Select Page
Is a tummy tuck necessary to flatten abdomen and is the scar always that large and dramatic? Are there any other choices?

Is a tummy tuck necessary to flatten abdomen and is the scar always that large and dramatic? Are there any other choices?

Is a tummy tuck necessary to flatten abdomen and is the scar always that large and dramatic? Are there any other choices?

Q: I’m a mother of 3 and I could feel my abs coming in under the stubborn “mommy tummy”. I workout a lot and have a pretty solid build. Like most women who bare children I have that stubborn layer of fat, stretch marks and that loose skin that makes me very insecure. Is a tummy tuck my only option to flatten my stomach? Are scars typically that large? Any other options for me?

A: You sound like an ideal candidate for a tummy tuck. Based on your pictures, you have stretchmarks around your navel. Stretchmarks indicate to me that your skin has been damaged by excessive expansion – in your case it sounds like this occurred during your pregnancies. This damaged skin is never going to snap completely back – it doesn’t matter how much you exercise, watch your diet or apply creams. If you want it gone, it will need to be surgically removed. Scarring is an important consideration – an abdominoplasty does create a scar low on the abdomen from hip to hip and often a scar around the navel – but remember you are trading contour for scar. Also, in the hands of a skilled board-certified plastic surgeon, the incision is hidden by most underwear and swimwear.

Is a tummy tuck necessary to flatten abdomen and is the scar always that large and dramatic? Are there any other choices?

Is now a good time? My question is can I have a v-bac after a tummy tuck and lipo?

Is now a good time? My question is can I have a v-bac after a tummy tuck and lipo?

Q: I am 25 year old mother of 1 and it is not in my plans to have children for another two years or more My first was an emergency c-section and I am interested in the mommy makeover I am currently at 150 lbs and would like to be at 125 Every time I loose weight my belly hangs from the front and becomes more wrinkled I loose all motivation to loose the weight My question is can I have a v-bac [vaginal birth after Cesarian] after a tummy tuck and lipo? Should I loose more weight before I proceed with the surgery to reach my goal?

A: You raise a couple of great issues with your question. To begin, I recommend that you get to and maintain your desired weight before considering plastic surgery. Pregnancy stretches the abdominal skin and muscles. It is not at all uncommon for you to have some skin laxity and muscle weakness even after losing the pregnancy weight. A tummy tuck repairs the damaged muscles and removes excess skin giving you a nice flat abdomen. I don’t recommend a tummy tuck to women who are planning to have children in the future. While the surgery does NOT affect your ability to conceive, have a healthy pregnancy or interfere with delivery at all, a future pregnancy will likely lead to your being in the exact same predicament again – loose skin, lax muscles. Essentially, pregnancy can undo the tummy tuck. It makes more sense to me to wait until your family is complete and then pursue cosmetic surgery.

Is a tummy tuck necessary to flatten abdomen and is the scar always that large and dramatic? Are there any other choices?

Saline breast augmentation with fat grafting?

Saline breast augmentation with fat grafting?

Q: So I’ve decided that when I get my augmentation I want to use saline implants because I believe that they are safer. However I’m worried about feeling the implants under my skin, as I donnot have much breast tissue – and I’m also worried about rippling. Are there options for me to do fat grafting with the implants? Or another alternative?

A: You seem to have a lot of good information about breast augmentation. You are correct that if you do not have much breast tissue, you may be able to feel implants under your skin. You have several options to correct this: implant placement under the muscle, use of a silicone implant – which feels much more like breast tissue, or fat grafting with breast implant. You will need an exam to see if you are a candidate for fat grafting and a plastic surgeon who is experienced in the procedure. Fat grafting will probably be the most expensive option. Silicone implants are quite safe and have changed dramatically since the 90’s. Most use a cohesive gel so that liquid silicone does not leak out in case of implant rupture. Best of luck!

Is a tummy tuck necessary to flatten abdomen and is the scar always that large and dramatic? Are there any other choices?

21 year old mom looking to get my body back by tummy tuck and breast surgery.

21 year old mom looking to get my body back by tummy tuck and breast surgery.

Q: Hello, I am a 21 year old mom of one and am very unhappy with my body. I am wondering what my options are and what doctors would suggest. I was a C -cup that didn’t need a bra. I would love to be that way again, but maybe a D. I dislike how much my breasts fold over and would like that reasonably gone. I have attached a picture of what I would like to have and would appreciate if someone could tell me if this is even reasonable, and if so how to achieve it. Thank you.

A: You may be a good candidate for a mommy makeover! A mommy makeover is simply a combination of plastic surgical procedures designed to restore your figure after childbearing. The procedures involved depend on your needs. I would definitely recommend a full breast lift. You have significant breast sagging even with your arms raised above your head. A breast implant can be placed at the same time for fullness if needed. I can’t tell from the pictures if you would need one to achieve the breast volume you are seeking. A tummy tuck with liposuction would address the excess skin and fat around your middle and give you a nice hourglass shape. You are young and have one child. You need to remember that a future pregnancy could land you right back in the same condition. Many women choose to delay surgery until their family is complete.

Is a tummy tuck necessary to flatten abdomen and is the scar always that large and dramatic? Are there any other choices?

Would lipo give me a flat stomach side view? For rear view maybe BBL would help round hips & illusion of smaller waste?

Would lipo give me a flat stomach side view? For rear view maybe BBL would help round hips & illusion of smaller waste?

Q: My BMI is 31 and have been stuck here for five years even with tons of cardio, eating sensibly & lifting weights. At age 37 I have a healthy resting heart rate of 58-61bps but still overweight at 30% body fat. At my heaviest years ago I was 210lbs (after having baby) now 170lbs and stuck here way too long 🙁 Would just lipo help me or do I need a tummy tuck as well to get flat stomach? What do you think about combining above with fat transfer to hips/butt to achieve illusion of smaller waste?

A: I think you will get your best result from a Tummy Tuck with Brazilian Butt lift and possibly some additionalliposuction. Performing liposuction alone on your abdomen will not address the underlying muscle looseness and will probably leave you with loose hanging skin. Pregnancy stretches the abdominal muscles. Unfortunately exercise and diet alone will not repair them – as you have seen. You have been very disciplined but have probably done as much as is possible without surgery. I perform these procedures together for healthy women in my surgery center outside Atlanta. I would suggest your next step would be a consultation with a board certified plastic surgeon.