Tummy tucks and stretch marks?

Question

So I was a very small girl and I ended up having a very large baby(9lbs 7oz). I ended up going from 105lbs to 165lbs and I was thinking if getting a tummy tuck because I know I'll have extra skin. Plus I have a road map on my stomach of stretch marks from the middle of my ribs down to my woman hood. I wanted a mini but wouldn't I have to get a full because of the stretch marks??

Kenneth Hughes, MD · Answer

A tummy tuck (with muscle repair)  may produce the best result, but an exam or pictures would be helpful.Find
 a plastic surgeon who performs hundreds of tummy tucks each year, has great reviews, and has great before and after 
pictures.Kenneth Hughes, MDLos Angeles, CA

Christopher J. Morea, MD · Answer

Given the history you have provided, I would say the treatment of choice for you would be a full tummy tuck with tightening of the muscles and some liposuction.  A mini tummy tuck does not address the area of the abdomen above the umbilicus.  A full tummy tuck would remove the excess skin and the stretch marks on your lower abdomen.  Consult a board certified plastic surgeon who has performed hundreds of tummy tucks and schedule a consultation. Best of luck,

Mary Gingrass, MD · Answer

Stretch marks from your rib cage all the way down to your pubic area will most likely require a full tummy tuck. That being said the stretch marks above your belly button will probably not be completely removed but will be moved down. Tummy tuck is a fabulous operation for the right person. It can very effectively remove some of the severely damaged skin but it does not do anything to improve the quality if the skin that remains. Non surgical options for stretch marks are limited however so TT is often the best option

Michelle Copeland, MD, DMD · Answer

Hormonal changes and weight gain can cause
hyperpigmentation, stretch marks, and accelerated skin growth. For the most
part, women are genetically predisposed to certain conditions, but there are
things we can do to help skin regain its youthful look. Acid creams encourage
exfoliation of dead skin and help the skin to regain its glow. I sometimes use
microdermabrasion on stretch marks, but it requires multiple treatments over a
large area, and lots of patience. Some light lasers can also help tighten
stretch marks. 
When sagging and scarring are really bad, however, I usually
advocate a tummy tuck. Typical candidates for a full tummy tuck are women with
drooping abdomens after pregnancy, women and men who've lost a great deal of
weight, menopausal women, or older people with loose skin due to age. In the
tummy tuck, the skin from the rib cage down to the pelvic area is tightened,
and the navel is moved up and secured in a new position.

Thermage® is now a safe, non-invasive, radiofrequency (RF) cosmetic
procedure that’s clinically proven to help smooth, tighten and contour skin for
an overall younger looking appearance. The treatment delivers natural looking
results with little to no downtime —on all skin colors, on and off the face,
all in a single procedure. Fast and easy, you can even come in during your
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Thermage® uses radiofrequency technology to heat the deep, collagen rich
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the smoothness and texture of the skin’s surface. Comfort Pulse Technology,
including a vibrating handpiece delivers enhanced patient comfort. On the body,
Thermage® can treat wrinkled, crepey, sagging or bulging skin as well as the
appearance of cellulite.

ZERONA® is an FDA cleared alternative to liposuction, which reduces inches
with no pain, no surgery and no downtime. Patients are losing between 3.5 to
5.5 inches and many are seeing even greater results when combined with a
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fat from: neck, love handles, arms, hips, back/bra‐line, thighs, tummy/waistline and knees in this
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George C. Peck, Jr, MD · Answer

A full abdominoplasty will remove all the stretch marks between your pubic area and belly button. The total cost of this surgery is $6000, which includes the Board Certified Professional fee, Board Certified Anesthesia fee, and Medicare Approved surgicenter.A mini-abdominoplasty will only remove a little skin from the lower part of your abdomen. You will not see a major reduction in stretch marks. The cost of this surgery is $4100.Hope this helps!

John P. Stratis, MD · Answer

Unfortunately the only way to get rid of stretch marks is to remove the skin that has the stretch mars in it. If your stretch marks go from your ribs downward the you will not get rid of all the stretch marks regardless of the extent of the tummy tuck.You really need a personal evaluation to determine what your desires are and what can be done to reach those goals. See a plastic surgeon certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery who has extensive experience in tummy tucks.

Jourdan Gottlieb, MD · Answer

It is hard to advise in any specific way without photos.Chances are with the amount of weight gain, the size of the baby, and the quantity of stretch marks that a full TT would be recommended by an examining surgeon.  A mini-TT does not address the upper abdomen at all. The tissue that might be removed typically reaches up to the navel in the mid-line, so stretch marks in the upper abdomen will not be removed.An in person consultation will offer the best answers to your questions.  All the best.

Brooke R. Seckel, MD, FACS (retired) · Answer

A mini tummy tuck will not remove extensive stretch marks at and below the belly button.  In addition if you have a great deal of excess skin following your weight loss a mini tummy tuck will not be able to adequately tighten your tummy.A mini tummy tuck will not tighten loose skin above your belly button.In most cases a full tummy tuck is required to remove stretch marks from the belly button down and to tighten the upper abdominal skin.  In addition a full tummy tuck allows the muscles to be repaired from damage caused by pregnancy.

M. Dean Vistnes, MD - Account Suspended · Answer

The amount of excess skin typically determines the length of the incision required to remove that excess skin. As a general rule, a short incision only allows a small amount of skin removal. A longer incision and resulting scar (as in a full tummy tuck) will allow the surgeon to remove more skin and tighten the entire abdominal wall.  This is the important thing to consider when looking at this type of surgery. Don't compromise the results with a shorter scar if it won't deliver the results you want. A consultation with a board certified plastic surgeon with an expertise in tummy tucks and body contouring should be able to show you what you can expect. In my practice in the San Francisco Bay Area I have come to the conclusion that the happiest patients are those that have realistic expectation on what a procedure will and won’t do for them. Good luck! Dean Vistnes.

Tummy tucks and stretch marks?

Answers (9)

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