Leftover baby belly...
ksmorck
Posts: 82 Member
I went to a plastic surgeon this week about a place on my neck. After asking if I'd had any major surgeries and answering yes a c-section, he said he'd like to see my scar/belly. So after evaluating the real reason I was there I showed him my poor traumatized belly (baby is now 16 months old). He told me that what was left would not move with more dieting, exercise, only surgery. I have lost about 40lbs and I sort of knew this in the back of my mind but I'm not satisfied with how I look because of the belly pooch I have left. It was uplifting on one hand because I got confirmation that I had done all I can do to get rid of the fat. He actually told me what I'd been dying to hear that there is very little fat left there. But on the other hand knowing there is nothing I can do to have a flat belly again without coming up with $6000 is rather upsetting! I don't know that surgery would ever even be an option, this just got me to thinking about how hard I have worked and what I see now when I look in the mirror. I'd love to hear from other women who have not so attractive looking bellies, stretch marks, etc. Success stories would be nice, nonsuccess/support stories also! And anyone done the surgery to get rid of the remaining yuckiness...how long did you wait after reaching goal weight to have it done? He actually said I'd be a candidate now and seemed convinced no more of it is going anywhere.
I really like the doctor so please no doctor bashing and saying he's just trying to get my money because its very unlikely he ever will and I told him that. I appreciated his advice and opinions. I'm just trying to get other opinions and stories here from other moms. By the way I love my son with my whole heart and I wouldn't trade him for a flat stomach anyday...he is worth every mark and extra inch.
Kelly
I really like the doctor so please no doctor bashing and saying he's just trying to get my money because its very unlikely he ever will and I told him that. I appreciated his advice and opinions. I'm just trying to get other opinions and stories here from other moms. By the way I love my son with my whole heart and I wouldn't trade him for a flat stomach anyday...he is worth every mark and extra inch.
Kelly
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Replies
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he is a surgeon he will only make money if he operates on you... give it some time and see what happens.0
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I haee a terrible belly that I too beleive will never be flat with out surgery. Maybe your doctor was trying to be nice but he does seem a little money grabbing. If you really are considering this option maybe also get another opinion. I know that there are lots of success stories on here for c - section mums that havent had surgery. Good luck whatever you decide
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I'm struggling with my belly also.
I had a c-section as well. My skin is so loose. My baby boy was 9lbs 13oz and is 11 months old now. I've lost A LOT more than 30lbs since having him. I can deal with the stretch marks, they don't bother me but the loose skin and the pooch is so depressing. 0 -
I'm struggling with my belly also. I had a c-section as well. My skin is so loose. My baby boy was 9lbs 13oz and is 11 months old now. I've lost A LOT more than 30lbs since having him. I can deal with the stretch marks, they don't bother me but the loose skin and the pooch is so depressing. 0
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Yes it is!0
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I feel your pain... but how long has it been since you've lost the baby weight? The skin WILL shrink back, not all of it, but the appearance will improve. Keep doing what you are doing and give it some more time before you fork out $6K!
This is the second time I am on this journey and after losing 80 lbs the first time around I had some extra skin but it was looking better with every year. And then I had another kid... :happy:0 -
I don't have plastic surgery, but it sounds like he's just trying to make another sale. You went asking about your neck, right? He has no business even thinking about your tummy. It reminds me of the time I went to a salon for an eyebrow wax and the lady said, "You need chin wax too. Too much hair. Moustache so ugly. Look like man." Playing off of our insecurities to make a few extra bucks.0
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My best friend went two weeks overdue and had a 10 lb baby and gained 65 pounds while pregnant. her stomach was the "worst" I'd ever seen post-baby (i've had one myself) and now 4 years later...all that's left to let you know she had her daughter is some stretch marks. Even the guitar tattoo on her stomach looks normal. GIVE IT TIME AND LOTS OF IT.0
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I feel your pain... but how long has it been since you've lost the baby weight? The skin WILL shrink back, not all of it, but the appearance will improve. Keep doing what you are doing and give it some more time before you fork out $6K!
