My wife is getting diet, cardio, and weight training going and seeing results. Can anything be done, short of a tummy tuck, to work on the extra saggy stomach skin that's there simply from having children? The more fat she loses the more saggy it will be right? Ideas?
Thanks

Only thing she can do is wait. In time, the skin will return.

Lose weight slowly (1=lb. per week or less) to avoid aggrevating stretch marks or creating more. Use cocoa butter. Tons of it. And be patient. Losing weight slowly allows the skin to tighten up as the body contracts in response to fat loss.

My wife lost almost 25-lbs. last year in a figure contest preparation and is in the process of doing the same this year - in a very short time frame - 13 weeks. Long story, but she gained her weight back. She has no stretch marks even at that rapid weight loss. Bear in mind she's never had a baby... but she would have had excess skin had she not lotioned and stayed hydrated as she used to have more of a belly on her.

It's a highly individual thing. Some women can spring back to a flat tummy in about nine months to a year without much problem. Other women might need to get to a lower weight than they were prepregnancy to have the same flat tummy. A handful might need a tummy tuck, but in most cases I think you can get the results you need with the right fat loss and muscle building techniques.

Even though this is an old topic, I found it interesting and wanted to reply. For some of us, whose skin was severly stretched out from pregnancies, the skin WILL not return to where it was. Some of my stretch marks are deep and the width of my finger. I have lost almost all of the fat under the skin in my abdomen, so the skin just hangs a bit... Bodyfat is at 12.8. I think I would need a tummy tuck for it to look perfect. But in a pair of jeans, my stomach looks flat for the most part.
With my first pregnancy, I put on 50 lbs, and 20 of it was in the last two months. My daughter weighed 9lbs. 12oz. I also retained a lot of water, which I didn't have a whole lot of control over... and lost 30 lbs. by 10 days postpartum. With child number 2, I put on like 60 lbs. and had a lot of water as well, same issue lost 30 lbs by about 10 to 12 days postpartum. And because of my skin's elasticity and genetics, acquired even more stretch marks. That is just the way the cookie crumbles. Daughter number 2 is now 3 1/2 and I am down 77 from the day I delivered her and in the best shape and health of my life. And although my abdomen isn't perfect, I have a couple of cute kids.

I would have to add, she will probably need that nip and tuck if she has bad stretch marks. I have had 5 beautiful boys. I never gained more than 25lbs.. but my first son destroyed my stomach. Though my bf is 8.50%, my abs dont show as well as they should(as in there should be ripped!) due to all the lose skin that sags and hangs. I am going to give it about a year and then consider a tuck.

There are some times when diet, ab exercises and all the miracles in the world won't help sagging skin, only a skilled plastic surgeon can do that.

I have 4 children (1 set of twins). In between my 3rd and 4th child, I was at my heaviest weight - 250 lbs. Over the course of 4 years (with a pregnancy stalling me for a year in there), I lost 115 pounds. I joined WW and exercised....alot!

There was nothing that could help my skin. Some people have great elasticity and some don't. I, unfortunately, do not. But then again, after being overweight for almost 9 years, who could blame my skin? I ruined it!

I started pilates about a year ago and faithfully did it - 5 times a week, sometimes more. It was a miracle - I could actually see some of my upper abs.....but my hanging skin (which hung down to my almost mid-thigh when standing up) was not doing anything.

I saw a plastic surgeon about having abdominoplasty surgery (tummy tuck) and had her confirm what I already knew.

I had my tummy tuck done December 9th, 2004. This was the best thing I ever did for myself - and the most expensive. As soon as I'm able to do strenous ab workouts - I'll be a happy camper.

BTW - stretch marks above the belly button will still be there after a tuck - they will just be lower. But, any stretch marks below the belly button will be gone.

Jenn

It's a highly individual thing. Some women can spring back to a flat tummy in about nine months to a year without much problem. Other women might need to get to a lower weight than they were prepregnancy to have the same flat tummy. A handful might need a tummy tuck, but in most cases I think you can get the results you need with the right fat loss and muscle building techniques.


I agree!

With me it took over 3 years, lots of excersize and losing a bunch of weight. After I lost my weight and before getting really toned I could get in push up position and the lower part of my tummy would hang 4-5 inches. Talk about SICK.

Make sure when doing ab excercises that she targets each of the ab muscles.

Pam

BTW - stretch marks above the belly button will still be there after a tuck - they will just be lower. But, any stretch marks below the belly button will be gone.

That was what I was affraid of . I havent had a consultation yet but wondered what happens to the many stretch marks that I have above the belly button, that will also need to be repostitioned.

Sigh, even then I still wont be able to show my abs :(

Ileen,

Don't give up hope! You may be able to show off your abs....

The stretch marks that I have left are all under my bb now. They aren't quite as visible since the skin is pulled tight...however, they are still there.

I don't know what kind of stretch marks you have - but mine were/are raised....almost like snakes under the skin, gross...I know.

But honestly, I wouldn't have any problem showing off anything above my bb....

Good luck!
Jenn

they are pretty deep and gross too lol. I was young when we had our first son, only 19. He is the one that caused all the damage. They run 3 inches above the bbutton down under as well. They surely wont be gone but maybe when stretch not nearly as noticable. I HOPE!

I am doing everything I can for as long as I can push the mark before I consider having it done. I know it will probably tighten a wee bit more, but never not hand. It has taken me 2yrs to get this far.

Bboynut,
Thanks for posting your experience. This was the kind of stuff I needed to hear. My high stretch marks are up on my hips. I have a couple thare just a tad above my belly button. But most all the other deep, snake like ones are below belly button, but they are bad. "The Road Map" "raisin Skin" "Tiger claw marks" I have many names for them! :lol: I also saw on Extreme Makeover last week or the week before, that even after a tuck, the one lady had some stretch marks. She went to the skin lady - Ava Shambam and they did some laser pulsing stuff to lighten those up, so that might be a further option for you?

Pam, I so understand about the saggiy skin when doing pushups. LOL...