I am thin and fit but after 2 pregnancies, my stomach has tons of stretch marks and skin laxity, mostly around belly button area. I don't know if I have enough loose skin for tummy tuck and if Thermage would possibly help improve the belly button region, so I'd like expert advice on what procedure might work best. I'd like to avoid surgery and scars, but if that is the best option, then I'd like to find out. Thanks!
June 24, 2014
Answer: Tummy Improvement Hi, Lululi. Yours is a very common scenario and request that I see. After two pregnancies, there is stretching of your abdominal wall which results in lower tummy bulging, loose skin, and stretch marks. Even in thin and fit women, there is no great non-invasive techniques to treat these problems. I don't think Thermage will give you any appreciable long term results that truly fix these problems. A tummy tuck will solve a couple of these problems by flattening your tummy, tightening the skin, and removing the stretch marks below your belly button. Some of the stretch marks above your belly button will not be removed, but will be shifted down towards your bikini line. The downsides of tummy tuck are the scar -- but will be below your bikini line so you'll still be able to wear a two piece and conceal the scar -- and the down time for recovery. Because you don't have much extra skin, the skin around the belly button would be sutured together as a short vertical line that would be positioned along the midline of your body just above the lower incision. An in person consultation is the best way to show you what you can reasonably expect, and if interested, I can put you in touch with several of my patients that presented with similar body types and underwent tummy tuck surgery.
Helpful
June 24, 2014
Answer: Tummy Improvement Hi, Lululi. Yours is a very common scenario and request that I see. After two pregnancies, there is stretching of your abdominal wall which results in lower tummy bulging, loose skin, and stretch marks. Even in thin and fit women, there is no great non-invasive techniques to treat these problems. I don't think Thermage will give you any appreciable long term results that truly fix these problems. A tummy tuck will solve a couple of these problems by flattening your tummy, tightening the skin, and removing the stretch marks below your belly button. Some of the stretch marks above your belly button will not be removed, but will be shifted down towards your bikini line. The downsides of tummy tuck are the scar -- but will be below your bikini line so you'll still be able to wear a two piece and conceal the scar -- and the down time for recovery. Because you don't have much extra skin, the skin around the belly button would be sutured together as a short vertical line that would be positioned along the midline of your body just above the lower incision. An in person consultation is the best way to show you what you can reasonably expect, and if interested, I can put you in touch with several of my patients that presented with similar body types and underwent tummy tuck surgery.
Helpful
June 24, 2014
Answer: What is the best option for my stomach: Thermage, Tummy Tuck or Fraxel? There may not be a great option aside from tummy tuck. You may not be a candidate for tummy tuck. I would go for consultation and get examined to determine what may be best for you.Kenneth Hughes, MDLos Angeles, CA
Helpful
June 24, 2014
Answer: What is the best option for my stomach: Thermage, Tummy Tuck or Fraxel? There may not be a great option aside from tummy tuck. You may not be a candidate for tummy tuck. I would go for consultation and get examined to determine what may be best for you.Kenneth Hughes, MDLos Angeles, CA
Helpful
