Is it normal to have this much loose skin after a tummy tuck? It is mostly noticeable when I bend over, even slightly (Photo)

Question

If I stand straight, as shown in one of the pictures, you can see a vertical line down the center of my stomach where the skin is loose. It's been 7 months since my surgery. I lost 130 lbs and had a tummy tuck to remove my excess skin and also got breast implants. My surgeon suggested having another surgery that would be a vertical incision on my stomach to remove the excess skin. It is heartbreaking to still have loose skin in my stomach area after a tummy tuck that I thought would correct it.

Nelson Castillo, MD · Answer

Thank you for sharing your excellent question and photographs.  With massive weight loss (>100lbs) the skin of the abdomen often develops laxity and tissue excess in both a vertical and horizontal dimension.  A horizontal scar, like you have, controls the vertical excess but the horizontal excess can only be treated with a vertical scar from your breastbone down to your horizontal scar.  If the excess skin in your pictures bothers you, a correction can be performed but requires this additional scar. This type of tummy tuck is termed a fleur-de-lys or FDL.  Hope this helps.

Jerome Edelstein, MD · Answer

Hello,Thank you for your question and photos. Yes, unfortunately, in cases of massive weight loss there can be excess skin laxity both vertically and horizontally so a standard tummy tuck is not able to tighten the abdominal skin completely. I recommend that you follow up with your surgeon to talk about next steps in your transformation.All the best

Thomas Fiala, MD, FACS, FRCSC · Answer

Your results photo is the standing position is quite good - it's only when you bend over that you really see that excess skin.  So, the question is - is it worth that extra vertical scar, to rid yourself of that extra skin?What if the scar was unsightly, or it messed up the belly button - still worth it?Not everyone would agree on the answer.

Gary L. Ross, MBChB, FRCS · Answer

In the presence of extensive weight loss it is not unusual for their to appear to be a vertical groove as you have experienced. Your PS is correct in that removal of this excess with a vertical scar would help to flatten the abdomen.

Karol A. Gutowski, MD, FACS · Answer

This is not unusually for patients who lost much weight and have stretch marks. A vertical incision may help but do not expect super tight skin.

Is it normal to have this much loose skin after a tummy tuck? It is mostly noticeable when I bend over, even slightly (Photo)

Answers (8)

Answer: Vertical scar

Answer: Vertical scar

Answer: Is it normal to have this much loose skin after a tummy tuck? It is mostly noticeable when I bend over, even slightly

Answer: Is it normal to have this much loose skin after a tummy tuck? It is mostly noticeable when I bend over, even slightly

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Everything you need to know about Tummy Tuck

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Is it normal to have this much loose skin after a tummy tuck? It is mostly noticeable when I bend over, even slightly (Photo)

Answers (8)

Answer: Vertical scar

Answer: Vertical scar

Answer: Is it normal to have this much loose skin after a tummy tuck? It is mostly noticeable when I bend over, even slightly

Answer: Is it normal to have this much loose skin after a tummy tuck? It is mostly noticeable when I bend over, even slightly

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Everything you need to know about Tummy Tuck

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.