“Can I get rid of stretch marks through plastic surgery?”

Stretch marks are tears in the deep part of the skin. They are initially red and then fade. Lasers can make the redness fade sooner but the marks are permanent because they are a scar. Surgery can cut the marks out and we often do this in a tummy tuck.

A typical full abdominoplasty is often performed after bearing children or after moderate weight loss. It can be a powerful procedure that can remove excess skin including stretch marks below the belly button. Fat from both above and below the belly button is also removed and the abdominal muscles are tightened. Often, flank liposuction is added to an abdominoplasty for better contouring.

The improvement in contour depends on many factors. These factors include the extent of skin tightening and plication performed, the amount of pre-operative muscle laxity, the overall attenuation (thinness) of the abdominal wall, the amount of intra-abdominal fat (fat inside the belly), and the amount of subcutaneous fat (fat in the skin). The ideal abdominoplasty patient is at or near their ideal weight, is stable at that weight for a year, is physically and nutritionally healthy, and is looking for help in removing excess, hanging skin. See the following link for more info on abdominoplasty: http://tiny.cc/tummytuck

A detailed examination will help delineate the best surgical option and provide you a custom quote for your situation.

Best,

Dr. David M. Tauber, MD

Thank you for the question. In the case of a pregnancy, the stretch marks are usually in the infraumbilical region (below the belly button). Some may also occur in the flanks. For the former, plastic surgery will help by performing a tummy tuck. The stretched skin with most of the marks will be excised.

Luis A. Laurentin-Perez, MD PhD