Tummy tuck in Korea corrected postpartum belly sagging and rectus diastasis
Patient Registration Info
| Age | Weight | Height | BMI |
|---|---|---|---|
|
50s |
56kg |
157cm |
23 |
Surgical site
Abdominoplasty, M-type, Triple lock, Navel Correction, Abdomen liposuction
2,800cc
Changes in abdominal shape after childbirth
are a concern that many women
commonly experience.
During pregnancy,
the abdominal skin and rectus muscles
rapidly expand.
After childbirth, rapid reduction in size
leads to loss of skin elasticity
and weakening of abdominal support muscles,
resulting in abdominal muscle separation,
which causes visible changes
in the belly contour.
Over time, many women notice
that the upper abdomen starts collapsing,
and the midsection begins to sag,
creating a distorted appearance.
This transformation is difficult
to reverse naturally.
Especially through exercise or weight loss alone,
it’s nearly impossible
to restore loose skin and separated muscles.
That’s why more women are considering
tummy tuck surgery
to address postpartum skin laxity
and weakened abdominal core structure
that no longer holds a clean contour.
A tummy tuck is a lifting procedure
that is different from fat reduction alone.
It involves suturing the separated rectus muscles
and removing the stretched skin
to restore core tightness and
rebalance the overall bodyline.
Today’s case features a patient
who experienced both skin laxity and
abdominal structure damage after childbirth—
we’ll explore how tummy tuck surgery
can restore function and improve shape
at the same time.
This tummy tuck case features
a patient in her 50s
who had undergone three natural childbirths.
After her first delivery in her 20s,
she experienced no significant change
in body shape or dissatisfaction.
However, in her 40s, after having two more children,
she began to notice visible skin laxity
in her abdomen due to loss of elasticity.
She also underwent a surgical procedure
for a medical issue,
which left her with adhesion and tissue damage
in the abdominal area.
By the time she visited us,
her weight had increased suddenly
by about 10kg,
putting extra pressure on the abdomen
and worsening the sagging skin condition.
Her abdominal wall had sunken
and lost firmness,
and the entire belly area appeared collapsed—
starting from the upper abdomen center.
As someone with a desk job,
she often sat for long hours,
which further intensified abdominal pressure,
leading to rectus muscle separation
and navel asymmetry.
She also had prominent rib cage projection
in the upper abdomen,
which distorted the lines even further
and disrupted the overall silhouette.
In addition to front belly issues,
she also had fat deposits
in the flanks and love handles,
which contributed to a dull, heavy appearance—
causing significant stress about her figure.
Realizing that exercise and diet alone
could not solve the root issue,
she sought a comprehensive procedure
that would correct muscle separation,
remove sagging skin,
and restore body proportions.
That’s what brought her
to Lesarts Plastic Surgery
for a consultation.
To plan the tummy tuck procedure,
we first examined the patient’s condition.
Her abdominal skin elasticity
was significantly reduced overall,
and due to a history of abdominal surgery,
she had developed extensive internal tissue adhesion.
Her rectus abdominis muscles had weakened,
causing the abdominal center to collapse.
While her rib cage appeared prominent,
the abdominal volume had dropped downward,
creating an imbalance between the upper and lower abdomen.
The loose skin from the upper abdomen
extended downward past the navel,
and the weakened abdominal wall support
caused the entire belly to bulge forward.
When we examined her waist-to-abdomen ratio,
she had a wide rib cage and a relatively low waist,
disrupting the balance between her upper and lower body.
In addition, excess fat distributed in the abdomen and flanks
blurred the definition of her waistline.
The sagging that began from the upper abdomen
also pulled the navel downward,
causing wrinkles to form around it
and visibly distorting its shape.
Based on these findings,
we designed a surgical plan to include
a full tummy tuck with rectus muscle plication,
removing loose skin from the upper to lower abdomen,
and restoring firmness from the muscle layer.
As part of the lift, the deformed belly button
was also redesigned to a natural shape,
repositioned in alignment with its original stalk,
to harmonize naturally with the waist level.
Lastly, excess fat in the front abdomen,
flanks, and love handles
was addressed through abdominal liposuction,
to complete a sculpted and three-dimensional contour.
