(Consultation) Is an abdominal lift surgery the solution for sagging belly skin after childbirth?
Patient Registration Info
| Age | Weight | Height | BMI |
|---|---|---|---|
|
in their 50’s |
66kg |
161cm |
26 |
Surgical site
abdominoplasty, M-type, Triple lock, Navel Correction, abdomen liposuction, pubic area
3000cc
Many women experience changes in their body shape due to pregnancy and childbirth, which often lead to concerns about their appearance.
With the demands of household chores, raising children, and balancing social life, finding time for self-care can be incredibly challenging.
Especially for those who have experienced a multiple pregnancy or given birth to twins or more, there tends to be more significant sagging of the abdominal wall and skin, as well as a loss of skin elasticity, which requires more attention and care.
From the consultation data of patients who visit our clinic, it is clear that, in such cases, diet or exercise alone often cannot fully address these concerns.
As a result, many women are considering abdominal lift surgery to restore sagging and stretched abdominal skin while simultaneously improving body contour.
The concerns about sagging belly skin are often related to external appearance and self-confidence. Over time, this sagging can worsen, leading to additional problems such as sweating, chafing, and itching, which many seek to resolve through abdominal lift surgery.
To explain this in more detail, let’s look at the case of a patient below.
The abdominal lift surgery case we will analyze this time involves a patient in her early 50s who has experienced childbirth, including a twin pregnancy.
In this case, after the twin pregnancy and childbirth, the patient’s abdominal skin became stretched, resulting in severe wrinkling and significant loss of elasticity, which was causing her a lot of stress.
Despite consistent efforts with abdominal dieting after childbirth, she was unable to improve her skin elasticity and the stretched belly, which led her to decide on an abdominal lift surgery. She then visited our clinic seeking a solution.
After assessing the patient’s condition for the abdominal lift surgery, it was found that there was a significant decrease in skin elasticity. The sagging was particularly noticeable above the belly button and in the central lower abdomen, indicating that skin correction was necessary.
The sagging skin extended from the upper abdomen, and since abdominal wall correction was also required, I recommended performing a medium-type abdominal lift.
In addition to the abdominal lift, I planned to combine full abdominal liposuction, including the flanks, to create a more defined waistline.
When performing the medium-type abdominal lift, the skin will be pulled downward, naturally adjusting the position and shape of the belly button. This will help create a more defined waistline.
Now, let’s take a closer look at the changes by comparing the pre-surgery and 2-month post-surgery photos.
When comparing the pre- and post-surgery photos taken from the front, it’s clear that the previously sagging abdominal skin has been tightly lifted, creating a smooth and well-defined front abdominal contour.
In particular, the excess skin in the lower abdomen, which had been severely sagging and overlapping after childbirth, has been removed, and the area below the belly button has naturally been refined.
Not only has the skin been tightened through the abdominal lift, but the correction of the diastasis recti (separation of the abdominal muscles) has also contributed to the tightening of the central abdominal area, improving the overall firmness. Additionally, the waistline has become noticeably slimmer, resembling the effect of wearing a corset.
In the side view, the pre- and post-surgery photos show a dramatic improvement in the sagging abdominal fat.
Before the surgery, the lower abdomen had a heavy, drooping appearance, with folds and overlapping skin, causing the belly to protrude downward. However, after the abdominal lift, abdominal wall tightening, and liposuction, the elasticity has been restored, resulting in a firmer, smoother silhouette.
Despite being in her 50s, the patient now has a sleek, well-defined contour that reflects the successful outcome of the procedure.
In this patient’s case, about three weeks after the abdominal lift surgery, we noticed a seroma, which was promptly treated. The patient actively participated in follow-up visits, and as a result, made a stable recovery.
Since the patient lives outside of Seoul, she communicated her recovery progress through KakaoTalk messages, and visited the clinic for follow-up appointments whenever she was in Seoul.
Abdominal lift surgery has a long recovery period, and continuous monitoring throughout this time is essential.
Even when there are no discomforts, it’s crucial for patients to follow the medical team’s guidance on self-care and adhere to follow-up schedules.
This is key to ensuring a stable and successful recovery. I urge all patients to keep this in mind for their own well-being.
