Thermage Vs Full or Mini Tummy Tuck for Post-pregnancy Tummy?

Hello! Thank you for your question and photos! I hope that these answers help!
Tummy tuck is an excellent method for shaping the belly and create a
flatter and sculpted abdomen after the procedure. Looking at your
photos, I do believe that you would be an excellent candidate for this
procedure in order to remove the excess skin/soft tissue of your lower
abdomen and contour the areas of your belly. Also, abdominal wall
tightening may optimize your result. Stretch marks to the level of your
umbilicus will also be excised. Also, a continued healthy and active
lifestyle prior to the procedure and afterwards is recommended in order to maintain the benefits that the
procedure has given to you.  I doubt Thermage or liposuction would ameliorate your concerns, as you do have significant skin/tissue laxity.Once you are ready for the
procedure, I would likely recommend a full tummy tuck with abdominal
wall tightening. This would remove the excess skin/soft tissue
and stretch marks while contouring your belly. The mini tummy tuck has
limited usefulness and limited candidates as it truly only addresses
excess skin in a small area above your pubis. It will not address your
abdominal wall and the tightening of such, frequently needed to achieve a shapely abdominal wall. While the recovery
time
is shorter, the benefits afforded to you by a full tummy tuck are much
greater and will optimize your result. You should consult with a
board-certified plastic surgeon well-versed in body contouring
procedures at anytime to go over options to assist you in deciding
which procedure(s) would be right for you. Best wishes!

Hi,
Thermage would have benefit only if you needed only a small amount of tightening of your skin. Unfortunately, your photos reveal bulging of the abdominal wall, consistent with muscle looseness, as well as extra skin with stretch marks. A tummy tuck, which combines removal of extra skin and fat, as well as significant muscle tighening, is really the only thing which will accomplish all of this. Given your stretch marks, which are a sign of irreversible skin injury, it's very unlikely that Thermage or a mini tummy tuck would give you the 40%-60% improvement for which you're looking. A tummy tuck, on the other hand, will give you a dramatically improved appearance, far beyond the minimal results with which you say you'll be satisfied.
Hope this helps. Best of luck.

If you significant loose skin and stretch marks (as your photo indicates) there is really no role for thermage. It appears that a full tummy tuck will address your concerns. This is difficult to say for sure without examining you, however, based on this photo a mini-tummy tuck will not remove enough skin or stretch marks. If I were to examine you in a semi-flexed position (slightly bent at waist). I would suspect we'd be able to perform the more complete, full tummy tuck. The difference in scar length between a mini and full tummy tuck is quite small.
I realize that many patients are resistant to the idea of a tummy tuck because of the recovery and the scar involved, however, this will give you the best result and best contour. The recovery is about one to two weeks off work, but in the long run, this is likely the best procedure for your specific anatomy.
Please consult with a board certified plastic surgeon prior to scheduling any procedure.

Thermage is excellent when the skin quality and elasticity is better.  In your particular case I think you will get the best results with a traditional "tummy tuck" at a qualified plastic surgeon.  Simply you have too much extra skin and this needs to be surgically removed.

Although Thermage may cause a small amount of skin tightening, it's hard to imagine that you will be satisfied with anything other than a full tummy-tuck.  Your issue is not simply skin laxity, but also fat and muscle separation as well.  If, on the other hand, you're completely against the concept of a tummy-tuck, then Thermage is really the only option that will at least give you a small amount of improvement.