Are Hip Bulges or Muffin Top Common After a Full Tummy Tuck?

The skin excess that occurs with pregnancy does not effect the tummy alone. IT effects the trunk circuferentially as well as having and effect on the skeleton; this can result in alterations in the pelvis and secondarily in posture.
Therefore, a full tummy tuck alone does not address these issues. Although a circumferential belt lipectomy may treat the muffin top, it is more surgery than most women desire and so we generally treat these areas with liposuction alone.

Thanks for your question.
The issue is tummy tuck or abdominoplasty addresses the anterior area of the abdomen -- not the sides. This means that the improvement on the abdomen can actually highlight the problem with the hips.
Typically, in our San Francisco area offices, we address this issue and discuss ways to treat it either at the same time or at a second surgery. The most common way we improve the flanks is with liposuction.
Be sure to talk to your plastic surgeon about the entire mid section to avoid the muffin top problem!
I hope this helps.