Below are the pre-op and
3-month post-op medical photographs
after the tummy tuck procedure.
In the 3-month before-and-after comparison
of this patient’s tummy tuck surgery,
the pre-op photos showed significant skin sagging
in the lower abdomen, with visible skin folds
and an undefined waist curve,
making the upper and lower body proportions appear imbalanced.
The rectus abdominis was also weakened,
causing a collapsed abdominal center,
and the navel area was asymmetrical,
while the abdomen overall bulged forward,
creating a bulky and uneven appearance.
These issues were addressed through
a tummy tuck combined with muscle plication.
The loose belly skin was removed,
and the abdominal wall was tightened,
resulting in both improved firmness
and a smooth, clean contour
throughout the midsection.
The sagging skin that extended above the navel
was excised, and the navel was redesigned
and repositioned to a more ideal location,
contributing to a more balanced and proportionate look.
Most importantly, with abdominal liposuction performed alongside,
the front abdomen was flattened
and the waistline became more defined,
creating a firm and youthful-looking figure overall.
From the side view, the patient’s
before-and-after photos clearly reveal
the three-dimensional abdominal volume
and line improvements that are less visible from the front.
Before surgery, lower abdominal fat and skin
protruded forward, causing the lower belly
to bulge and the skin to fold downward,
visually adding weight and creating
a heavy, sagging appearance.
In the 3-month post-op photo,
the severely sagging skin beneath the abdomen
was completely corrected, and volume was refined,
resulting in a much more stable body centerline
and a lifted abdomen.
More than just abdominal improvement,
you can now observe a harmoniously balanced upper body contour
throughout the entire torso.
In the bent-over posture,
the patient’s before-and-after photos
showed clear differences in abdominal contour
following an abdominoplasty procedure.
Before surgery, the lower abdominal skin and fat
drooped downward due to a lack of support,
causing the area to fold into two or more layers,
resulting in visible sagging.
These abdominal folds were not just a cosmetic concern—
the folded area often experienced friction and sweat buildup,
which could lead to skin irritation and discomfort,
affecting daily quality of life.
At 3 months post-op, the loose skin was removed,
and rectus muscle repair restored abdominal support,
allowing the abdominal line to hold firm and natural,
even when bending over.
The incision for the abdominoplasty
was placed low on the lower abdomen,
which keeps it well-hidden
and contributes to greater overall satisfaction.
Before surgery, the patient had undergone
three pregnancies and deliveries,
along with abdominal surgery,
which led to a significant loss of abdominal elasticity.
Combined with rectus diastasis
and tissue adhesion,
the central abdominal line had collapsed.
In the lower abdomen, the sagging skin and fat
added visible bulk and heaviness,
while the navel appeared asymmetrically low,
making the entire body line unbalanced.
The folded skin caused additional
discomfort and inconvenience.
To address both external appearance
and structural abdominal issues,
a customized surgical plan was performed—
including abdominoplasty,
rectus muscle plication,
umbilicoplasty, and liposuction.
At 3 months post-op,
the central abdomen has been corrected
to a firmer and more defined shape.
Now, the body shows stable proportions
with a smooth silhouette,
providing both functional and aesthetic satisfaction.
The surgical scar from the abdominoplasty
is healing well, and the patient
has been following proper scar care
and hydration protocols,
so the outcome is expected to continue
improving positively.
Abdominoplasty is not just a cosmetic procedure—
it offers a fundamental solution
to structural changes in the abdomen
caused by childbirth or surgery.
This patient, too, has regained a
balanced waistline and abdominal shape,
restoring confidence in daily life.
The once collapsed and sagging abdomen
has been reshaped,
and a more three-dimensional waistline
has been restored,
relieving long-standing physical and emotional stress.
With regular follow-up checks
and attentive post-op care,
we expect the patient to continue
toward a more stable and satisfying outcome.
#TummyTuck
#Abdominoplasty
#PostpartumBody
#RectusDiastasis
#KoreanPlasticSurgery
#LesartsPlasticSurgery
#BellyLift
#SkinTightening
#MommyMakeover
#BodyContourSurgery
