches away then the full repair would not really be feasible. In that... more

Richard Baxter, MD
Seattle Plastic Surgeon

Tummy tuck necessary to correct bloated look.

Hi. 1) You really need a tummy tuck to correct the separation of your rectus muscles (diastasis). "A few stitches" won't do. 2) Make sure you go to a board certified plastic surgeon.

George J. Beraka, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Bloated belly

Your picture demonstrates a marked weakness or separation of the abdominal muscles. They are supposed to act like a girdle to keep the intestines and their surrounding fat from protruding foprward. Repair of this muscle girdle requires a strong suture repair from the rib cage to the pubis. This does need a longer scar but the result will be well worth it.

Stanley G. Poulos, MD
Bay Area Plastic Surgeon

This may require more than a "few stitches": Bloated appearance and rectus muscle diastasis

It may slightly improve it but this will more likely require a more agressive muscle repair (than can be achieved through the belly button) if you are seeking a more dramatic correction of the bloated appearance. A "few stitches" is not lilkely to accomplish a major change. You could enhance the subtle changes by undertaking a core strengthening exercise regimen.

Otto Joseph Placik, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Ask a question