since having the twins my stomach looks horrible, ive got saggy skin, it even hides my scar (c-section) so to see it properly you have to lift it up (gross i know), and then ive got stretch marks pretty much from my public bone to my boobs (these have faded but are still very visible). im so self conscious about it and hate dh seeing me naked now, ive thought about a tummy tuck but honestly 1. couldnt afford it anyway and 2. am sh*t scared of any operations so would never have the guts to go through with it in the first place.

im wanting to lose some weight soon aswell (waiting for my foot to heal after damaging some ligaments) but am worried that losing weight will just make my stomach look worse. also a huge area between my belly button and my scar is numb and has been since the c-section, i was told feeling would come back eventually but it hasn't, i haven't even noticed an improvement.

is anyone else like this?

I had the "tongue" look with my belly after my CS in 2009. It did eventually go away,

My stomach has some overhang too (sorry, TMI) although I have become quite overweight since having my twins (I think I got used to eating whatever I wanted during pregnancy it's been hard to kick that) so it might be in part due to that. I would love to get a tummy tuck but they're so expensive.

I'll never wear a bikini, and, its pretty ordinary to look at. But, never did wear bikinis pre kids anyway or midriff tops for that matter, should've lived it up while I had the chance



It will be a different kind of worse. I don't know how much weight you have to lose, but I'm almost at the end of my weight loss journey and I've dropped about 40 kilos (had about 20kg extra already hanging around when I fell pregnant!) and my stomach looked horrible when I was fat, and, it looks pretty ordinary now that I'm smaller, just a different kind of look IYKWIM.

A lot depends too on the elasticity of your skin. From the sounds of it though you already have skin issues so I won't lie and say if you do a million crunches in the gym you'll have a perfect set of abs, genetics very much play a part in our skin and its ability to recover from trauma.



I would see your GP and follow this up. I do have issues with lack of sensitivity in certain areas of my stomach, however mine is because of the loose skin. It may be the same with you (and if you are like me sensation will not return due to the thickness/amount of the loose skin) but please get it checked out regardless just to reassure yourself that there is no sinister underlying reason for it.

Im not a twin mummy but I think a "tummy tuck" is medicare rebatable (although there may be a gap if its done in a private hosp etc) after a multiple pregnancy.

the only answer I have is abdominal exercises and really consistent, like everyday and eat healthily. The twins were also my 2nd pg and it takes a lot longer get back to shape.

My sil had a really good figure and even though she has probably lost most of her pg weight (size 8), she has a over hang too. She never had this with her 1st pg. The problem area is even more noticeable when you lose a lot of weight every where else but she has good genes so probably another 6mths and it will be all gone.

For about 4mths, I did cardio 1 hr each day which really helped to lose weight and lose inches around my tummy. But it's still still flabby when I sit down. the last part is really hard to get rid off...basically I have to lose weight all over my body and that part will be the last part to go. I am hybernating over winter but will start workout again. Back to a size 10 but need to be under 60kgs. It feels impossible.

I will never wear a bikini, I just want to wear my old clothes comfortably.

gumby - that's amazing..well done!

i eat fairly healthy (low GI diet with the occasional treat), exercise is non existent though but i do plan on starting up again soon as soon as im back on my feet. id like to lose 20/30kgs but not sure how realistic that is, ive never been able to shed any weight since i was 18 thanks to the pcos (except when pregnant), i used to walk to and from work (plus it was a physical job) plus go to the gym 3 nights a week and i still gained weight.

i would like to go back onto metformin aswell though, it made me a little sick but helped me with my weight so i will speak to my dr about this, will also mention the numbness on my stomach. i feel like i live there at the moment, its been nothing but 1 problem after another since having the twins, the things we do for our kids ey

Meh, I don't care if this is TMI but after having 3 kids in 3 years (No twins) my belly overhangs, i can grab it and shake it around....whilst chasing the girls shouting "The belly's gonna get youuuu...runnnn"
I must admit i hate the way i look in clothes (n0t so bad when naked) clothes seem to make me look like im smuggling a litter of puppies. DH has booked me in to see a surgeon to have it chopped off and i cant wait....i might get my boobs done too as a treat to myself.

