I have eight children and I work out, but my stomach is so strecthed. Would you say a tummy tuck will improve my image?

After having eight children, my stomach/belly tissue is so stretched out...I workout and it doesn't help. I want to know if a tummy tuck would help?

Answers from doctors (8)


Concerns about the appearance of the abdomen are very common among patients consulting with a plastic surgeon. Just like every patient is different, so too is every abdomen. Different problems require different solutions. Your board certified plastic surgeon is uniquely trained to identify the problems as well as the appropriate solution.

The abdomen is commonly addressed via liposuction or abdominoplasty (tummy tuck). Which procedure is best is dependent upon the source of the problem.

Excess fat deposits underneath the skin can be addressed via liposuction. Liposuction will not address any other issues and may worsen the situation if there are other factors at play such as skin excess and muscle laxity (see below).

Common patients concerns are centered around issues of excess skin as well as fat. A third factor that is often overlooked by most patients is abdominal wall muscle laxity (typically seen in postpartum moms). The tummy tuck, also known as abdominoplasty, is a surgical procedure designed to eliminate excess skin and fat and tighten the muscles in the abdominal wall to create a smoother and slimmer contour. The tummy tuck is designed to target areas of the abdomen that have not responded to diet and exercise, making it particularly popular among people that have a lot of loose or sagging skin around the abdominal area due to significant weight loss, as well as women with excess skin and stretched abdominal muscles following pregnancy and childbirth.

Candidates for tummy tuck should be already at or near their ideal weight for optimal results. It is recommended to women that are planning on becoming pregnant to postpone the procedure until they are finished having children.

Liposuction alone, while an option, would not address all of the issues common in a "mommy tummy" i.e. skin excess, muscle laxity and excess fat. There are alternatives including lipo with BodyTite, which uses RF heating to address skin laxity as well as subcutaneous fat excess. There are also non-invasive means of addressing muscle laxity such as EMSculpt, which uses HiFEM (high-frequency electromagnetic waves) to induce muscle contractions and strengthen and tighten your core in a non-invasive fashion. These are all options, however, the abdominoplasty is the gold standard in your particular case for rehabilitation of the abdominal area.

As always, discuss your concerns with a board-certified plastic surgeon (ABPS).

Answered by The Institute of Aesthetic Surgery (View Profile)

Concerns about the appearance of the abdomen are very common among patients consulting with a plastic surgeon. Just like every patient is different, so too is every abdomen. Different problems require different solutions. Your board certified plastic surgeon is uniquely trained to identify the problems as well as the appropriate solution.

The abdomen is commonly addressed via liposuction or abdominoplasty (tummy tuck). Which procedure is best is dependent upon the source of the problem.

Excess fat deposits underneath the skin can be addressed via liposuction. Liposuction will not address any other issues and may worsen the situation if there are other factors at play such as skin excess and muscle laxity (see below).

Common patients concerns are centered around issues of excess skin as well as fat. A third factor that is often overlooked by most patients is abdominal wall muscle laxity (typically seen in postpartum moms). The tummy tuck, also known as abdominoplasty, is a surgical procedure designed to eliminate excess skin and fat and tighten the muscles in the abdominal wall to create a smoother and slimmer contour. The tummy tuck is designed to target areas of the abdomen that have not responded to diet and exercise, making it particularly popular among people that have a lot of loose or sagging skin around the abdominal area due to significant weight loss, as well as women with excess skin and stretched abdominal muscles following pregnancy and childbirth.

Candidates for tummy tuck should be already at or near their ideal weight for optimal results. It is recommended to women that are planning on becoming pregnant to postpone the procedure until they are finished having children.

Liposuction alone, while an option, would not address all of the issues common in a "mommy tummy" i.e. skin excess, muscle laxity and excess fat. There are alternatives including lipo with BodyTite, which uses RF heating to address skin laxity as well as subcutaneous fat excess. There are also non-invasive means of addressing muscle laxity such as EMSculpt, which uses HiFEM (high-frequency electromagnetic waves) to induce muscle contractions and strengthen and tighten your core in a non-invasive fashion. These are all options, however, the abdominoplasty is the gold standard in your particular case for rehabilitation of the abdominal area.

As always, discuss your concerns with a board-certified plastic surgeon (ABPS).

Published on Jul 11, 2012


Barry J. Kaplan, D.O.

Published on Jun 03, 2016

Yes, a tummy tuck is definitely the recommended procedure.

//imgs-origin.edoctors.com/imageresizer/image/user_uploads/58x58_85-1/doctors/8052_1464904819.jpg
Answered by Barry J. Kaplan, D.O.

Yes, a tummy tuck is definitely the recommended procedure.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


ELLIOT B. DUBOYS, MD, FACS

Published on May 09, 2016

Sounds like you might be a candidate for a tummy tuck. Please consult a plastic surgeon who has his/her boards from the American Board of Plastic Surgery. Good luck.

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Answered by ELLIOT B. DUBOYS, MD, FACS

Sounds like you might be a candidate for a tummy tuck. Please consult a plastic surgeon who has his/her boards from the American Board of Plastic Surgery. Good luck.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


Sean Kelishadi, M.D.

Published on Apr 17, 2016

Hello! With pregnancy, the rectus muscles get stretched and their connection in the middle gets separated to accommodate the child's growth. This separation is called a diastasis, where the left and right rectus muscles are no longer attached. The only way to fix this is with a tummy tuck, and it can significantly improve your contour, shape, and tightness of your abdomen.

//imgs-origin.edoctors.com/imageresizer/image/user_uploads/58x58_85-1/doctors/7791_1458150035.jpg
Answered by Sean Kelishadi, M.D.

Hello! With pregnancy, the rectus muscles get stretched and their connection in the middle gets separated to accommodate the child's growth. This separation is called a diastasis, where the left and right rectus muscles are no longer attached. The only way to fix this is with a tummy tuck, and it can significantly improve your contour, shape, and tightness of your abdomen.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


Larry Leverett, MD, FACS

Published on Mar 21, 2016

If you have muscle laxity and loose, stretched skin, the condition is best treated with an abdominoplasty/tummy tuck.

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Answered by Larry Leverett, MD, FACS

If you have muscle laxity and loose, stretched skin, the condition is best treated with an abdominoplasty/tummy tuck.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


Jed Horowitz, M.D., F.A.C.S.

Published on Mar 18, 2016

Sounds like you are an excellent candidate for a tummy tuck. Consult with a board-certified plastic surgeon.

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Answered by Jed Horowitz, M.D., F.A.C.S.

Sounds like you are an excellent candidate for a tummy tuck. Consult with a board-certified plastic surgeon.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


Milind K. Ambe, MD

Published on Mar 17, 2016

If you have had 8 children and your skin in your abdomen is stretched out, then most likely you will benefit from a tummy tuck.

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Answered by Milind K. Ambe, MD

If you have had 8 children and your skin in your abdomen is stretched out, then most likely you will benefit from a tummy tuck.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


Edward Domanskis M.D.

Published on Mar 11, 2016

I would need to see photos, but more than likely a tummy tuck would definitely go a long way towards regaining your body!

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Answered by Edward Domanskis M.D.

I would need to see photos, but more than likely a tummy tuck would definitely go a long way towards regaining your body!

Published on Jul 11, 2012


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