One of the most popular procedures for moms and a focus of the Mommy Makeover is a tummy tuck to smooth and tone the stomach after it becomes distended after pregnancy. Many patients who come into my office decide on a tummy tuck to:
- Remove extra skin that hangs loosely after losing the baby weight.
- Repairing separated abdominal muscles that cause a bulge in the lower abdomen.
- Reduce stretch marks and scars that appear on the skin.
While the first two changes are well-known to many mothers, the final one is an added benefit that many plastic surgeons tend to leave out because it requires an experienced touch to reduce visible scarring.
How Do You Determine If a Tummy Tuck Can Reduce Scars and Stretch Marks?
The beginning of each patient’s treatment starts in my office with a thorough examination and discussion about how you want to restore your body. Once I have an idea of what you would like to change, we can work together to decide on the details of surgery, including what can be done to heal scarring as much as possible.
In many cases, stretch marks and other changes in the skin brought on by rapid weight gain and loss after pregnancy can be removed with careful surgical planning. By mapping out the surgery and using this as a guideline during your tummy tuck, I can simply make the incision in a way that includes the stretch marks and scars in the surgically removed area.
Won’t There Be Scarring from My Tummy Tuck?
The main advantage of a tummy tuck is that scarring is minimal and remains concealed by clothing. Rather than naturally occurring marks from weight gain and loss, a plastic surgeon can:
- Minimize the size and appearance of your incision by applying surgical techniques.
- Place the incision so that it is in an area not visible to anyone unless you are intimate.
- Recommend additional procedures to smooth skin even more after the scar has matured.
Many tummy tuck patients who visit my office are happy with their appearance because they feel confident wearing any style of clothing once they’ve healed.
When Can I Have My Tummy Tuck?
The first thing that I tell my tummy tuck patients is to wait until after you’ve had all of your children. The results of a tummy tuck are permanent as long as you do not gain much weight and maintain regular diet and exercise after the procedure. Pregnancy naturally involves a certain amount of weight gain for the health of the baby and can undo the results of your tummy tuck.
Also, consider that recovery time for this surgery lasts six to eight weeks to resume normal activities. This means that you will need help caring for your child during this time and plenty of rest to heal properly. Lastly, your body needs time to recover, so give your body at least a year or two after the birth of your child to get back to normal.
To schedule your tummy tuck consultation, contact our office at (817) 529-9199.