This is the second time I am on this journey and after losing 80 lbs the first time around I had some extra skin but it was looking better with every year. And then I had another kid... :happy:
Thats what I was thinking. I would wait several years before I would even consider it ( it would take more than that to save!, ha) Thanks for the info! I've been maintaining at this weight since June.0 -
I have had 4 babies, all by c-section. I have that hangover pouch that will never go away. I am below my pre-pre-pre-pre-pregnancy weight. There is no fat in that area, just the extra skin from stretching so many times. I am okay with it (most of the time), but it would be nice to have it removed - then add a breast augmentation - breastfeeding ruined the boobs. LOL
In the end, it is my body, I am proud of what I have accomplished. Be proud of your body! It's not easy to grow a human!0 -
My best friend went two weeks overdue and had a 10 lb baby and gained 65 pounds while pregnant. her stomach was the "worst" I'd ever seen post-baby (i've had one myself) and now 4 years later...all that's left to let you know she had her daughter is some stretch marks. Even the guitar tattoo on her stomach looks normal. GIVE IT TIME AND LOTS OF IT.
^^^ this gives me a little bit of hope0 -
You're 16 months out from having a c-section and you just had a plastic surgeon try and make a sale.
Please don't take that too much to heart. He's trying to make a living on your insecurities. I have the VERY same belly, scar, pooch and whatnot. Now that I'm within 10 lbs of where I want my weight to settle, I'm even more positive that I can get rid of it.
I had an appointment booked for a full mommy lift - tummy tuck, breast lift and augmentation. I ended up canceling the surgery. The tummy tuck is crazy invasive and the healing can take a long time.
Are you at a healthy body weight now? Try adding muscle and cutting a bit more fat to see. Even if the doctor says you have very little fat left (which is probably true), consider the source. He's someone who wants you to get surgery. Try asking a trainer, your GP or any other health or fitness professional.
I'm just starting a lifting program and eating closer to maintenance in order to eventually do a proper bulk to put on muscle. I believe this will eventually take care of the problem. I think, for me, it's just going to take being VERY lean to get rid of the belly fat. But then, I've always held any extra fat right on my waistline (apple shaped).
But I know your struggle... I want to love my body too...0 -
I don't have plastic surgery, but it sounds like he's just trying to make another sale. You went asking about your neck, right? He has no business even thinking about your tummy. It reminds me of the time I went to a salon for an eyebrow wax and the lady said, "You need chin wax too. Too much hair. Moustache so ugly. Look like man." Playing off of our insecurities to make a few extra bucks.
Yes I'm very aware, I don't trust doctors at all. But I did tell him it was not even an option, which it most likely never will be.0 -
A plastic surgeon asked you to see your C-section scar and immediately told you that plastic surgery is the only way to make it look better?
SKEPTICAL CAT IS SKEPTICAL
Of course losing weight will improve your baby belly. Why don't you do that first and if you're still not happy, then consider plastic surgery?0 -
Thank you!0 -
My best friend went two weeks overdue and had a 10 lb baby and gained 65 pounds while pregnant. her stomach was the "worst" I'd ever seen post-baby (i've had one myself) and now 4 years later...all that's left to let you know she had her daughter is some stretch marks. Even the guitar tattoo on her stomach looks normal. GIVE IT TIME AND LOTS OF IT.
what she said0 -
A plastic surgeon asked you to see your C-section scar and immediately told you that plastic surgery is the only way to make it look better?
SKEPTICAL CAT IS SKEPTICAL
Of course losing weight will improve your baby belly. Why don't you do that first and if you're still not happy, then consider plastic surgery?
Ummmm... I have lost weight all I have to lose actually. As I said there is little to no fat left there to lose.0 -
My best friend went two weeks overdue and had a 10 lb baby and gained 65 pounds while pregnant. her stomach was the "worst" I'd ever seen post-baby (i've had one myself) and now 4 years later...all that's left to let you know she had her daughter is some stretch marks. Even the guitar tattoo on her stomach looks normal. GIVE IT TIME AND LOTS OF IT.
^^^ this gives me a little bit of hope
Yes me too! Thanks!0 -
i dont have a success story for you but i do believe that some of us women are just stuck with our baby bellies for good, even with weight loss, ive got 2, one is 5 the other just turned 4 saturday. although i weigh a bit more now '164', before my daughter was concieved i weighed 118lbs i looked great but my stomach wasnt flat. i had a pudge still. i will say that my mother did have a tummy tuck (reconstuctive surgery for breast cancer) and she had a pudge also that is now no longer existatnt. im not really for surgery but again i dont know what id do if given the chane, id love a flat tummy...shoot when im bloated youd probly guess i was prego!! >:( 0
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You're 16 months out from having a c-section and you just had a plastic surgeon try and make a sale.
Please don't take that too much to heart. He's trying to make a living on your insecurities. I have the VERY same belly, scar, pooch and whatnot. Now that I'm within 10 lbs of where I want my weight to settle, I'm even more positive that I can get rid of it.
