Worried about a sagging belly after childbirth? restore a toned abdomen with tummy tuck surgery
Patient Registration Info
| Age | Weight | Height | BMI |
|---|---|---|---|
|
in their 30’s |
50kg |
158cm |
20 |
Surgical site
abdominoplasty, M-type, Triple lock, Navel Correction, abdomen liposuction
1700cc
During pregnancy and childbirth, the abdomen undergoes rapid and dramatic changes.
The skin stretches, the abdominal wall loosens, and the muscles weaken as the body adapts.
In particular, for those who have experienced multiple pregnancies, diastasis recti—where the abdominal muscles separate—can lead to a noticeable loss of firmness, causing the abdomen to protrude or sag.
This change is often compared to a balloon that has been inflated for a long time and then suddenly deflates—leaving the skin wrinkled and loose, unable to return to its original state.
Even with consistent weight loss through diet and exercise, it’s often difficult to restore firmness to the abdominal area, as stretched skin and separated muscles don’t easily bounce back.
Because of these ongoing issues, more people are turning to tummy tuck surgery to address sagging skin and diastasis recti.
It’s important to note that a tummy tuck is very different from liposuction.
Rather than simply removing fat, a tummy tuck is a body-lifting procedure that involves removing excess skin and tightening the separated abdominal muscles for a firmer, flatter appearance.
In this post, we’ll take a closer look at the case of a patient who struggled with loose abdominal skin and muscle separation after childbirth, and how tummy tuck surgery helped transform her body.
This patient is a woman in her late 30s with experience of two childbirths.
She had gone through both vaginal delivery and a cesarean section, and over time began to notice a loss of skin elasticity in her abdomen, leading to visible sagging and changes in her abdominal contour.
As time passed after childbirth, the sagging in her lower abdomen became more severe.
Additionally, due to diastasis recti—where the abdominal muscles separate—her abdomen began to protrude forward, even without significant weight gain.
Most of all, this issue made her waistline appear thicker and caused an overall lack of firmness in her abdominal area.
She often felt discomfort when wearing clothes, as the skin would bulge under clothing and disrupt the overall silhouette.
Although she maintained a consistent routine of exercise and dietary control, the loose abdominal skin did not recover naturally, and the protruding abdominal wall continued to prevent her from achieving a flat stomach.
Ultimately, she decided that the root cause of these problems needed to be addressed, which led her to choose tummy tuck surgery and visit our clinic for treatment.
Through a detailed consultation and examination, we closely analyzed the patient’s condition.
As a result of two pregnancies and childbirths, she had experienced a significant loss of skin elasticity, along with evident diastasis recti.
The central area of her abdomen was notably protruding due to the separation of the rectus muscles, lacking firmness and structure.
Additionally, the lower abdominal skin sagged heavily downward, resulting in an uneven overall abdominal contour.
Even though the patient had not experienced significant weight fluctuations after childbirth, the extended abdominal wall made it difficult for her abdomen to appear smooth, and the waistline lacked definition.
To address these concerns, we formulated a surgical plan consisting of the following components:
1. M-Type Tummy Tuck (Abdominoplasty)
We planned to perform an M-type tummy tuck to remove the sagging skin and restore firmness to the abdominal area.
This approach also included tightening the stretched abdominal wall, helping to create a flatter, more toned abdominal surface.
2. Umbilicoplasty (Navel Reshaping)
Due to the skin sagging from the upper abdomen, the navel had shifted downward and lost its original shape.
Along with the lifting procedure, we planned a vertical-style umbilicoplasty to reposition and aesthetically reshape the belly button.
3. Abdominal Liposuction
To refine the waistline and enhance the overall silhouette, we included abdominal liposuction targeting fat accumulation around the waist and lower back areas.
Now, let’s take a closer look at the surgical procedure and the results observed two months after the tummy tuck.
Before the surgery, the patient’s abdomen showed a noticeable bulge in the central area, with the lower abdominal skin overlapping and sagging prominently.
The waistline was also undefined, contributing to an overall heavy and unbalanced appearance.
Two months after the tummy tuck surgery, the results are clearly visible.
Thanks to the tightened rectus muscles and lifted excess skin, the abdomen from the center down to the lower belly appears much flatter and more contoured.
The previously visible wrinkles in the lower abdomen have disappeared, and the overall abdominal area now shows improved firmness and elasticity.
When comparing the before-and-after results from a diagonal angle,
the pre-surgery abdomen appeared heavy and sagging in the lower region,
with an indistinct transition between the waist and abdominal area.
After the tummy tuck surgery, the abdomen is noticeably more defined,
and the waistline has been restored, giving the upper body a more refined and contoured look.
In particular, the more pronounced waist curve has helped bring balance and firmness back to the post-pregnancy figure.
The patient expressed high satisfaction with the transformed abdominal and waistline following the procedure.
Before the tummy tuck surgery, when bending forward,
the skin from the mid to lower abdomen folded into multiple creases,
forming deep wrinkles. This was due to both stretched skin and diastasis recti,
which caused the abdominal area to protrude forward.
In contrast, after the surgery, the same movement revealed a significantly improved appearance—
with the skin tightened and the abdominal contour secured and firm,
resulting in a much more toned and refined look.
The patient is currently in the second month of recovery following a tummy tuck surgery.
Her abdomen, which had been significantly sagging and wrinkled after childbirth,
has become noticeably firmer. In particular, the uneven bulging of the abdomen caused
by diastasis recti has been successfully corrected and stabilized.
Notably, the navel area has also been improved—
excess surrounding skin has been tightened, and the newly created vertical belly button
has been repositioned for a more natural and aesthetically pleasing appearance.
As a result, not only has the lifting effect been enhanced, but the waistline
now appears slimmer and more defined.
The surgical scar is healing steadily.
At two months post-op, some redness still remains, which is a normal part of the healing process.
With continued follow-up visits and proper scar management,
it is expected that the incision line will gradually fade over time,
eventually becoming a thin and faint line.
The patient has also been consistently using silicone sheets and maintaining good skin hydration,
both of which have contributed to a smooth recovery process.
Because healing can vary from person to person,
we once again emphasized the importance of tailored follow-up care
and attentive post-operative management based on her current condition.
It’s important to understand that postpartum abdominal changes
aren’t solely due to weight gain or fat accumulation—
they are often a result of complex factors such as diastasis recti, skin laxity, and loss of elasticity.
In such cases, it can be very difficult to restore a toned abdominal contour
through diet and exercise alone. A proper medical diagnosis and
surgical approach tailored to the individual’s condition is often necessary.
Tummy tuck surgery offers both functional restoration of the abdominal wall
and aesthetic enhancement of body contour,
making it a highly effective solution for those struggling
with abdominal sagging after childbirth.
In this patient’s case, the surgery has successfully restored harmony
to her abdominal and waist contours, leading to noticeable improvements
in her daily comfort and confidence.
We hope her progress and transformation offer meaningful insight and encouragement
to others who may be experiencing similar concerns.
