Renaissance Plastic Surgery

Have your kids and shape back too!

Patients often come in and ask for liposuction of the abdomen to get rid of the extra skin and fat tissue that has been lovingly left to them by their children. What most women want is to have their old abdomen shape back. The way back is different for each patient. For as many different shapes of abdomens that exist, there are nearly that many ways to improve their appearance. There are also less invasive prodedures, including liposuction and modified abdominoplasties (mini or modified tummy tucks).

Abdomens often have excess fat and sometimes excess skin. There may also be stretched and loose muscle walls. Liposuction alone may be the answer for the extra fat, but after the birth of a child or two, there is often extra skin that will not improve without some skin removal.

For the smaller abdomen with some loose skin there is the smaller mini-abdominoplasty. The loose extra skin alone may be removed by the c-section area and, with a little liposuction, the entire lower abdomen can be more flat and smooth. This mini tummy tuck's incision can be smaller, like a C-section scar.

When the lower abdomen has a pooch as well as extra skin and fat then a "modified" or "hybrid" abdominoplasty may be recommended. This allows the extra skin and fat from the lower abdomen to be removed and the muscles in the lower half of the abdomen can be repaired and tightened to improve the shape. This can also be done through a smaller C-section type incision.

When the loose skin hangs or droops over the belt line area, a full tummy tuck is often required. With pregnancy, the muscles of the abdomen can stretch and bulge or tear, like a hernia. This will require more muscle repair than the modified tummy tuck can offer. This procedure will leave the entire abdomen smooth and flat. The muscles are completely repaired and the excess fat and skin are removed. With any tummy tuck procedure, some liposuction may also be used to help contour the hips to blend in with the new abdomen shape.

There are many options to improving the abdomen. The procedures must be tailored to meet your needs. The right procedures are best determined by you and your board certified plastic surgeon. So you can love having the kids and love your look too!