Tummy Tuck After Fifth Pregnancy?

Question

My weight was 112 lbs for at least 10 yrs and I'm 5'5". I am now 126 lbs. I did not change the way I eat. The change in weight started after having my fifth child at age 40. My first two were born in my early 20's and at 36, I had another, and another at age 38. So my last 3 kids I had in the span of 5 years.

	My body changed very little after the first 4 kids and my weight went back to 112. It was only after the fifth that I felt the need for a Tummy Tuck because of loose skin. Is it possible for this weight gain to be just the loose skin and loose fascia, and all the other loose things that go along with needing a Tummy Tuck? And if so, would this weight be gone after I get a Tummy Tuck?

	It doesn't look like regular weight gain, it looks like loose skin and tissue. I've looked at many pics of Tummy Tucks, and my abdominal area looks similar to a lot of them. Also, if it IS just loose stretched out skin and slack fascia that is making my stomach muscles protrude, then it wouldn't be fat so I would not need Liposuction, right? Thank you.

J. Timothy Katzen, MD, FACS · Answer

Dear ohbrother,

Your experience of body changes and weight gain following your fifth pregnancy is indeed common and can be attributed to rectus diastasis or muscle separation. This condition is prevalent among women who have had multiple pregnancies, leading to stretched abdominal muscles and skin.

A tummy tuck, medically known as abdominoplasty, is designed to address these very concerns by tightening the abdominal muscles and removing excess skin and fat. This procedure can significantly improve the contour of your abdomen and help restore your pre-pregnancy figure.

While the tummy tuck itself may not directly result in weight loss immediately post-surgery, it will tighten your abdominal area and can facilitate a more active lifestyle, potentially aiding in weight loss. The procedure should offer you the physical improvement needed to engage more comfortably in exercise and activities that can help you shed the extra ten pounds gained during your last pregnancy.

It's correct that if your primary issue is loose skin and muscle separation, liposuction may not be necessary. Liposuction is typically recommended when there's a significant amount of fat to be removed, which doesn't seem to be the primary concern in your case.

Consulting with a board-certified plastic surgeon will provide you with a personalized assessment and confirmation of the best approach to achieve your desired outcomes.

Wishing you the best in your journey to regain your pre-pregnancy physique.

Sincerely,

Dr. Katzen
Plastic Surgeon

Ps. I like your username. It reminds me of Winnie the Pooh.

Emmanuel Mallol Cotes, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question. It is hard to provided with a valid medical opinion without photos.  I would suggest to be treated by board certificated plastic surgeon with experience in this procedure, to get the best desired results.
Kind Regards,Dr. Emmanuel Mallol Cotes.-

Jerome Edelstein, MD · Answer

A tummy tuck can remove loose skin and some stretch marks as well as repair separated ab muscles, and I think that this is probably what you have considering how many kids you've had. You are right, liposuction would not be necessary and would also be ineffective on loose skin, as it only works to remove unwanted fat. You would have to see a board certified plastic surgeon in person to better evaluate your concerns and make sure that you can achieve the results you want. Best of luck.

Otto Joseph Placik, MD · Answer

At your weight, it is unlikely that the loose skin weighs 14 pounds. On average the weight of the resected skin weighs from 2-3 pounds.

Armando Soto, MD, FACS · Answer

Hi there,
You are really asking a few different questions.
It sounds like your abdominal contour probably would benefit from a tummy tuck, in that it effectively improves the appearance of loose, stretchy skin and loose muscles separated by pregnancy (especially multiple pregnancies and especially in small women like yourself).
The issue of your weight is probably not related to the contour changes caused by your pregnancies, though. Correcting the separated abdominal muscles and removing the loose skin will greatly improve your appearance, but should not be expected to produce a significant change in your weight.
The ~14 lb weight gain is more likely to be related to the decline in metabolism that we all experience as we go from youth to middle age (welcome to the 40's!). The good news is that, while the loose skin and muscle roundness will require surgery to improve, increasing your activity and building muscle will help to rev up your metabolism and help you lose some of the weight.
I hope that helps you.

Tummy Tuck After Fifth Pregnancy?

Answers (5)