Tummy Tuck without belly fat or excess skin?

With childbearing the
rectus abdoninus muscles, the washboard muscles of the abdomen, tends to
move towards the side. The area between the muscles separates and this is
called diastasis rectus. Even with diet and exercise the muscles to not return
to their normal position after childbearing.

In a standard tummy tuck
two components of the abdominal wall are addressed. One portion of the surgery
involves bringing the muscles back together in the midline and closing the
diastasis. The second involves removing the loose and redundant skin.

Tightening of the
abdominal muscles will generally flatten the abdomen. This can depend
upon how heavy the patient is. More slender patients tend to stay flatter
long-term.

You do not have to
perform the tightening if you don't want to. You will still be able
to remove the same amount of skin, you just won't be flattening the abdominal
wall.

In my own practice I
call this a non muscle tightening tummy tuck. I turn to the non muscle
tightening tummy tuck in people who do not have significant diastasis, people
who are looking for a shorter or easier recovery, or people who are too heavy
or not healthy enough to tolerate the muscle tightening. It is generally
the muscle tightening tht causes the majority of discomfort after
surgery. Even so most of my young and healthy postpartum patients usually
want the flattest abdomen that they can have postoperatively.

You should discuss your
goals with your plastic surgeon and ask for his or her opinion as to whether or
not muscle tightening would be of benefit to you. Even though you seem to have
a narrow separation I have never seen a postpartum patient that could not
benefit from some degree of abdominal wall tightening.

I know that some people
feel that muscle tightening can improve back pain.

First, you are in good shape with minimal skin excess.  I would recommend liposuction with a mini tummy tuck and limited fascial plication. Good luck and be safe.John T. Nguyen, MD, FACS, FICDouble Board Certified Plastic Surgeon

Tummy tuck is designed to correct 3 main problems - excess abdominal skin, excess fat and weakening of the abdominal wall.  Based on the history you provided and your photos, the only problem that you are facing is weakening of the abdominal wall.  During pregnancy, the abdominal muscles (and the fibrous layer that covers them - fascia) are stretched to make room for the baby.  After pregnancy they can return toward their original positions, however it is common for them to not completely return to their pre-pregnancy condition.While exercising can strengthen your abdominal muscles, there are no exercises for their fascial covering.  Since the fascia is what is responsible for "keeping your insides inside" (muscles let you move), weakness of the fascia will result in your "pregnant look" after you eat.  Surgical tightening of the abdominal fascia is the only way to correct this problem.I would recommend consulting with board-certified plastic surgeons experienced in tummy tuck, who will be able to examine you and discuss the risks and benefits of the procedure with you in detail.Good luck.

Most likely, the issue that needs to be addressed is the abdominal wall muscles. The procedure that will probably yield the most results is a plication of the rectus abdominus muscle (muscle wall tightening). This is a routine part of a full abdominoplasty but can also be completed with a mini-tummy tuck. For most surgeons, this is best accomplished with the wide exposure that a tummy tuck surgery provides, but also results in a large scar that spans the hips and runs just below the bikini line. You can complete the rectus plication part of a tummy tuck without removing skin, if skin does not need to be removed. A small amount of skin can be removed, which is what is completed in a mini-tummy tuck, and a large amount of skin can be removed with a full tummy tuck. Someone has reported being able to tighten the abdominal wall with laparoscopic techniques, which might also be possible. But I still believe that the best result would be with using a bikini line incision.

You have an excellent figure. Most likely your strength layer is stretched  including in the midline.  This internal "girdle" will make you look rounded when it is stretched.  Crunches etc. will strengthen the muscle but not the girdle (fascia), only a tt can do that.A tt is an excellent tool to sculpt the torso, however there will be a scar, and it is a vigorous recovery.  You may or may not ever see the 6-pack again regardless.Notice that you are asymmetrical, and you have some curvature of the spine and ribs.  This is normal, but people notice these things more after surgery.sek

Thank you for the pictures.Congratulations cause you've kept in shape.I only see a little bit of skin laxity and perhaps by doing an UL (ultrasonic) abdominal etching liposuction in the abdomen area, your skin might tighten up by this procedure in which it's proven to tighten skin as the fat cells are melted before extracted.Dr. Campos

Your skin looks quite good and you are thin.  There is a procedure with a limited lower incision through which the fascia over the muscle can be tightened.  A form of mini tummy tuck.  Find a surgeon with experience in mini tummy tucks and get some opinions.  

You will benefit from a tummy tuck and that is what you need to get back your pre-pregnancy tummy.     

It is hard to tell without an examination, but what you are describing is fairly common. Your muscles have separated and splayed out a bit. I would recommend you have a limited incision down where a c section scar normally is place, and have the muscle/fascia layer repaired with that small incision. You could also have it done with a scope through the same area. A little lipo of the muffin top area may be added should it be desired and is indicated. I agree with you skin and fat wise.

Hi blondemommy123.  If you get the "pregnant look" after eating, you probably have a lax abdominal wall.  A plastic surgeon can examine you to be sure. An abdominoplasty can tighten your muscle and connective tissue layer, but that may not restore your "six-pack".  Combining the abdomioplasty with a liposculpturing procedure may be a good way to get the look you want.  I suggest you see a local plastic surgeon for an evaluation.