Good luck with getting into shape, i hope you get your figure back x

I have some excess skin and my skin looks like crepe paper,I actully think it looks better a ittle 'pudgy':(

This is true. From 6 months post partum to 7 years I believe. They remove the extra skin and repair any muscle herniations etc. The scar extends from hip to hip though so it's quite extensive surgery and not to be entered into lightly.

It depends what my weight is. If I am 59kg is looks worse than when I am about 63kg. The less weight the more skin there is that is loose.

The stretch marks looks like tiger prints.

According to DH, it looks like the place that gave him his precious IVF boys. This gives me perspective on those days when I can't stand the look of it.

I've lost the baby weight + some extra and my stomach will never be the same as it was before the twins. After my first (singleton, c/s), no problems, not a single stretch mark. Thought I was blessed with the good stretchy skin genes but what do you know, enough stretching and it will never go back to the way it was. I still have an overhang on one side and a pot belly. I know the only thing that will fix it for me would be a tummy tuck. I used to think I would do it but after 2 caesars I couldn't go thru the recovery unless it was going to make a huge difference and I can live with what I have now.
Nothing like the constant assumptions I was still pregnant to get me exercising. Now I'm addicted.

Thanks for the info. I certainly have twin skin and I will be looking into this as I just can't imagine living another 50 years being as unhappy with my stomach as I am now.

I thought the tummy tuck was only rebatable if it was for medical reasons not cosmetic, ie for abdominal seperation?

Dunno - I was having dinner with a cosmetic surgeon the other night and she told me that "post partum there is a medicare rebate". She didn't even mention multiples and the way she was talking the only criteria was that you'd had a baby and waited 6 months. We discussed muscle repair as well and she said it's part of the op if you have damage that needs fixing, so it didn't sound like you had to have separation to have the operation.

It doesn't make it free but it probably makes it cheaper. I'm not sure on the fee structure or whether it's available in public hospitals.

My stomach actually looks better after my twin pregnancy than it did after my DD1s!

I agree that skin elasticity plays a huge part in how it looks. I am halfway through losing a large amount of pregnancy weight & notice that it takes a while for my skin to catch up to my weight loss IYKWIM. My skin starts looking worse after I have a big weight loss week, but then a few weeks later it tightens up a bit and I look way better.

I am also doing a moderate amount of exercise (as well as eating well) which helps everything tighten up better than when I lose weight just through diet.

Just had to say how much I love your pic confettiangel. I wish I had one like that of my twins when they were babies.

Another saggy tummy twin Mum to add to the list. I guess your skin really only can recover so much from being sooooo stretched. Easy to hide in clothes as i'm on the lighter side but really can't stand the overstretched skin and stretch marks. Not sure even if I had the money that I could put myself through a tummy tuck. Although the boobs could do with a lift.. breastfeeding twins for 12 months is a tad unforgiving on those too.




edited for spelling mistakes

There is a medicare rebate, but it isn't much!

My boys are 5 and my DD is 4 and my stomach is still revolting! I am quite fit (run, do weights and am at a healthy weight - and have been that the entire time - apart from pregnancy weight gain and a bit of yoyo'ing) but am just blessed with my Mum's crappy non-elastic skin! I am used to it now, but still hate it! I just wear clothes that cover it.

I am planning to get my tummy fixed next year or the year after. My twin sister went to see a surgeon and was quoted approx $5k after health insurance. Health insurance doesn't cover much (just the hospital stay and a few other things) because it is "cosmetic" - even with ab separation?. My sis is my guinea pig. If hers looks great after she gets it done (in Oct this year) then I will be booking in with her surgeon! ..

oh yeah my boobs have gone down south aswell and my mum was all too happy to point out that they have sagged and need a lift

i dont think i could get a tummy tuck, the thought of going through something like that scares the crap out of me.

well as of next week i will be starting Zumba (1 day a week) to help with my weight, so will be checking in with my dr to check my foot before starting, and get everything else checked out. fingers crossed this will help me lose some weight.

