What's your advice on how to fix abdomen after pregnancy? (Photos)

Question

I have a very small diastasis recti as well as loose skin from my pregnancy. I am 5’6 and 110 lbs. Most of the skin is below breasts and above c-section scar. Wondering if Emsculpt with Bodytite would fix my problem? Is Emsculpt something and should be done prior to Bodytite? Do these two work well together? Is there a certain order I should have these done in? Are there any other treatments out there that I should consider? Thank you!

Jason Emer, MD · Answer

Non surgical options give only mild improvement compared to surgical lifting. Skin tightening can be done with a combination of vanquish, venus legacy, exilis, celllutone/Zwave. However for best results, a tummy tuck procedure can be combined with a high definition procedure at the same time. For best results, I recommend a hi definition procedure like a VASER liposuction. I use VASER HI DEF with ThermRF and fat grafting to get the most fat removal, skin tightening, contour and definition. This combination will give you the most toned result. I recommend getting a formal evaluation with a hi definition physique expert. Best, Dr. Emer

Michael A. Persky, MD · Answer

Hi J,We use EmSculpt to build abdominal muscle and reduce fat.  Body tite is fine but is more invasive than Venus Freeze or Legacy which we use in our new moms who do no wish to have any invasive treatment, only topical.  Good luck and be well, enjoy your new addition to your family!!!Dr. PEncino, CA

Michael A. Zadeh, MD, FACS · Answer

Thank you for your question and pictures. Diastasis is a common occurence after pregnancy. A combination of Emsculpt and a skin tightening procedure like Skintyte or Bodytite are a great non- surgical option to treat the muscle laxity and the skin laxity after having a baby.
Emsculpt has show some great improvement in reducing Diastasis and because it is non-surgical there is no downtime. While most people see results after their 4th session, we continue to see an increase in the muscle growth and further reduction of the diastasis over a 4-6 month period of time.
Good luck with your treatments!

Donovan Rosas, MD · Answer

Concerns about the appearance of the abdomen are very common among patients consulting with a plastic surgeon. Just like every patient is different…so too is every abdomen. Different problems require different solutions. Your board certified plastic surgeon is uniquely trained to identify the problems as well as the appropriate solution.
The abdomen is commonly addressed via liposuction or abdominoplasty (“tummy – tuck”). Which procedure is best is dependent upon the source of the problem. 
Excess fat deposits underneath the skin can be addressed via liposuction. Liposuction will not address any other issues and may worsen the situation if there are other factors at play (such as skin excess and muscle laxity, see below)
Commonly patients concerns are centered around issues of excess skin as well as fat. A third factor, which is often overlooked by most patients is abdominal wall muscle laxity (typically seen in post partum mommies).  The tummy tuck, also known as abdominoplasty is a surgical procedure designed to eliminate excess skin and fat and tighten the muscles in the abdominal wall to create a smoother and slimmer contour. The tummy tuck is designed to target areas of the abdomen that have not responded to diet and exercise, making it particularly popular among people that have a lot of loose or sagging skin around the abdominal area due to significant weight loss, as well as women with excess skin and stretched abdominal muscles following pregnancy and childbirth. 
Alternatively, EmSculpt is a recently released device which provides muscle toning via high frequency electromagnetic stimulation. It is being employed for abdominal and gluteal toning. Patients will undergo 4-6 treatments over 2-3 weeks (depending upon the area treated). These treatments are relatively low intensity and patients will commonly be engaged with a smart device (phone/tablet) for the duration. Studies (via MRI) have demonstrated radiographic evidence of improvement in diastasis.Based upon your photos, you would likely benefit from EMSculpt. However, this will not address lax skin. The decision should be made based on in-person consultation and exam.
As always, discuss your concerns with a board certified plastic surgeon (ABPS).Donovan Rosas MD
Board Certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery
Member: American Society for Aesthetic Plastic
Surgery, American Society of Plastic Surgeons
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Narin (Joe) Apisarnthanarax, MD · Answer

Thanks for providing the helpful photographs.  Based on your photos you have a moderate amount of subcutaneous fat and skin laxity.  An in-person consultation would help to confirm this, but I think the Emsculpt would be a good option.  It will reverse the diastasis recti by an average of approximately 10%.  You will gain muscle definition and tone, and reduce abdominal fat by approximately 20%.  Like other body treatments, getting rid of fat, gives you a little bit of skin retraction as well, and the increased muscle mass from the Emsculpt should give you some added support.  I would recommend performing Emsculpt first, and then addressing the residual laxity with a skin tightening treatment, whether it is BodyTite, Ultherapy, or other skin tightening technology.

Bhavlene Panesar, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question and pictures.  Diastasis is a common occurence after pregnancy.  A combination of Emsculpt and a skin tightening procedure like Skintyte or Bodytite are a great non- surgical option to treat the muscle laxity and the skin laxity after having a baby.
Emsculpt has show some great improvement in reducing Diastasis and because it is non-surgical there is no downtime.  While most people see results after their 4th session, we continue to see an increase in the muscle growth and further reduction of the diastasis over a 4-6 month period of time.
Good luck with your treatments!

Jennifer Levine, MD · Answer

Emsculpt is a great treatment for women post pregnancy.  Diastic recti (the separation of the abdomen muscle) is very common and can be addressed with the emsculpt treatment.  Emsculpt causes involuntary contractions of the abdomen muscles and each treatment is equivalent to 20,000 crunches.  For sagging skin, we recommend treating it non-surgically with a treatment called Ultherapy.  Ultherapy uses microfocused ultrasound to stimulate the production of collagen and elastin which will help to tighten and lift the skin in that area.

Bruce E. Katz, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question, from the picture you provided Emsculpt and BodyTite are a great option for you! I suggest the BodyTite procedure first, BodyTite does not remove fat. You are likely a great candidate for BodyTite if you are looking for a minimally invasive procedure that provides detailed improvements for a tighter, smoother and more youthful skin. I recommend Emsculpt after your BodyTite treatment, Emsculpt is the first and only non-invasive procedure in the world to help both women and men build muscle and sculpt their bodies! It is now FDA-cleared for strengthening, firming and tightening of the Abs, Buttocks, Biceps, Triceps and the Calves. Make sure you are up-to-date with these procedures and always seek treatment from a board-certified dermatologist.

Kamran Khoobehi, MD · Answer

you are in excellent shape with minimal fatty tissue. You can try EMsculpt but it is hard to recommend it without in person examination. You will get more predictable results with surgery. I have a concern that you have umbilical hernia and would suggest in person examination. You can try EMsculpt and if not happy get surgery

Paul J. Leahy, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question, and the well-presented photos. It looks like you would be an excellent candidate for these non-invasive procedures. The studies found an 11% improvement in diastasis after 4 EMSculpt treatments done within a two week period. You have good skin, essentially no extra fatty tissue, and already seem to be physically fit. So, I bet you'd see an nice improvement!

What's your advice on how to fix abdomen after pregnancy? (Photos)

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