Full Tummy Tuck Before and After - Upper Belly Wrinkles, Stretch Marks, Scar Recovery, and Dog-ear Check
Can Full Abdominoplasty improve postpartum abdominal bulging, loose skin, and rectus diastasis?
Yes. Full Abdominoplasty can correct rectus diastasis, remove excess skin,
and improve abdominal wrinkles and stretch marks.
When combined with liposuction, it can also create a flatter abdomen and
a more balanced waist contour for long-lasting results.
Written by Dr.Kukhan Lee, Lesarts Plastic Surgery
This article was written directly by the attending surgeon.
※Unauthorized reproduction, editing, or redistribution is prohibited.※
Hello, I am Kukhan Lee from Lesarts Plastic Surgery.
Pregnancy and childbirth can cause
many lasting changes to a woman’s body.
While body weight often improves
through exercise and a healthy diet,
loose abdominal skin, rectus diastasis,
and pregnancy stretch marks are much more difficult to correct naturally.
Even women with a normal body weight
may continue to notice
a protruding lower abdomen,
wrinkled skin, and persistent skin folds,
which remain common concerns after childbirth.
As the weather becomes warmer,
lighter clothing and swimwear
often make these abdominal changes
feel even more noticeable.
The patient featured today
had consistently managed her body
after childbirth through diet and exercise.
However, she was unable to achieve
the abdominal contour she desired.
Let’s take a closer look
at the changes achieved
with an M-type Full Abdominoplasty
at Lesarts Plastic Surgery.
The patient was a woman
in her 40s,
measuring 162 cm in height
and weighing 51 kg.
Despite maintaining
regular exercise and healthy eating,
her primary concern remained
a persistent lower abdominal bulge
that did not improve.
She had no previous history
of abdominal surgery
and had delivered
all three children naturally.
During pregnancy,
her weight increased
to approximately 70 kg.
After childbirth,
she successfully returned
to her current weight
through continuous self-care.
Nevertheless,
the lower abdomen
continued to protrude,
while loose abdominal skin
and pregnancy stretch marks remained,
causing significant dissatisfaction
with her body contour.
Preoperative Findings Before Full Abdominoplasty – Reduced Skin Elasticity, Stretch Marks, and Abdominal Wrinkles
Physical examination revealed
minimal abdominal fat,
but decreased skin elasticity
and skin laxity were present
in both the upper and lower abdomen.
Pregnancy stretch marks
were distributed throughout the abdomen.
Several shallow wrinkles
were also observed
above the belly button.
These wrinkles were considered
to result from a combination
of skin stretching during pregnancy
and reduced skin elasticity.
While standing comfortably,
the entire abdomen
showed a rounded forward projection,
with the lower abdominal bulge
being particularly noticeable.
Preoperative Findings Before Full Abdominoplasty – Rectus Diastasis, Skin Laxity, and Deep Wrinkles
The stretch marks and wrinkles
above the belly button,
along with the rounded abdominal contour,
strongly suggested the presence
of rectus diastasis.
Physical examination confirmed
a significant separation
of the rectus abdominis muscles
across a wide area
of the abdominal wall.
When bending forward,
the excess skin
and deep abdominal wrinkles
became much more pronounced,
indicating substantial skin laxity.
Based on these findings,
an S-type Mini Abdominoplasty
would not have provided
adequate correction
of the patient’s concerns.
The skin laxity and wrinkles
extending above the belly button,
together with the extensive
rectus diastasis involving
the upper abdomen,
required comprehensive correction
to achieve an optimal outcome.
After a thorough consultation,
we planned an M-type Full Abdominoplasty,
combined with rectus diastasis repair
and umbilicoplasty (belly button reshaping).
In addition,
liposuction was performed
to refine the remaining abdominal fat
and create a smoother,
more natural waist contour.
Below are the patient’s results
9 months after Full Abdominoplasty.
