Is this fat or is it loose skin? (Photo)

Question

This problem developed after two pregnancies, but my youngest child was born over two years ago and this blob of hanging skin/fat is still present. I live a sedentary lifestyle and get little exercise. I eat healthy, nutritious foods and don't overeat, but I do drink my calories (1 red bull most days). Is this skin or fat? Will it go away w/cardio exercise or do I need surgery to get a tight belly again?

Raffy Karamanoukian, MD, FACS · Answer

Morpheus 8 is a non-invasive skin and soft tissue tightening treatment that is consistently amazing in our patients. We use the Morpheus to exact fractional induced RF into the skin or tissue in order to tighten collagen and stimulate contraction of the tissue. For acne scars, it is quite useful to build collagen in patients who have atrophic scars but is not very productive for ice-pick scars which require TCA Cross. For tissue tightening, Morpheus is ideal for the face and neck and we often combine it with CO2 laser or Ultherapy to further enhance results. Chemical peels and skin resurfacing should be done at least 5 to 7 days after, but can be performed earlier, depending on treatment severity. Avoid exfoliating skin treatments before Morpheus and expect a period of 2-4 weeks for skin contraction to set in.

Best,
Dr. Karamanoukian
Realself100 Surgeon

Best, 
Dr. Karamanoukian 
Realself100 Surgeon

Benjamin Liliav, MD · Answer

Yes, you may need a Tummy Tuck to correct the following signs:1. Abdominal muscles are weak or separated from previous pregnancies.2. Sagging Skin and Stretch marks

Wess Cohen, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question. Do you have stretched out loose skin with some underlying fat as well. Well this will not go away with diet and exercise, diet and exercise will make your surgical result even better! Or you would benefit from an abdominal plasty or tummy tuck to not only tighten the skin but to repair your Abdominal muscles that are most likely stretched out after pregnancy. Good luck.

Paul Flashner, MD · Answer

Thank you for your picture and this is a great question. I would recommend doing a consultation in person so the technician can really get a good look at your area of concern. It does appear you would be a good candidate to do either coolsculpt or lipo with a mini tummy tuck if the elasticity needs help. Skin tightening will always help tighten and tone up the abdomen. So you could do Morpheus8 but there is some debulking you will need first. Good luck!

Glenn Vallecillos, MD, FACS · Answer

If you were to only do liposuction you would have loose skin; in-order to achieve a "tight belly" it would require a skin incision.

If you choose to tackle your tummy with exercise be sure to lose weight at a steady rate - not too quickly because rapid weight loss leads to loose skin. However there would still be loose skin produced as a result of the volume loss.

Lifestyle changes as simple as going walking everyday really go a long way for your overall health - from bone density to heart health. The main culprit of weight-gain (generally; so long as there's no root-cause such as hormone in-balances, medication side-effects, or an inherited condition) is a sedentary lifestyle and diet.

Regardless if you consider surgery; please consider the life-style changes necessary to maintain optimal levels of health, movement, and flexibility - all of these drastically effect your quality of life. Also choosing to go-through with surgery should be done once you have maintained the quality-of-life changes and are sure you'll be able to maintain them - to protect and maintain your investment (your results) and because your body structure will change according to the lifestyle changes - it is best to have these changes take place pre-surgery to only have to maintain your results - rather than get surgery and your results first and then have your body further change (different from your desired results)

Camille Cash, MD · Answer

From the provided photo and description of your concerns, it appears the area on your abdomen is a combination of loose skin and fat.  If you have completed your family you could consider a tummy tuck which would remove excess fat and skin as well as correct abdominal wall laxity.  The next step is to visit with a board certified plastic surgeon for a consultation to learn more.

Jessica Walker, MD · Answer

It is difficult to tell from this picture. However, with pregnancy your body goes through many changes. You skin stretches and your muscles separate to accommodate your growing uterus. Often times, after being pregnant, it is difficult for your body to return to its pre pregnancy state and sometimes it will never completely revert to that. It is best to be examined in person by a plastic surgeon to discuss options, whether surgical, or non surgical. Also, increasing your exercise may help some, with core work may help some.

David M. Kowalczyk, MD, MBA, FACS · Answer

Hi there! After pregnancy, there can be excess skin and fat which becomes very difficult to eliminate despite exercise and dieting. In your case, it is likely a combination of both. Attempting more exercise to see if further weight loss occurs is always recommended, first. if not helpful, options would include an evaluation for an intervention like CoolSculpting or formal surgery like a tummy tuck. Seek an evaluation with a plastic surgeon to see which option may be best. Good luck!

Randy Dean, MD - Account Suspended · Answer

Hi and welcome to our forum!
Although the photo does not demonstrate your entire abdomen, I note a degree of abdominal fullness, there are significant stretch marks of the lower abdomen, and there appears to be a hanging abdominal pannus.
Stretch marks indicate the presence of permanently damaged overstretched skin usually occurring during pregnancy or significant weight fluctuation where when pregnant or overweight, the skin's dermal elastic fibers rupture (similar to an old rubber band), resulting in the loss of elasticity, skin stretching, and the development of streaks on the skin surface. The skin will stretch over a greater surface area and will predispose to further sagging. 
This will not resolve with exercise or diet.
One would consider abdominoplasty in this situation, especially if there is separation of the anterior abdominal muscles (diastasis recti). 
As your abdomen is not fully exposed, I cannot comment upon the status of your fatty tissue.
Visit a board certified plastic surgeon for evaluation and discussion.
Best wishes...

Is this fat or is it loose skin? (Photo)

Answers (9)

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