5'5", 160lbs, 30 y/old, 4 children - is tummy tuck best option? (Photos)

Question

I am 5 foot 5. 160 pounds. 30 years old. I have four children. My stomach is okay when I hold it tight but if I fully exhale and relax I look about four months pregnant. I work out 4-5 days a week (have done this for years) and have been stuck at this weight for the past two years. (Youngest child is three). Is a tummy tuck my best option? I’m not sure if this issue is that I need to lose weight or from everything being stretched out repeatedly! Thank you!

J. Timothy Katzen, MD, FACS · Answer

Thank you for your question regarding what to do with your abdomen being 5’5, 160 pounds, 30 years old, with four children. Carefully examining your pictures, you have weak abdominal wall muscles. The components of a tummy tuck are usually threefold. Some patients have excess skin, some patients of excess fat, and some patients have excess muscle. Most patients have a combination of the mentioned three problems namely skin, fat, and muscle. In your particular case, you have weak rectus abdominous muscles. That is why your abdomen protrudes. It is probably due to your multiple pregnancies. Liposuction will not repair or reinforce the rectus abdominous muscles. Therefore, in my opinion, you would be best served with an abdominoplasty with muscle plication to achieve a nice flat abdomen. Even though you don’t have much excess skin and fat, you need muscle plication. This can only be achieved with a tummy tuck. I hope this helps to answer your question regarding whether you should have a tummy tuck. Thanks you very much and good luck.

Sincerely, Dr. Katzen. (“Verified” Plastic Surgeon, President of the American Society of Bariatric Plastic Surgeons, certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, Fellow of the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, American College of Surgery, and International College of Surgery, and member of the American Society of Plastic Surgery, American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery and RealSelf Hall of Fame.)

Sincerely, Dr. Katzen. (“Verified” Plastic Surgeon, President of the American Society of Bariatric Plastic Surgeons, certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, Fellow of the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, American College of Surgery, and International College of Surgery, and member of the American Society of Plastic Surgery, American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery and RealSelf Hall of Fame.)

Finny George, MD · Answer

Hi, thank you for sharing your question. Based on these photos, you seem to be a good candidate for a tummy tuck with liposuction. The skin laxity and muscle laxity can only be repaired with a tummy tuck. An in person consultation is always best to determine the best plan.

Albert Ko, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question and photos! Yes, you are a candidate for a tummy tuck. From the photos it looks like you have a diastasis recti, which is the weakening of your abdominal muscles. A tummy tuck is necessary to repair the muscle. Best of luck!

Yily De Los Santos, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question and pictures. i would recommend you a tummy tuck with liposuction for better results. If you're willing to travel, Surgeons in the Dominican Republic have experience and very high standard of excellence when it comes to plastic surgery. I'm positive you can get what you're looking for

Gary M. Horndeski, MD · Answer

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.

Best Wishes,

Gary Horndeski, M.D.

Best Wishes,

Gary Horndeski, M.D.

Daniel Barrett, MD · Answer

Dear aj1024,
based on your photos, you look like a good candidate for a TT. Full tummy tuck should tighten your abdominal muscles and remove the excess skin. Flanks liposuction would give you a better shape. I would suggest you to consult a board-certified plastic surgeon because 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

Nelson Castillo, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question and series of photographs. Nothing replaces an in-person examination, but I think you would most benefit from a full tummy tuck and liposuction of your waist and flanks. The tummy tuck will tighten your stomach muscles, helping to achieve a flatter appearance, while removing excess skin and adipose tissue. Liposuction can be used to enhance your tummy tuck results by narrowing your waist and removing isolated areas of diet and exercise resistant fat. I would favor the full approach because it appears that your skin and muscle laxity is present above and below your belly button. Hope that this helps

Camille Cash, MD · Answer

From your photos you are a great candidate for a tummy tuck.  This procedure will remove excess fat and skin, but most importantly in your case it will correct the abdominal wall laxity which is common after pregnancy.  The result will be a flatter, more tone abdomen.  The next step is to schedule a consultation with a board certified plastic surgeon near you.

Michael Ablavsky, MD · Answer

This is a common question during an abdominoplasty consultation. Pregnancy will stretch your abdominal wall and weaken it - this is called a diastasis recti. Some may recommend abdominal core strengthening but often times a surgical repair of the diastasis recti is needed. A tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) removes excess skin, as well as tightens the abdominal wall weakness to create a flatter belly. I always emphasize that every patient is different - no substitute for an in person physical exam and consultation.

Lourdes Rodriguez, MD · Answer

Hello, thank you for your question and pictures.

The best treatment option in your case is a tummy tuck, with this procedure we can remove the skin excess and stretch marks under the navel also the muscle repair will help you to get a flatter abdomen.

Make sure to approach to a certified surgeon to help you clear all your doubts.

Good luck!

5'5", 160lbs, 30 y/old, 4 children - is tummy tuck best option? (Photos)

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