Will my fitness improve with a tummy tuck? Am I too skinny for my results to look natural? (photos)

Hello and thank you for your question and photos. While it is difficult to make a full assessment from photos alone, it does appear your skin laxity is focalized to the area around your navel. In this case, a short-scar tummy tuck will likely be sufficient for removing the redundant skin and firming the center of the abdomen. During that procedure, the belly button can also be addressed to create a more attractive shape and appearance. I recommend you seek a consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon that specializes in body contouring techniques to determine the best treatment option for you. Good luck!

In the side view, your abdomen protrudes anteriorly, which results from a weakness of the fascia.  If you are not planning future pregnancies, I recommend abdominoplasty with mesh reinforcement.  The mesh creates a more hourglass figure by compressing the abdominal wall resulting in early satiety and helps maintain a reduced weight.  This will resolve your umbilical hernia as well as your diastatis recti.Best Wishes,Gary Horndeski, M.D.

You don't need to gain weight, and conventional tummy tuck is unnecessary.  Your diastasis is small.  You can have modified procedure to repair hernia and tighten loose skin through short, low, hidden C-section type scar with less demanding recovery than tummy tuck (abdominoplasty).  Some examples of lean runners and other athletes in our tummy tuck gallery.

Dear laurannemontague,it is hard to tell for sure without an examination. If you are considering a surgery, I would suggest you to consult a board-certified plastic surgeon. Only after a thorough examination you will get more information and recommendations.Daniel Barrett, MD

Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

A short scar tummy tuck (the umbilical hernia can be repaired at the same time) may provide you with a much better result with about the same length scar as a minitummy tuck.You should not perform strenuous exercises for 6 weeks in cases of uncomplicated healing or until instructed by your PS.  All patients after TT will have loose skin when bending over, but so will most models and bodybuilders.  Do not start with crunches, sit-ups, or core exercises but gradually ease back into your former exercise running routine to assess tolerance. Kenneth Hughes, MD, Board Certified Plastic SurgeonLos Angeles, CA

The diastasis recti can be corrected with a standard tummy tuck. The hernia can be corrected at the same time. An examination is needed to determine if you are a good candidate and what you can expect in terms of results. A tummy tuck isn't designed to improve core strength, but there are many side benefits that patients report after a tummy tuck. I've included a video I hope you find helpful.

Hello dear!
Thanks for the pictures and provided information as well.
Based on your photos, you are a great candidate for a tummy tuck with muscle repair, to give you a nice tight tummy.
In general, you need to be physically healthy and at a stable weight, have realistic expectations, be a non-smoker and your BMI needs to be 30 or less.
l recommend you to make an appointment with a board certified plastic surgeon to talk about your goals and anything you need to know.
Good luck :)

I disagree strongly with the idea you need an abdominoplasty as you don't have significant skin. You have what looks like a very focal diastasis just above your belly button that you can clearly see but above and below that you look fantastic. That area bulging is actually NOT an umbilical hernia (an actual hole or tear in your abdominal fascia) though in all likelihood as you can see the transition of that stretched area. What I'd probably suggest would be an incision through your upper belly button to explore that areas and consider just plicating (oversewing) the stretched area focally. Even through a small incision, you can access 4-5" superior. Your lower abdomen doesn't appear to have any diastasis at all.

to achieve a much better contour.  An extended tummy tuck with umbilical float would be recommended if you were in my office and this a shorter scar, allows repair of the umbilical hernia and muscle plication almost to the xyphoid (if you want it to the top, then this falls into a full tummy tuck).  You belly button is kinda splayed out and I would not try to save it, but depending on your skin laxity above the belly button, either pull your belly button down an inch and anchor it to create the inny (and no scar around the belly button) or go for the max skin excision and pull as much as possible to the transverse incision... and coming back later to remove your residual belly button and then reconstruct a new one that has no scar around it.  Much better option that traditional approaches.  But you really have to call around to see what surgeons can do this for you... or travel to CA.

laurannemontague Hi There , Thank you for your Question Many surgeons, including myself, offer online virtual consultations where you send us your photos and we can estimate the cost. I, like many surgeons, also offer free consultations so that you can be examined and given the most accurate quote