I had an appointment booked for a full mommy lift - tummy tuck, breast lift and augmentation. I ended up canceling the surgery. The tummy tuck is crazy invasive and the healing can take a long time.
Are you at a healthy body weight now? Try adding muscle and cutting a bit more fat to see. Even if the doctor says you have very little fat left (which is probably true), consider the source. He's someone who wants you to get surgery. Try asking a trainer, your GP or any other health or fitness professional.
I'm just starting a lifting program and eating closer to maintenance in order to eventually do a proper bulk to put on muscle. I believe this will eventually take care of the problem. I think, for me, it's just going to take being VERY lean to get rid of the belly fat. But then, I've always held any extra fat right on my waistline (apple shaped).
But I know your struggle... I want to love my body too...
Thats where I hold my weight too, although I did have a flat belly years ago. I am at a healthy weight now. Actually very happy with where my weight is just not the belly pooch. If I lose anymore I won't be able to sit on hard surfaces anymore as my poor butt has NO cushioning left! I lift 3x a week and run 3x a week.0 -
You're 16 months out from having a c-section and you just had a plastic surgeon try and make a sale.
Please don't take that too much to heart. He's trying to make a living on your insecurities. I have the VERY same belly, scar, pooch and whatnot. Now that I'm within 10 lbs of where I want my weight to settle, I'm even more positive that I can get rid of it.
I had an appointment booked for a full mommy lift - tummy tuck, breast lift and augmentation. I ended up canceling the surgery. The tummy tuck is crazy invasive and the healing can take a long time.
Are you at a healthy body weight now? Try adding muscle and cutting a bit more fat to see. Even if the doctor says you have very little fat left (which is probably true), consider the source. He's someone who wants you to get surgery. Try asking a trainer, your GP or any other health or fitness professional.
I'm just starting a lifting program and eating closer to maintenance in order to eventually do a proper bulk to put on muscle. I believe this will eventually take care of the problem. I think, for me, it's just going to take being VERY lean to get rid of the belly fat. But then, I've always held any extra fat right on my waistline (apple shaped).
But I know your struggle... I want to love my body too...
Thats where I hold my weight too, although I did have a flat belly years ago. I am at a healthy weight now. Actually very happy with where my weight is just not the belly pooch. If I lose anymore I won't be able to sit on hard surfaces anymore as my poor butt has NO cushioning left! I lift 3x a week and run 3x a week.
Thanks by the way! I like the term mommy lift! I need it all also!0 -
The doctor was absolutely a money grubber, but I know some bellies don't bounce back no matter what a woman does. I have friends with 20 year old kids that are fit and still have loose, shrivelly (probably not a word, huh?) skin. We aren't all built the same. Of course get to a weight/size you're 100% happy with, do lots of strength training, and see where you end up. Some people have surgery, and that's okay. It's not for me, but I'm sure it's hard to hear everyone tell you you're just not doing enough. The woman in the pictures that were linked clearly had fabulous skin to work with. Not everyone can be so lucky.0
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A plastic surgeon asked you to see your C-section scar and immediately told you that plastic surgery is the only way to make it look better?
SKEPTICAL CAT IS SKEPTICAL
Of course losing weight will improve your baby belly. Why don't you do that first and if you're still not happy, then consider plastic surgery?
Ummmm... I have lost weight all I have to lose actually. As I said there is little to no fat left there to lose.
I'm not trying to be a jerk, but If you didn't have fat to lose then you wouldn't be trying to get rid of fat.
It's always possible to take off body fat. It doesn't mean you're going to enjoy what it takes to take that little bit of body fat off and keep it off. From personal experience - I had a very flat stomach for a year but it took too strict a diet to keep it off, and now I'm fine with a small amount of "pooch" because I know it's not worth it. Is it possible to get rid of without surgery? Yes. But even if you DO get a tummy tuck or equivalent, you'll still be prone to gaining fat in that area... My response wasn't intended to be snarky, when someone responds with "ummmm..." I assume they are responding to something they find offensive. I'm not trying to be offensive, but if you have any body fat, then it's possible to get rid of it without surgery.
