Stretch Marks and Tummy Tucks

By A Aaronson

Stretch marks are red or purple lines in the skin, that often turn silvery or white over time. They are the result of rapid weight gain or loss, or from rapid growth of bones and tissues. For women, the most common time for developing them is during pregnancy.

Men often develop them during teenage growth spurts, when the arms and legs are growing rapidly and the skin is being stretched intensely to keep up with the growth. And of course, massive weight gain or loss can make them appear on the upper arms, thighs, buttocks, lower backs, stomach, and breasts.

Stretch marks certainly fade over time, but they never completely disappear on their own. Fortunately there are several different treatments available for these pesky lines, one of the most effective being abdominoplasty, or a tummy tuck.

What is a Tummy Tuck?

Abdominoplasty, also known as a tummy tuck, is a cosmetic surgery designed to remove excess skin from the abdomen area and tighten up the underlying muscles, creating a firmer looking torso. During the plastic surgery, a skilled surgeon makes an incision from hip to hip, running along the public bone.

The belly button tissue is cut out to be repositioned later. Then the skin is loosened from the muscles and tissues and the muscles are sutured together to make them tighter and better positioned. If liposuction is desired it is performed at this stage of the cosmetic surgery. Then the abdomen is pulled tight, the excess skin is removed, the belly button tissue is reinserted, and the remaining skin is stitched back together at the incision line.

Obviously this procedure can only get rid of stretch marks on the lower stomach and hips, and is therefore ideal for women seeking to eliminate the reminders of pregnancy. If there is plenty of excess skin after pregnancy and the stretch marks are located toward the lower abdomen, most of the stretch marks will be removed with the excision of the extra skin.

There are a few risks to an abdominoplasty that patients should be aware of. First, there will be a significant recovery and healing process as a tummy tuck is a major surgery. The recovery period will involve resting for about a week. There will also be some bruising, swelling, and scarring as the body works to repair itself. Any discomfort can be managed with prescribed pain medication.

Other Procedures

Tummy tucks or abdominoplasty surgeries are not the only ways to get rid of stretch marks though. If you have stretch marks on your upper arms, an arm lift can remove those white lines by removing the skin where they are located. The same is true of stretch marks on the hips, thighs, and buttocks. There is a procedure for each of those areas.

And of course, even if you have a cosmetic surgery performed to eliminate some of them, it is important to maintain a healthy lifestyle and get regular exercise. This will help your body stay healthy and prevent more stretch marks in the future.

When you need to get rid of stretch marks after pregnancy, contact a board-certified surgeon in Baltimore Abdominoplasty can help where exercise and diet cannot, to get back your looks and figure. Find out more about tummy tuck surgery at http://www.drcohenplasticsurgery.com/.