Toning abdomen vs Hanging Loose Skin

[Anonymous]

I have a post c-section mommy pouch. It's been several years and this thing is not going away. I was thinking of taking a core class that is supposed to tone your butt and your gut. However, I'm worried that toning abdominal muscle or losing stomach fat will leave loose hanging skin, like an empty sack. Right now there's a little mommy belly but it's plump. Also, I don't want to lose weight because I'm afraid my boobs will shrink and then those will be empty hanging sacks too. Help!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a post c-section mommy pouch. It's been several years and this thing is not going away. I was thinking of taking a core class that is supposed to tone your butt and your gut. However, I'm worried that toning abdominal muscle or losing stomach fat will leave loose hanging skin, like an empty sack. Right now there's a little mommy belly but it's plump. Also, I don't want to lose weight because I'm afraid my boobs will shrink and then those will be empty hanging sacks too. Help!

Do you care more about how it looks or if you have a strong, functional core? Answer that question and you should have your approach.

[Anonymous]

Ignore PP. What you have is what some call a "mother's apron". Get as fit and toned as you want to be and to your ideal weight. Then ask a plastic surgeon for a pannilulectomy to remove/exciss the flap. You do not want or need a tummy tuck, which is major major work, very expensive and a deadly recovery. Don't let the plastic surgeon talk you into it. All you need is the flap removed and stitched up.

[Anonymous]

Deadly recovery lol. Sorry a tt is the only thing that works.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ignore PP. What you have is what some call a "mother's apron". Get as fit and toned as you want to be and to your ideal weight. Then ask a plastic surgeon for a pannilulectomy to remove/exciss the flap. You do not want or need a tummy tuck, which is major major work, very expensive and a deadly recovery. Don't let the plastic surgeon talk you into it. All you need is the flap removed and stitched up.

I've never heard of that before. I think this is what I need too after having a 9lber via c-section. Excess skin just drapes over the scar. Do you know the approx. cost and recovery time? I assume recovery is less painful than a TT.

[Anonymous]

Op here, I have the excess skin draping over the scar too. Maybe there's some way they could change the way c-sections are performed so this doesn't happen??

Thanks for the replies, I know there are surgical options but I'm not really looking for that. One because of the money but two, every time you go under anesthesia you're taking the risk that you won't wake up. I'm not judging others that do it, just for me it makes me nervous.

But who am I kidding, it's mainly the money Given the chance I'd take my 18yo body back in a heartbeat.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ignore PP. What you have is what some call a "mother's apron". Get as fit and toned as you want to be and to your ideal weight. Then ask a plastic surgeon for a pannilulectomy to remove/exciss the flap. You do not want or need a tummy tuck, which is major major work, very expensive and a deadly recovery. Don't let the plastic surgeon talk you into it. All you need is the flap removed and stitched up.

I've never heard of that before. I think this is what I need too after having a 9lber via c-section. Excess skin just drapes over the scar. Do you know the approx. cost and recovery time? I assume recovery is less painful than a TT.

I'd love details too!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a post c-section mommy pouch. It's been several years and this thing is not going away. I was thinking of taking a core class that is supposed to tone your butt and your gut. However, I'm worried that toning abdominal muscle or losing stomach fat will leave loose hanging skin, like an empty sack. Right now there's a little mommy belly but it's plump. Also, I don't want to lose weight because I'm afraid my boobs will shrink and then those will be empty hanging sacks too. Help!

Do you care more about how it looks or if you have a strong, functional core? Answer that question and you should have your approach.

Self-righteous much? You women who don't care about your looks and who attack posters who DO care are so tiresome, and you pop up on every single thread about weight, fitness, pregnancy weight gain, and personal care. Was that you on the makeup thread, making fun of the OP for using makeup, then proudly boasting that you always let your hair air dry and only ever use moisturizer? And was that you attacking the poster who wanted to stay within the recommended 25-30 pound weight gain parameters? Probably.

I'm sure your husband really appreciates your slovenliness. You should also know that those of us who have some pride of self respect you as much as you respect us. Go ahead and keep priding yourself on looking like a slob; you're making the rest of us look good.

[Anonymous]

It's called a shelf.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a post c-section mommy pouch. It's been several years and this thing is not going away. I was thinking of taking a core class that is supposed to tone your butt and your gut. However, I'm worried that toning abdominal muscle or losing stomach fat will leave loose hanging skin, like an empty sack. Right now there's a little mommy belly but it's plump. Also, I don't want to lose weight because I'm afraid my boobs will shrink and then those will be empty hanging sacks too. Help!

Do you care more about how it looks or if you have a strong, functional core? Answer that question and you should have your approach.

Self-righteous much? You women who don't care about your looks and who attack posters who DO care are so tiresome, and you pop up on every single thread about weight, fitness, pregnancy weight gain, and personal care. Was that you on the makeup thread, making fun of the OP for using makeup, then proudly boasting that you always let your hair air dry and only ever use moisturizer? And was that you attacking the poster who wanted to stay within the recommended 25-30 pound weight gain parameters? Probably.

I'm sure your husband really appreciates your slovenliness. You should also know that those of us who have some pride of self respect you as much as you respect us. Go ahead and keep priding yourself on looking like a slob; you're making the rest of us look good.

That about sums it up!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a post c-section mommy pouch. It's been several years and this thing is not going away. I was thinking of taking a core class that is supposed to tone your butt and your gut. However, I'm worried that toning abdominal muscle or losing stomach fat will leave loose hanging skin, like an empty sack. Right now there's a little mommy belly but it's plump. Also, I don't want to lose weight because I'm afraid my boobs will shrink and then those will be empty hanging sacks too. Help!