Full Abdominoplasty Results – Stretch Marks, Abdominal Wrinkles, and Dog Ear Evaluation
At 9 months after Full Abdominoplasty,
the most noticeable improvement
can be seen
in the skin above
the belly button.
Before surgery,
the upper abdomen
showed shallow wrinkles,
pregnancy stretch marks,
and visible skin laxity.
Following Full Abdominoplasty,
both the upper and lower abdomen
were corrected together,
resulting in a noticeably smoother
and more refined abdominal contour.
Both ends of the incision
have healed well
without any evidence
of dog ear deformity,
demonstrating stable wound healing.
Even at 9 months after surgery,
the surgical scar
has faded considerably.
The patient continues
regular scar management,
and the scar
is expected to become
even less noticeable over time.
Lesarts Full Abdominoplasty Before and After – Performed by Kukhan Lee
The overall body contour
also improved naturally.
By combining liposuction
with Full Abdominoplasty,
the side waistline
was smoothly refined,
creating a slimmer, more balanced silhouette.
The patient’s preferred
vertically shaped belly button
was also recreated,
resulting in a natural
and harmonious appearance.
Full Abdominoplasty Results – Improvement of Lower Abdominal Skin Folds
Even when bending forward,
the abdomen maintains
a firm and smooth appearance,
without the skin folds
or sagging seen before surgery.
Full Abdominoplasty, Abdominal Wall Repair, and Liposuction Results
Postpartum Abdominal Bulging, Loose Skin, Wrinkles, and Stretch Marks Improved with Full Abdominoplasty at Lesarts
The rectus diastasis
was successfully repaired,
creating a firmer, flatter abdomen
from the front, side,
and oblique views.
The rounded lower abdominal bulge,
which had been the patient’s
greatest concern before surgery,
was dramatically improved
and was nearly eliminated.
This was also the aspect
of the outcome
that the patient
was most satisfied with.
Overall,
the postoperative progress
has been highly satisfactory.
However,
these results
were not achieved
through surgery alone.
The patient’s commitment
to consistent scar care,
regular exercise,
and healthy eating habits
played an essential role
in achieving this outcome.
As I explain
during every consultation,
Full Abdominoplasty
is not the end of body care,
but the beginning
of long-term maintenance.
Once the structural problems
have been corrected surgically,
maintaining a stable body weight
and healthy lifestyle habits
can help preserve
these results for many years.
Many women
lose confidence
because of abdominal changes
after pregnancy and childbirth,
especially when diet and exercise
fail to improve
a persistent lower abdominal bulge.
In many cases,
these changes
are caused not only
by body weight,
but also by changes
in the skin, muscles,
and abdominal wall.
For this reason,
lifestyle modification alone
may not be sufficient
to restore
the desired abdominal contour.
If your abdominal bulge
or loose abdominal skin
persists despite your best efforts,
I encourage you
to seek a professional evaluation
rather than continuing
to struggle on your own.
FAQ
Q1. Who is a good candidate for Full Abdominoplasty?
Patients with persistent lower abdominal bulging, loose skin, or rectus diastasis after pregnancy are
good candidates, especially when these concerns do not improve with diet and exercise.
Q2. Why was M-type Full Abdominoplasty recommended instead of Mini Abdominoplasty?
Because the patient had skin laxity, wrinkles, and rectus diastasis extending above the belly button.
A Mini Abdominoplasty would not have corrected these upper abdominal changes adequately.
Q3. Can Full Abdominoplasty improve stretch marks and abdominal wrinkles?
Yes. Stretch marks and wrinkles located on the excess skin removed during surgery can be significantly improved.
The remaining abdominal skin is also tightened, creating a smoother contour.
Q4. Is liposuction commonly combined with Full Abdominoplasty?
Yes. Combining liposuction helps refine the waistline, remove residual fat, and create a slimmer, more natural body contour.
Q5. How long does it take to see the final results after Full Abdominoplasty?
Noticeable improvement is visible within the first few months, but the contour and scars continue to mature over time.
At around 9–12 months, most patients can appreciate their long-term surgical results.
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