I had a tummy tuck last sept and it was totally worth it!
Before I had it my Dr told me to lose a few kilos and that when I did my stomach WOULD look worse as there'd be less fat to fill the saggy skin IYKWIM?

There is a Medicare rebate if your surgeon deem the procedure medically necessary. I had some torn muscles, so was able to claim through my health fund too. I'll be getting 20% of my Out Of Pocket back hen I get this years tax done.

I was scared to have the op, but more scared to go through the rest of my life with that gross belly. I had no confidence and felt crap. I still don't have the best body but I can now thro on antything in my wardrobe and head out easily.

I'd def suggest talking to a surgeon to get more info

Aw cr@p - lost post while wrangling kids

Has anyone got stomach back with exercise? I started with about a 15 cm separation and am now down to 5cm. If I just keep exercising (sporadically at best at the moment - perhaps if I am more diligent?) will it ever get better? Or is surgery my only real option?

My weight is close to pre-pregnancy but stomach still looks 3 month pregnant with overhang

Sorry about TMI

Another none twin mum, but i did have 3 babies in 3 years and the last one was just over 11pounds.

my abdominal muscles could fit 4 fingers between them and now one if that...
to help get rid of the tummy over hang im doing lots of reverse crunchs to.

i gained a lot of weight pre kids, then lost it so my skin was already quite well 'stretched' shall we say - then the girls stretched it even more, separation reduced to nil via exercise but still had saggy baggy elephant skin.

add 2 more kids 2 years apart and it's not pretty - i weigh less than i did when i fell with my twins but still have the skin - i had thought about the surgery but i know i did a lot of the damage myself prior to having kids, it doesn't phase me too much atm but if down the track i'm not comfortable in my skin i'll probably look to other options - i believe you have to love yourself first and foremost

Hi

Interesting to read these replies. I have the twin skin too and I go from not minding it to hating it - nice to know so many are in the same boat. I have though about the surgery but didn't realise it was so $$.

PP - pilates was great for getting my separated stomach muscles back together as it focuses on core strength. I also went to a physio for a few months in the early stages and she gave me some great exercises. You have to be careful because a lot of 'traditional' sit ups or crunches can actually make things worse.


:-)

Redchick

I remember avidly reading all these threads for years, hoping to get more info on Tummy Tucks

I had an incisional hernia repair, diastasis recti repair, and major abdominoplasty done a few months ago. I had massive abdominal muscle separation (over hand width), hugely distended stomach as a result, severe back and pelvic instability due to the lack of operational core muscles, and a fair bit of excess skin. I'm 163cm and average weight. The end result was a 10cm reduction in my waist measurement, zero back and pelvis pain (amazing), a return of self esteem, a big scar from hip to hip, washboard flat stomach, and no belly button! (They couldn't save my navel during the hernia repair, lol). I still have a stomach covered in stretchmarks (they were extensive to start with) and crepey skin around the scar, but all that excess apron is gone.
The recovery has been very slow - it is _major_ surgery. My operation took about 5hrs and I was in hospital for one week, and bedridden for another week at home.
I did have complications due to my hernia/muscles which have caused some grief. It's been 3mths (seems like much longer) and I'm still in quite a lot of pain and get very swollen by the evening. I was banned from ANY lifting for 8wks which was quite a challenge, especially with toddler twins, but we survived. I'm just starting to get back into exercising (probably partly to blame for my pain levels) - but it was SO worthwhile.

The cost. I had to pay for a Cosmetic Surgeon (who did the muscle repair and tummy tuck) and a General Surgeon (for the hernia repair and adhesions). The Cosmetic Surgeon assured me it was all eligible to be "fully medicare funded" - which tbh, I still don't really understand... Even after paying bills etc it is still confusing - I haven't fully received any (small) rebates from my PHI yet. But so far:
Cosmetic Surgeon ~$5000 (awaiting Medicare/PHI verdict - it takes forever)
Anaethetist $1100 (also awaiting verdict - it was at least partially covered)
General Surgeon ~$900 (~$800 was repaid by Medicare)
I hope to get some more rebated in the next few weeks, but tbh, I'm not holding my breath!

So it's not cheap. And you need LOTS of recovery time. Still highly recommended