Many women whom have had multiples consider having a tummy tuck at some point as a result of the large apron of loose muscle and skin which remains around the belly long after their multiples have grown. In order to help you learn what a tummy tuck involves, the following offers some insight into the procedure and what you might expect.

This information is not presented as medical advice.Check with your healthcare professional about your own personal situation. The best thing you can do for yourself is to be informed about your decision. The following is offered as a place for you to begin.

Please be aware that tummy tucks are NOT recommended until you decide to not get pregnant again, and a breast repair/reduction may very well impede attempts to breastfeed.

Why would I consider a Tummy Tuck?

While pregnant with twins or more (and sometimes for large singletons), the abdominal muscles and belly skin, slowly stretch to accommodate the growing babies. The longer the gestational period, the better for the babies and also the greater the stretch for Mom’s abdominal muscles. Anecdotally, taller women find it easier to carry two or more babies because there is more room in the torso. It can be less of a strain on their bodies than for shorter women. Shorter women have to get the same amount of babies into a much smaller space.

How the Repair Generally Works

The belly cut is made hip to hip much like a caesarian section but the muscles don’t have to be cut through like a caesarean. The cut is down to the muscles themselves. The overstretched muscles are pulled downwards toward the incision and tacked in place on each side and the middle. These three “tacking points” are usually the last places to heal. No muscles are usually removed or cut. The muscles are, in a sense, pleated and gathered, much like curtains and then tacked just above the pubic bone. As a result, the navel is drawn down because there is also excess skin (which is cut away and removed). A fake navel is created and sewn into the appropriate place on the abdomen.

The last step of the surgery is liposuction. This is done from just below the breasts to the top of the navel because if only the lower abdominal muscles are tightened, there would remain a ledge between the upper and lower abdomen. Liposuction allows the line of the belly to run smoothly from under the breasts to the pubic area.

You can expect to have drains in either side of the belly for at least two days post op to drain off any excess fluid.

Breast Surgery, should you choose to have it – Caution: The following is very graphic……

If your breasts have stretched from being pregnant, breastfeeding or a great weight loss, you may decide to look at having them repaired at the same time, or a later date. If the breasts are repaired, the cuts are made below the breast and along the chest wall to be less visible. As the surgeon is dealing with excess skin and tissue, these excesses are usually cut out as wedges and removed, tightening and pulling up the breast. The aeriola and nipple is cut out, repositioned and sewn back onto the repaired breast to make them look as natural as possible.

What I didn’t realize prior to surgery

What I was not aware of was that liposuctioned areas are numb for some time afterwards due to the fact when fat is siphoned off, surface nerves are interrupted. They must resettle and adjust themselves and this takes a while. Initially was no feeling at all in my liposuctioned area. I could touch my upper abdomen and feel nothing, although very slowly the feelings came back. My lower belly where the muscles were pulled down and tacked has not regained full feeling. If I carry a box of groceries/laundry on the front of my belly for example, I cannot feel where the box is pushing and must take care. What I can feel is the pull of the tacked muscles. It is very uncomfortable and I am fearful that the tacked muscles would come updone. I’m not sure this a realistic fear but it is there nevertheless. My lower belly is left with the sensation of constant, but mild, pins and needles. They aren’t painful and I can live with them (I actually have no choice), but it did not occur to me that I would not have the depth of feeling that I had had before the surgery. It can be expected that how you are feeling about six months post-surgery, will be the best that you can hope for.

Some hints for anyone considering having this surgery: