Tummy Tuck: Prices, Photos, Reviews, Info, Q&A

One of the goals of a tummy tuck to is remove stretch marks. One of the improvements is the elimination of stretch marks. Sometimes all stretch marks can be removed, other times, only a portion of stretch marks can be removed. It depends on the location of the tummy tuck and the amount skin that needs to be removed.

Find a plastic surgeon with excellent training, expertise and results that can be demonstrated with many, many photographs. There should never be scars around the belly button, so only consider a plastic surgeon who can share dozens of patients with excellent results including low, narrow tummy tuck scars, no scars around the belly button and a narrowed waist. (Michael Law, MD, Raleigh-Durham Plastic Surgeon)

A Tummy tuck to remove stretch marks can do wonders to remove excess skin from pregnancy weight-gain, but it can’t do everything.

In exchange for a scar across the pubic area from hip to hip, most of the stretch marks and all of the loose skin below the belly button can be removed. However, unless there is severe laxity of the abdominal wall above the umbilicus, the stretch marks above the belly button will move down

the abdominal wall after the skin is tightened, and will end up below the belly button and above the final scar. For most patients, the final appearance is still a great improvement from the condition before surgery, so the presence of a few residual “re-located” stretch marks is not a draw-back, and usually these stretch marks are less visible as the skin is now tighter.

Some patients benefit from liposuction to selected areas of unwanted excess fat (for example, in the hip and flank areas) in addition to Tummy Tuck, but for skin laxity, liposuction alone is not the appropriate choice of procedure. (Athleo Louis Cambre, MD, Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon)

Stretch marks can be partially removed with a tummy tuck

Liposuction will remove extra fat from the area but will not change the final result of the stretch marks. Usually the lower abdominal stretch marks can be removed and the ones on the upper abdomen will be pulled below the belly button. (Leila Kasrai, MD, FRCSC, Toronto Plastic Surgeon)

All of the changes you describe are typical changes that all women experience to varying degrees after childbirth. The rectus muscles (“6-pack” muscles of the abdomen) splay apart and the fascia stretches with pregnancy, and the skin of the abdomen will have stretch marks and some degree of looseness after most pregnancies. These concerns are best addressed with a tummy tuck to remove stretch marks.

This procedure involves a low-lying incision just inside of most bakini bottoms that typically goes from hip bone to hip bone as well as an incision around the belly button. The loose skin is removed and the fascia is tightened. I always compliment a tummy tuck with liposuction about the hips to improve the contour of the waist line. Liposuction alone (even Smart Lipo) for post-pregnancy changes will not address the loose skin or the laxity of the fascia/muscle wall that has been stretched.

The first question to ask yourself is if you plan to have any more children?…if so, then wait, if not, then I would expect that you would need an abdominoplasty (either a “full” or “mini”). The photo you have provided gives me a sense that you have some skin laxity but it is hard to tell exactly how much.

It also seems that your biggest concerns are the stretch marks that have developed post-pregnancy. You mention that the stretch marks extend up 2 inches above the belly button. Most of the stretch marks in the lower abdomen will be removed with the tummy tuck procedure; however, NOT ALL of the stretch marks will typically be able to be removed even with a FULL abdominoplasty (tummy tuck to remove stretch marks). The ones above the belly button typically are left behind.

If you only have a small amount of laxity of skin you might be a candidate for a mini-abdominoplasty (or mini tummy tuck) where less skin is removed and there is no incision around the belly button. (James F. Boynton, MD, FACS, Houston Plastic Surgeon)

Currently the only way we can remove stretch marks is by removing the skin with the stretch marks. When you have a consultation express your concerns to your surgeon to learn which region of skin will be removed. There may be some stretch marks remaining although they could possibly be in a new location. If you have significant stretch marks above the belly button there is a good chance that they can not all be removed (George Volpe, MD, Boston Plastic Surgeon)

The looseness of the skin in the photograph and the location of the stretch marks make you a good candidate for a tummy tuck. (Gary Lawton, MD, San Antonio Plastic Surgeon)

A tummy tuck is the best treatment for your stretch marks, but is will not remove all of your stretch marks. Unfortunately there are no other great alternative for eliminating stretch marks from the upper abdomen. A plastic surgeon could help you to understand what is realistic in your case. (David Stoker, MD, Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon)

With this surgery the objective would be to remove and much skin and stretch marks as possible however there can be some residual stretch marks. I would recommend having the Tummy Tuck to be able to remove this skin you are an excellent candidate for it, I do not recommend having Liposuction specially in your abdominal area, you will only cause scar tissue and the results will not be good you will end up with a sort of “cottage cheese” look to the abdomen and afterwards when you do want to have your Tummy Tuck you will not have the results you would have had, if you had done the Tummy Tuck initially. (Luis Suarez, MD, Mexico Plastic Surgeon)

The lower stretch marks are usually removed with the excess skin during the tummy tuck, but upper stretch marks may remain. The skin will be pulled tightly and most stretch marks do look better. After tummy tuck surgery, there are treatments like Dermapen that can improve the appearance of stretch marks. (Connie Hiers, MD, San Antonio Plastic Surgeon)

Tummy tuck for stretch marks.

Yes, tummy tuck is ideal for stretch marks. Even if you don’t have a lot of redundant skin, you still can get rid of most of your stretch marks from bellow the belly button, the ones above the belly button will move down with the belly button relocation. (Patricia Yugueros, MD, Atlanta Plastic Surgeon)