How Do Other Patients Finally Decide to Get Tummy Tucks? I'm Having a Hard Time.

Tummy tuck surgery is very safe and is one of my favorite surgeries to perfrom. The results can be phenomenal when the right patient is chosen. Based on your photos, you are an ideal candidate for this surgery. No amount of working out or exercise is going to get rid of the loose skin or stretch marks. This can only be acheived with a tummy tuck.

Thank you for your question and this is a very common struggle for many women, when it comes to weighing the pros and cons of an elective surgical procedure.   This is a personal and family decision.   We find many women decide to proceed when their children are at an age of self sufficiency, they have enough family help, and the skin or muscle laxity persists despite diet and exercise.   I wish you all the best. Dr. Gill

Thanks for the excellent photos - they are very helpful. They clearly demonstrate that you would be an excellent candidate for a tummy tuck. Mentally, it sounds like that is your issue (this is very common). If you are healthy and when performed by a reputable board certified plastic surgeon, you should expect fairly low significant risks and a nice improvement (of course, there are no guarantees in anything).

You should consult with one or more board certified plastic surgeons in your area who could explain the procedure in detail including outlining the risks and expectations and generally put it all into perspective. This should be very helpful for you. Your husband may be able to help you out on this as well.

Dear Caldo,  First, you are to be congratulated for your dedication to getting your weight back down after having your twins but somethings will not respond to diet and exercise and will require surgery to correct.  The loose skin with stretch marks and the muscle separation(diastasis) are best corrected with an abdominoplasty(tummy tuck) and from your photos, you are a good candidate for this procedure and should get a very good result.  Your concern about being vain and selfish for considering an abdominoplasty is very common given that many women feel they must sacrifice their desires and needs for the family and others.  Clearly though from your question, your displeasure with your appearance is affecting your self-image and also impacting how you are interacting with your spouse.  If you are not comfortable with yourself, then it will affect your marital relationship and there is no need for that given that we can correct the problems that are behind your worries.  Please see a Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon for a consultation and bring your husband with you.  Ask if you can speak to previous patients who have had a tummy tuck and how it impacted their feelings and relationship. They can also address your worries about the safety and recovery issues.  I think you will be more comfortable in proceeding.  Good Luck, Herluf Lund MD-father of twins!

Patients with mostly skin excess and spreading apart of the abdominal muscles represent the best candidates for tummy tuck surgery.  This is in contrast to patients who are obese and have more of a rounded protuberant shape with more intraabdominal fat.   You appear to be in the former group and may be a good candidate for a tummy tuck.  Seek out a board-certified plastic surgeon in your area for complete evaluation if you are interested.