The tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) procedure is perhaps one of the most common "mommy makeover" cosmetic surgical procedures. Those women who have had children often notice that their abdominal region is not as tight as it had been prior to pregnancy. This effect is compounded with multiple pregnancies, twins, or cesarean delivery.

Dr. Paul Pin sees many prospective patients about the possibility of a tummy tuck procedure as part of a mommy makeover, once they have decided not to have any more children. While no two patients can expect to get the exact same results, seeing before and after photos of other patients who have undergone the procedure may help patients determine if an abdominoplasty following one or more pregnancies is right for them.

Multiple Pregnancies

Women who have undergone not only multiple pregnancies will not only have the excess skin and loose abdominal muscles that are typical of multiple pregnancies, but may also have a noticeable stretch marks.

In this case, the patient had four children, leaving her with extremely uneven abdominal skin. As can be seen in the after pictures, much of that unevenness was minimized, an old cesarean scar was removed, and the appearance of stretch marks was significantly diminished. This was achieved with tummy tuck surgery and hip liposuction.

No Pre-Surgery Loss

In most cases, patients are advised to already be on a weight loss program involving both regular exercise and a sensible, low fat diet. The reason for this is to ensure that an adequate amount of skin is removed. In some cases, however, a tummy tuck procedure done before weight loss can provide patients the impetus they need to lose weight after surgery.

This patient is a good case in point. Although she did not lose weight prior to surgery, she did lose 20 pounds afterward. As can be seen in the after photo, her abdominal area is very flat, with nicely defined hips and waist areas.

Tummy Tuck after Liposuction

In some cases, a patient may seek out a tummy tuck because they want a more dramatic result than what they had achieved with a liposuction procedure to remove areas of fat from the abdominal region. A liposuction procedure is good for targeting specific areas for fat removal, but it will not tighten up any loose skin, tissue, or muscle.

This case is a good example of this. Although the liposuction appears to have flattened out the abdominal region, there is still loose, uneven abdominal skin. Undergoing a tummy tuck gave her abdominal region a smoother, firmer tone.

Tummy Tuck after Gastric Bypass Surgery

In cases in which patients have undergone gastric bypass or lap band surgery in order to lose significant amounts of weight (generally at least 100 pounds), they may be left with a large amount of loose skin, tissue, and muscle.

This case shows that despite having lost a dramatic amount of weight, the skin, tissue, and muscle did not conform to the new contours of the abdominal region. As can be seen in the after photos, the abdominal region is now significantly flatter, with defined hips and waist.

Whether due to pregnancy, dramatic weight loss, or dissatisfaction with other body contouring procedures, a tummy tuck may be performed as part of a comprehensive mommy makeover plan or as a finishing touch to show off weight loss goals.