Stretch marks can be caused by several things. Some women develop them during pregnancy. Their skin stretches quickly to accommodate their growing baby, and they can appear as pink, red, black, blue, or purple lines that may eventually fade a bit to a whiter, scar-like appearance. Stretch marks can also occur if you gain or lose weight very quickly. Some products claim to prevent stretch marks or even fade them after they have appeared, but their effectiveness is questionable.
Stretch Marks and a Tummy Tuck Procedure
Some people opt for a tummy tuck to help improve their appearance and this procedure can reduce the prevalence of stretch marks. A tummy tuck removes sagging and excess skin. If there are stretch marks in the area that is being removed, then those stretch marks would be eliminated. If you have any stretch marks that are outside of the area that’s being targeted by the tummy tuck, those will remain. Pregnancy results in stretch marks on the stomach, so you can expect some of them to be removed with your tummy tuck. It’s common to experience stretch marks on the hips and thighs as well, which wouldn’t be touched by a tummy tuck.
What Does a Tummy Tuck Fix?
The ultimate goal of a tummy tuck is usually to improve the appearance of the abdominal region. It can make the stomach appear much flatter and smoother. However, there are other conditions that can be fixed along with a tummy tuck. For example, diastasis recti is when the muscles in the abdomen split. This is common in women who have been pregnant, especially multiple times. As the stomach is cut away, sutures can be used to reattach this portion of the abdomen, so the muscles are fitting up against one another again.
A tummy tuck can repair sagging skin. Aging is a common cause of sagging skin, but it can also occur when the skin is stretched due to pregnancy or weight gain. Even when that weight is lost, the skin isn’t always able to retract back. The skin is removed through a surgical procedure and pulled tight once again. If there is excess fat in this region, that can be removed by way of a tummy tuck as well.
Can a Tummy Tuck Make Stretch Marks Worse?
Some people worry that a tummy tuck procedure will make stretch marks look worse when remaining skin is pulled tightly back together. It’s very uncommon for these marks to look worse after a tummy tuck. The goal is to remove as much of them as possible. While it may seem like the remaining skin is pulled very dramatically, it’s not to the extent that you would see an elongating of existing stretch marks.
There is a rare instance where people will complain of new stretch marks after their procedure is over. This isn’t common and usually occurs when you’re not working with an experienced professional that knows the proper way to perform a tummy tuck. There is also the possibility that those stretch marks were already on the body but are more prevalent because of swelling that occurs after surgery. Give the body some time to heal before you determine what your results are going to look like.
What Happens to Stretch Marks Above the Belly Button in the Tummy Tuck?
During a tummy tuck procedure, any excess skin that is located below the area of belly button and above the bikini line will be removed. If there are any stretch marks that are located in this area, they will be removed along with the excess skin. If any stretch marks are present in the region above the belly button, they may be moved down. This area of skin is lifted and repositioned during the process of a tummy tuck procedure. If there are stretch marks that are well outside the area that’s being worked on, those will likely remain where they are and will look the same.
Is a Tummy Tuck Right for Me?
Tummy tucks can be done on both men and women who are looking to get rid of sagging skin and potentially stretch marks. You do have to be in good health in order to be approved for this procedure, so you’ll need to be at your desired weight. You don’t want to be faced with your skin changing dramatically once your surgery is over. If you still have weight to lose or are still bouncing back from a pregnancy, you may want to wait a while longer before scheduling anything.
It’s recommended that you wait 12 full months after giving birth to have a tummy tuck done (or any other similar cosmetic procedure). Not only does this take into account the fact that your body is still changing, but you have to plan ahead for your recovery. Having to lift your child and take care of them can be very difficult after surgery.
Schedule a Tummy Tuck Consultation
If you are considering a tummy tuck procedure in Miami to help you achieve the body that you’ve always wanted, you can reach out to Boutinic Aesthetics for more information. We would be happy to answer any questions that you have, and we can get you on the schedule for a consultation with one of our experienced and trusted surgeons.
We understand that stretch marks can be an unsightly part of your body that makes you feel self-conscious. While the removal of stretch marks isn’t something that is usually the primary reason for a tummy tuck, it’s something that can also be achieved.