Edit: Unless what you're looking at isn't fat, but skin, then yes it would probably mean surgery
I mostly responded because your plastic surgeon was so laughably trying to "up-sell" you it was like he wasn't even trying to conceal it :P0 -
I have the same and my son is now 8, it doesnt go back. He was 9.5 lbs. and 22.5 inches long and I was 5'3" 115 size zero to start! To know if you have loose skin or just a fat pooch its all in the appearance of your belly button. If it still looks normal and intact its just fat. If its completely caved in and no longer looks like a belly button then its skin. I had a doc tell me the same btw at 6 weeks! he isnt lying or trying to make a buck its most likely the truth.
I havent had the surgery yet as I am a huge chicken :-)
Its upsetting and makes you super self conscience I feel your pain. No matter how fit I am I will never wear a bikini again unless I opt for surgery I am doomed to Monokinis!0 -
I got the pooch....ugh... baby is 4 weeks old now, and I was in the best shape of my life before....I am hoping it will go away! and the stretchmarks..ugh...they would be the only reason I would get a tummy tuck....
lol, and I have to add, that while I was typing this, I was indulging in a krispy kreme donut.....so nope, this pooch probably isnt going anywhere!0 -
Last time I was at GNC picking up my supplements/vitamins the guy that worked there showed me a picture of his wife on his phone (it wasn't random..I too was complaining about my belly skin). His wife had 3 kids, and now competes in fitness competitions, no surgery, just hard work and time. This woman looked amazing!! Flat stomach, tight skin! You'd never even know she had kids! The guy assured me that if I kept eating healthy and exercising that the skin will tighten up over time...but he did emphasize...TIME. It really does take a few years apparently.
My youngest is going to be 2 in December, and I'm still trying to get everything tight again. It's looks like it's starting to tighten up a bit, but I still have a long way to go!
(The worst is when you're on your hands and knees doing an exercise or in a downward dog and you can see the skin hanging down eh!? OMG!!! It makes me cringe every time!!)
Hang in there!! Keep up the great work you've already been doing! 0 -
The doctor was absolutely a money grubber, but I know some bellies don't bounce back no matter what a woman does. I have friends with 20 year old kids that are fit and still have loose, shrivelly (probably not a word, huh?) skin. We aren't all built the same. Of course get to a weight/size you're 100% happy with, do lots of strength training, and see where you end up. Some people have surgery, and that's okay. It's not for me, but I'm sure it's hard to hear everyone tell you you're just not doing enough. The woman in the pictures that were linked clearly had fabulous skin to work with. Not everyone can be so lucky.
Thank you I so totally agree! That linked picture, mine doesn't look like the before at all. And yes shrivelly may not be a word but thats what it is. Shrivelly cottage cheese looking skin! I'm happy with my weight and I wear smaller pants than it appears I should because theres nothing there but skin and the pants just squeeze it right down. I do not think surgery is for me either, would've told you no way EVER especially after going through a c-section...just something to think about!0 -
Dont look into surgery just yet. Even though i am currently pregnant. i did weigh over 300lbs at one time. I lost over 130lbs and even though i still had stretchy skin i did have a flat stomach. ( there are still some pictures on my page). It will take some time for the skin to go back. I was fat for YEARS and you were just pregnant for 9 months so it should slowly get back to normal. My go to workouts were anythign with core and weight lifting to lose that pooch0
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A plastic surgeon asked you to see your C-section scar and immediately told you that plastic surgery is the only way to make it look better?
SKEPTICAL CAT IS SKEPTICAL
Of course losing weight will improve your baby belly. Why don't you do that first and if you're still not happy, then consider plastic surgery?
Ummmm... I have lost weight all I have to lose actually. As I said there is little to no fat left there to lose.
I'm not trying to be a jerk, but If you didn't have fat to lose then you wouldn't be trying to get rid of fat.
It's always possible to take off body fat. It doesn't mean you're going to enjoy what it takes to take that little bit of body fat off and keep it off. From personal experience - I had a very flat stomach for a year but it took too strict a diet to keep it off, and now I'm fine with a small amount of "pooch" because I know it's not worth it. Is it possible to get rid of without surgery? Yes. But even if you DO get a tummy tuck or equivalent, you'll still be prone to gaining fat in that area... My response wasn't intended to be snarky, when someone responds with "ummmm..." I assume they are responding to something they find offensive. I'm not trying to be offensive, but if you have any body fat, then it's possible to get rid of it without surgery.
Edit: Unless what you're looking at isn't fat, but skin, then yes it would probably mean surgery
I mostly responded because your plastic surgeon was so laughably trying to "up-sell" you it was like he wasn't even trying to conceal it :P
Not saying its NO fat, but it is huge amounts of skin.0
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