Stretch Marks - Omaha,NE

Updated on August 24, 2009
M.K. asks from Omaha, NE
7 answers

I recently had my second child and suffer from severe stretch marks around my belly button and wondered if any mothers out there have had a tummy tuck? What was the outcome? How much does it cost? Is it worth it? I had my last child about 5 months ago. My stomach is shrinking some, but not as much as I would like. Many have told me to give it a year, BUT, I work out, and even did some light abdominal work during pregnancy, which I thought wouldn't hurt anything, but now I think it may have. I was lying down in bed last night feeling my stomach and there is a large hole/indentation down the middle of my stomach. I can feel my abs on both sides of the large indentation. Wondering if I tore my rectus abdominus and may never get it back. Help.

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L.M.

answers from St. Cloud on

I have no advice on the tummy tuck but I also do have the hole/indentation and after having four children have not been able to get the muscles to go together or back to the way it was no matter how much exercise I give that area.

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N.C.

answers from Minneapolis on

As others have said before, that "indentation" running down your stomach is just separated abdominals - completely normal. I just wanted to let you know my experience you can know what a long haul it could be. My son is 16 months old and mine are just now starting to come back together. I do wmake workouts a priority (1-3 cardio workouts per week plus 1-3 weight lifting workouts per week) because I am blessed with flexible work hours, a great daycare, and a supportive husband. I focused about 1/3 of my weightlifting workouts on abs (upper, lower and twisting exercises) and do some ab-work after my cardio workouts. I also swim and have found that flip turns are great for the abs. It is a lot of work and I still feel like my body is a different shape compared to pre-preggo. Good luck!

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J.L.

answers from Minneapolis on

nce

C.M.

answers from St. Louis on

I have never had a tummy tuck but have already considered it when I amd one having children. I have read that some women do tear something (maybe the rectus abdominus) during pregnancy and always feel like there is a hole or separation in the middle of their abdomen after pregnancy. However, I felt this 'hole' after having my daughter and eventually it 'closed' back up. So, my advice would be for you to continue doing what you are doing but yes, wait a full year before you decide because that gives your body ample time to go back to where it is supposed to before you have any surgery. Also, talk with a doctor and plastic surgeon. Get both their opinions!!

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J.P.

answers from Minneapolis on

Ah, the wonders of the human body! My youngest child is 5 and I still have a vertical indentation in my abdomen. What my doctor said is that when a woman is pregnant, the abdominal wall actually separates to allow for the growth of the baby. That is normal and necessary. The only real way to fix it is lots of abdominal strengthening exercises after the baby is born. (Also, I've heard that there is a surgical procedure where the doctor actually stitches the abdominal walls back together, but I don't know how well that works or what the risks are.)

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S.K.

answers from Minneapolis on

I got horrible stretch marks with my twins and after a year they started to get much LESS noticeable. I also weigh a bit more than after they were born but am in a smaller pant size... so definitely don't do anything for at least a year b/c your body will change. In fact a reputable doctor wouldn't touch you until at least a year after giving birth - the key word being reputable. I also had a hernia during the pregnancy and it was fixed during my c section - I haven't had an issue with it since. Last but not least I've looked into a Tummy T and I believe it was around 9K... that will vary depending upon where you live. Good Luck!

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M.M.

answers from Milwaukee on

You may have an umbilical hernia. I also had this and had SMs. I had a tummy tuck which was around 5000.00. They didn't get all the SMs but it does look better than it did. My SMs went all the way up past my belly button. When they did the procedure they also corrected the umbilical hernia.

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