14 months postpartum, left with loose skin. Will weight loss make this more noticeable? Will I need a tummy tuck? (photo)

Dear Courtney41792,
based on your photos, you look like a good candidate for a TT. Full tummy tuck should tighten your abdominal muscles and remove the excess skin. Flanks liposuction would give you a better shape. I would suggest you to consult a board-certified plastic surgeon because only after a thorough examination you will get more information and recommendations.
Daniel Barrett, MD
Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

Weight loss in some circumstances will leave you with loose skin, especially if the skin elasticity is lost. Judging by your photos, I am not sure how much more loose skin you would be left with. I would recommend getting down to a comfortable weight that you can maintain and reassess things at that time.

You may be happy with where things are at or you may benefit from a procedure (mini tummy tuck vs full).

Hope that helps.

Hi, thanks for your question and photos. After 14 months, you are a candidate for a Tummy Tuck, to repair saggy and damaged skin. You can have great results with Lipo and Full Tummy Tuck, to stretch your waist. Remember that only after a physical exam is possible to say your best procedure, so consult a plastic surgeon in your area. Good luck!

CURRENTLY YOU NEED A TUMMY TUCK, BECAUSE YOU ALREADY HAVE LOOSE SKIN, THE MORE WEIGHT YOU LOSE, THE MORE NOTICEABLE IT WILL BE BECAUSE THE FAT THAT IS BELOW THE SKIN GIVES IT SUPPORT, THE LESS FAT, THE LESS SUPPORT AND SO THE LOOSER THE SKIN WILL BE

Skin laxity is common after pregnancy. Significant weight loss may make the laxity worse, but small weight changes will not likely have a big impact. If you have completed your family you can consider a tummy tuck. This would remove excess fat and skin as well as correct any abdominal wall separation. See a board certified plastic surgeon near you to learn more.

Losing weight will give more loose skin. You might consider minimally invasive skin tightening with radiofrequency like ThermiTight or plasma energy like Renuvion for your loose skin.

Thank you for your inquiry and photos. If you are not planning on having additional children you may consider an abdominal lipectomy ('tummy tuck') to correct the mid abdominal laxity. It has been my experience that after childbirth the mid abdominal skin laxity that may be present does not usually respond to exercise and weight loss.

If you are planning more children, I would suggest waiting until you are done and then consider surgery. Good luck.

Based on nicely posted photos I recommend in person or virtual consult with... I think Full TT with MR is needed but maybe lipo could improve?

A mini tummy tuck gives a mini results. all people have skin laxity with skin folds with their hips flexed like in a sitting position.
It’s not possible to have tight skin with hip flexion. If the skin were to be tight in a sitting position you would not be able to stand up straight.
To make an assessment and the outcome of a plastic surgery procedure we need to see proper before and after pictures. If you don’t have a proper before and after pictures and ask your surgeon to forward the ones they took. your surgeon is also the correct person to talk to about the outcome of your procedure.
Substantial weight loss like morbidly obese people becoming healthy can result in substantial skin laxity. Weight loss is never going to be good for skin tightness but small amount of weight fluctuations especially in young people who still have skin elasticity usually doesn’t make that much difference.
Even if weight loss causes a mild skin laxity compromise most people look and feel far better being lean and healthy than overweight.
You don’t appear to have a substantial amount of excess subcutaneous fat so I don’t think moderate weight loss will have much impact on your skin skin.
The majority of patients who seek consultation for a mini tummy tuck are in fact much better candidates for a full tummy tuck. A mini tummy tuck is inherently limited because it does not typically involve muscle tightening and limits skin tightening to below the belly button only.
Follow up with your provider and share your concerns with him or her. For a proper second opinion consultation scheduled those as in person consultations coming prepared to bringing with you all before and after pictures and a copy of your operative report. These are all available from your current surgeons office by request.
Overall your results looks fairly typical but without seeing before pictures we can’t access the outcome.
Best,
Mats Hagstrom MD