Stomach and bellybutton issue - can this be fixed when I get a tummy tuck?

Hello @Peaceful268390, thank you for your question. A lot depends on the laxity of the abdominal wall. In some situations, the wall can return to its position with very little damage, however, this damage must be evaluated after the pregnancy and at the end of approximately eight months following the child birth.If you are considering surgery, consultation with a plastic surgeon who is experienced in this procedure is essential to ensure optimal results. Best wishes! Alan Gonzalez MD, FACS. International Federation for Adipose Therapeutics and Science” Member (IFATS), American Society of Plastic Surgery Member (ASPS), Colombian Society of Plastic Surgery member (SCCP)

Thank you for your query. You seem to have an unusual degree of weakness of the abdominal wall muscles. This can be taken care of with an abdominoplasty after you have had the baby and once the tissues have settled down. Please enjoy your pregnancy for now and take care. Do discuss your issues with your doctor. All the best!

Thank you for reaching out with your concerns about your abdominal changes during pregnancy. I can understand how this must be difficult and frustrating for you.

It's not uncommon for women to experience significant changes in their abdominal area during pregnancy, and these changes can vary widely from person to person. It sounds like you are experiencing significant stretching and sagging of your abdominal skin, which can be especially pronounced in women who have gained a significant amount of weight during pregnancy.

While a tummy tuck can be a great option for improving the appearance of your abdomen, it is generally not recommended until you have completed your pregnancy and have allowed your body to fully recover. In some cases, the changes that occur during pregnancy can cause permanent stretching and sagging of the skin that may require surgical correction.

It's important to keep in mind that every woman's body is unique, and it's difficult to predict exactly how your body will respond to pregnancy and childbirth. However, working with your healthcare provider to maintain a healthy weight and staying active throughout your pregnancy can help minimize the amount of skin stretching and sagging you experience.

I would recommend that you schedule a consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon after you have completed your pregnancy and have fully healed. They will be able to evaluate your individual situation and recommend the best course of action to help you achieve your aesthetic goals.

Thank you for your question, and I wish you a safe and healthy delivery and recovery.

Sincerely,
Dr. Katzen

Peaceful368390, your body is stretching and is adapting to your growing child. After you deliver your uterus will take about 6-8 weeks before returning to its original pre-pregnancy size. Diet and exercise after delivery is important to help get your body back in shape-especially core exercises to help strengthen your abdominal muscles as they now essentially have stretch marks. After 6 months to a year, when you are at a stable weight, I would recommend being evaluated by a board-certified plastic surgeon for a full evaluation. A tummy tuck will rid excess fat and skin, relocate your belly button, and tighten up your abdominal layer if it is weak. hope this helps, and best wishes for you and your baby!

There are a few considerations when deciding to proceed with tummy tuck after pregnancy. First, you must let your body recovery from pregnancy, and the weight to stabilize. At that time, your surgeon would have an accurate assessment of the extra skin and fat that would have to be removed. Generally, you would have to wait 6-12 months after pregnancy. Second, you should consider if you are planning to have more children. A repeated pregnancy could stretch out the skin again, and you may require a revision to your previous tummy tuck. Finally, you have to consider your aesthetic goals for tummy tuck. With a high BMI, you would have more fat inside the tummy, which cannot be addressed during tummy tuck, so you may not have a completely flat tummy afterwards.

Dear Peaceful268390,
I understand your concern. It is best however that you consult with a board certified plastic surgeon to determine whether you can have several aesthetic surgeries in one session, as this would depend on various factors including but not limited to your general health condition, the type of anesthesia that will be used, and the type of surgeries that will be performed among others.
Daniel Barrett, MD
Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

You may have gained weight quickly. Wait until you had had all the children you want and are at least 6 months after delivery. Then, visit with a board certified plastic surgeon, be examined, and discuss your concerns and options. Your abdomen is going to change quite a bit during the 6 months after you deliver.

An in person evaluation is always best but often many tummy concerns can be addressed during a tummy tuck. You will want to wait to have surgery until you are 6 months post partum and have finished your family. It is also best if you are at a healthy, stable weight. At that time you can visit with a board certified plastic surgeon in your area for a consultation.

With male gonad descriptions and all we appreciate your attempt at describing your body changes. However, in this case I think a picture is worth more than 1000 words.
Try posting a few pictures of your abdomen so we can help you make an assessment.
Must pregnancy related changes can be successfully corrected with a full tummy tuck which should be done when women are quite certain that they’re done having children.
You should not have a full tummy tuck if you’re planning on having more children in the future.
I suggest consulting with a few local board-certified plastic surgeons in your community.
Judge plastic surgeons tummy tuck work based on who gets the most natural looking belly buttons with a very low sets car that follows an atomic contours naturally. The torso should look balanced appropriate and attractive from all angles including from behind.
Asked to see the providers entire collection of before and after pictures or at least as many as they’re willing to show you.
It’s especially important to ask the provider to show examples of patients who have similar body characteristics to your own.
Continue having consultations until you feel you found the right provider for your needs.
I recommend patients avoid virtual consultations whenever possible.
Best,
Mats Hagstrom MD

Hi and welcome to our forum!
Human females have the ability to stretch their bodies to accommodate a growing fetus, resulting in temporary distortion of involved tissues. After childbirth, the body recovers within 6 months or so. Much of what you currently see now will be gone then.
It is far, far too early to ascertain your need for abdominoplasty in the 3rd trimester of your first pregnancy.
Be patient...enjoy your newborn!
Best wishes...