Loose skin?

[BlondeHrtBreakr]

Hi all..

I'm new here, so forgive me if this question has been posted before.
Why is it, that plastic surgeons tell women that SURGERY is the ONLY way to get rid of the loose lower abdominal skin after pregnancy?

I think this is simply BS. Am I right?

Thanks in advance.

 

[newgirl-chargeback]

I had a baby -- at 33 by csection and have a very very flat stomach at 43...part of it I believe is genetics (very long torso and small waist) although my sister and my mother have what we affectionically call budda bellies even when painstakingly thin!

Even when I was 185 pounds and unfit, my stomach never really was large or sticking out.

How long are you post partum? How fit were you before becoming pregnant? I think it does take time for the skin to catch up with your weight loss (at least that was my experience..while I shed the baby weight of 28.5 lbs in 6 weeks post delivery), I think it was almost a year before I could wear jeans and the fitted pants I had been accustomed to wearing prebaby.

And sometimes surgeons do not always have your best interest at hand unfortunately. There are very few that will be incredibly honest.

 

[takniteasy]

Some women do lose the elasticity in their abdominal skin after childbirth and the only way that I have found to get rid of it is with surgery. I have been to 3 or 4 different surgeons and all have told me the same thing. Genetics does play a big factor as well. The women in my family (on both mother and father's side) tend to lose skin elasticity or have poor skin elasticity. If anyone knows of an alternative way to get rid of loose skin, please let me know, as I would love to banish the 4-5 inches hanging on my belly!

 

[BlondeHrtBreakr]

I am 10 months post. I also had a c-section.

I was 105lbs (5'2") when I got pregnant, and 130 at delivery.....I lost it all in the first two months, and then lost an additional 10 pounds the following month (at 95lbs now). I am very small and skinny, but what bothers me, is when I lay on my side, I feel that section of skin sag. It really bothers me. I have never been one to work out hard, but now I feel as if I want to get back that tight, tight tummy, that I need to do SOMETHING. Is it even possible to completely tighten up in my lower abs? Please say yes, and tell me how!

 

[newgirl-chargeback]

You can exercise your abs to help build muscle where you have lost it -- the abs suffer trauma from the csection process (so I was told) and it takes some work to get your stomach back in shape.

However I would have to say that eating well and properly, go hand in hand with doing crunches, hanging leg raises (making sure not to work your hip flexors but you abs), doing cardio and unfortunately issuing your body some patience. It took 9 months to stretch the skin out -- it will indeed take more time to get and you had a cseciton to boot.

I would say it will not happen overnight but employing a good solid ab workout will help build muscle to help support the sagging skin that will in turn eventually "shrink" back. As I said in my earlier post -- it took my a solid year before I got back into slim pants.

And, by the way, you are going to have some skin fold or pull to the side when not standing taut....perhaps it is not as bad as you think (we are our own worst critics).

 

[grlpwrd]

Well, I don't like any kind of plastic surgery, but realistically I think the only way to get rid of the extra skin is thru surgery yet that's after you've tried the traditional diet and exercise route. After having 3 kids I know my skin on my tummy area is more than it should be , but I'm okay with it for now. I think I may do something after I have my 4th or 5th child, though, but I'd like to stick with a clean diet and maintain my workouts before making any final decisions. I think surgeons generally recommend the surgery after you are done having kids...anyway, diet and fitness can do a lot, but they do have their limitations.

I have been checking out www.yestheyrefake.net and there is a lot of info and pictures there. You might want to browse.

Good luck!

 

[takniteasy]

My thoughts exactly. I have tried diet and exercise for years and even getting into low teens for BF% (lowest was 10%), did not tighten up the loose skin. It is very frustrating for me as I work my tail off to achieve the best physique for me and the extra skin just drives my nuts! However, there is always the drawback of scarring as evedenced on the sight you mentioned. That is the only thing holding me back for now and the cost. On average, the cost is $5-6000 and recovery is anywhere from 6 months to 1 year. A reputable surgeon will advise you that the first 2 weeks after surgery is the worst with no driving, lifting and almost complete bed rest. I may consider it in the future when I have that kind of time and money. For now, I deal with it the best way I know how and train for my well being and strength.

 

[poohbear]

I just had a friend who had a tummy tucked and the doctor told her recovery was only three weeks! I'm amazed b/c from my research, recovery usually takes at least 6 months. It must be some medical miracle that they're doing here in Europe. If so, I'm going for it in the summer

 

[FitFossil]

I think recovery time would depend on the severity of the surgery. Some tummy tucks involve tightening stretched-out abdominal muscles (such as from pregnancy) as well as tightening loose skin. Recovery for this type of surgery would take longer since muscle is involved.

 

[ArtsyChic]

I've lost about 200 pounds..so I have loose skin..and that's putting it mildly. I've researched abdominoplasty extensively. Firstly, there are two types...full and mini. Mini only does below the belly button, full is above AND below. There is also (this is only in extreme cases and what was recommended to me) is circumferential torsoplasty. One thing that effects recovery in a major is way is if the abdominals are sutured together to give a tighter abdominal appearence...like an internal corset. From what I understand this is THE most painful aspect of the procedure.

Circumferential torsoplasty or belt lipectomy, does the outer thigh, stomach, hips and back rolls. It also minimizes dog ears. This is the procedure I'm leaning towards at this time. It was described as "pulling your pants up" type of procedure..and I like that analogy. Lord knows, I need all I can get. I look like a deflated michelin man.

Alicia

 

[Puddles]

Alicia...I know how you feel. For me it's the worst when I'm naked and bending over at the waist...I look down and cry. Hugggs to ya! Someday you'll get it done but just hang in there in the meantime. I'm going for a full abdominoplasty (removing about 6" of skin vertically and relocating my bellybutton to skin unscarred by stretchmarks) next year...possibly the latter one you described....sometimes called a belt abdominoplasty I believe. I hate the thought of the "dog ears" and I think with the belt I could cover up the scar with a cool vine of flowers tatoo. I need to research it all more though. I have good ab muscles when I tighten them, but when I relax them, I look 20 lbs heavier...they got terribly stretched out when I was overweight. In April I go for a breast lift with implants...you can understand why. I'm so excited and nervous at the same time. Good luck!

 

[ArtsyChic]

Hi Mrs. Puddles..yes..I know the feeling. I'm at an ideal weight, but have gross skin EVERYWHERE it seems like. The belt lipectomy was about the only thing my doctor would recommend that wouldn't give dog ears and helps my thigh, hips etc at the same time. Unfortunately, the belt costs TWICE as much as the regular full. (I'm accepting paypal donations at [email protected] !! ) I feel with this skin is indescribable. My mother asks me why I don't date..I don't because when you date, you eventually have to get naked. I feel hideous..couldn't imagine showing this to a man...and I'm only 22. I could barely show it to the surgeon..I made jokes to ease my mortification. I booked May 9th for a full abdominoplasty, but am going to back out because it's just not what I think I need, nor is it what my surgeon thinks would be best. I've more or less made the decision for the belt lipectomy. I just need to find a surgeon confident he can do the procedure. The surgeon I consulted with didn't seem too enthused about doing it for me. He more or less told me they were a pain to perform..or perhaps he just wasn't confident he knew what he was doing during them. He's a professor of plastics at Indiana University..but still.

It's frustrating..I'm sure you can't wait to finally get your breasts done! I bet it's going to be so exciting!!!! I'd know I'd be happy beyond words!!!

Alicia