Can a Tummy Tuck Remove Stretch Marks?

If stretch marks are concentrated on loose skin below the belly button, a tummy tuck may remove some of them along with that excess skin. The procedure is not specifically a stretch mark treatment, however, and marks outside the portion being removed will remain. At Park Meadows Cosmetic Surgery in Lone Tree, Colorado, our board-certified plastic surgeon Jeremy Z. Williams, MD completed plastic surgery training at The Johns Hopkins Hospital and plans tummy tuck surgery around each patient’s anatomy, not around stretch marks alone.

Which Stretch Marks May Be Removed?

During a tummy tuck, excess abdominal skin and fat are removed and the remaining tissue is repositioned. Any stretch marks located on the section that is surgically excised leave with it. Marks higher on the abdomen or outside the planned treatment area usually stay in place, although their position may shift somewhat as the remaining tissue is tightened.

How much can change depends on where the marks sit and how much excess tissue can safely be removed. A full tummy tuck usually addresses more of the abdomen than a mini tummy tuck, which is limited to concerns below the navel. Our article on whether a tummy tuck is worth it discusses stretch mark reduction as one possible benefit rather than the main purpose of surgery.

Look Beyond the Stretch Marks

Most people considering abdominoplasty are dealing with more than lines on the skin. Pregnancy, aging, and significant weight changes can leave lax tissue, stubborn fat, or stretched abdominal muscles. A full tummy tuck can remove excess skin and fat and repair weakened or separated muscles when needed.

It also helps to understand how abdominoplasty differs from other body contouring options. Liposuction can reduce isolated pockets of fat but does not remove a large amount of loose tissue. For women whose abdominal changes developed after pregnancy, tummy tuck surgery may also be included in a mommy makeover alongside procedures for the breasts or other areas.

What Should You Expect From the Result?

Stretch marks alone usually are not a reason to choose abdominoplasty. A better question is whether loose abdominal skin is the concern you want corrected and whether some of your marks happen to fall within the tissue that will be removed.

During a consultation, we can examine their location and show you which portion of the abdomen surgery would address. If you are considering a tummy tuck in Lone Tree, contact us at Park Meadows Cosmetic Surgery or call 303-706-1100. Our surgeons can explain what is likely to change, what will remain, and whether a full or mini approach better matches your anatomy.