Do you care more about how it looks or if you have a strong, functional core? Answer that question and you should have your approach.

Self-righteous much? You women who don't care about your looks and who attack posters who DO care are so tiresome, and you pop up on every single thread about weight, fitness, pregnancy weight gain, and personal care. Was that you on the makeup thread, making fun of the OP for using makeup, then proudly boasting that you always let your hair air dry and only ever use moisturizer? And was that you attacking the poster who wanted to stay within the recommended 25-30 pound weight gain parameters? Probably.

I'm sure your husband really appreciates your slovenliness. You should also know that those of us who have some pride of self respect you as much as you respect us. Go ahead and keep priding yourself on looking like a slob; you're making the rest of us look good.

haha! No, no, not at all. I was really brief and it didn't come out the way I meant it at all so I apologize to the OP. I really did mean well even if I sounded like an asshole. A few years ago I weighed almost 300lbs. Now, I'm in the gym 6 or 7 days a week and I coach a womens running group at nights. I care very much what I look like, but at this point I care even more that my heart and body are healthy and it performs the way I want it to. But looking good is one hell of a bonus.

The horribly clumsy point I was trying to make is sometimes the way you want to look and how fit you want to be don't always go hand in hand. In some situations you have to determine if you care more about how it looks or how functional or strong it is. And I'm not making a judgement as to which you should choose. I've been in the OP's situation more than a few times with different parts of my body so I do understand. Good luck figuring it out OP! ps - I have a really strong core and even abs showing through the top of my abdomen. The bottom is still the same hanging apron you're dealing with (probably worse considering my 2 kids plus massive weight loss) I'm definitely getting surgery.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a post c-section mommy pouch. It's been several years and this thing is not going away. I was thinking of taking a core class that is supposed to tone your butt and your gut. However, I'm worried that toning abdominal muscle or losing stomach fat will leave loose hanging skin, like an empty sack. Right now there's a little mommy belly but it's plump. Also, I don't want to lose weight because I'm afraid my boobs will shrink and then those will be empty hanging sacks too. Help!

Do you care more about how it looks or if you have a strong, functional core? Answer that question and you should have your approach.

Self-righteous much? You women who don't care about your looks and who attack posters who DO care are so tiresome, and you pop up on every single thread about weight, fitness, pregnancy weight gain, and personal care. Was that you on the makeup thread, making fun of the OP for using makeup, then proudly boasting that you always let your hair air dry and only ever use moisturizer? And was that you attacking the poster who wanted to stay within the recommended 25-30 pound weight gain parameters? Probably.

I'm sure your husband really appreciates your slovenliness. You should also know that those of us who have some pride of self respect you as much as you respect us. Go ahead and keep priding yourself on looking like a slob; you're making the rest of us look good.

haha! No, no, not at all. I was really brief and it didn't come out the way I meant it at all so I apologize to the OP. I really did mean well even if I sounded like an asshole. A few years ago I weighed almost 300lbs. Now, I'm in the gym 6 or 7 days a week and I coach a womens running group at nights. I care very much what I look like, but at this point I care even more that my heart and body are healthy and it performs the way I want it to. But looking good is one hell of a bonus.

The horribly clumsy point I was trying to make is sometimes the way you want to look and how fit you want to be don't always go hand in hand. In some situations you have to determine if you care more about how it looks or how functional or strong it is. And I'm not making a judgement as to which you should choose. I've been in the OP's situation more than a few times with different parts of my body so I do understand. Good luck figuring it out OP! ps - I have a really strong core and even abs showing through the top of my abdomen. The bottom is still the same hanging apron you're dealing with (probably worse considering my 2 kids plus massive weight loss) I'm definitely getting surgery.

Haha, sorry! I've just been reading way too many posts this week from women ganging up on other women, accusing them of being shallow, of caring about their weight instead of their children (as if one can't care about both), etc. etc. etc. I find it so strange and backwards. Anyway, sorry again. Congrats on your progress!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ignore PP. What you have is what some call a "mother's apron". Get as fit and toned as you want to be and to your ideal weight. Then ask a plastic surgeon for a pannilulectomy to remove/exciss the flap. You do not want or need a tummy tuck, which is major major work, very expensive and a deadly recovery. Don't let the plastic surgeon talk you into it. All you need is the flap removed and stitched up.

I've never heard of that before. I think this is what I need too after having a 9lber via c-section. Excess skin just drapes over the scar. Do you know the approx. cost and recovery time? I assume recovery is less painful than a TT.

I haven't had the surgery but probably need it. I have it but it would be classified here as grade 1 or less (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panniculectomy) but it still bothers me and I have to pack myself in spanx to look good. I had three C-sections. Read up here in the archives about recovery from tummy tuck. A lot of contributors have posted about the difficult recovery time. I have talked to a plastic surgeon about it and he agreed the recovery was brutal. The nurse (WTF?) tried to talk up a tummy tuck (very invasive, abdominal muscles cut, belly button repositioned) but the plastic surgeon said I could get away with a panniculectomy because my abdomen muscles are in good shape. It cannot be done in office because (well at least for me) the size of the incision. I did get an estimate - I think $8K not including hospital fees - but haven't acted on it. Tummy tucks are more. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

I've been looking into skin tightening lasers like Excilis or Tripollar for this very purpose. Hard to tell if these things work or not. Don't need to lose weight really, just tighten skin.