Postpartum Sagging Tummy! Want to Cry When Looking in the Mirror? The Epic Guide to Reclaiming Your Golden Body: Deep Dive into the Battle of Dignity "Tummy Tuck" vs. "Liposuction + Renuvien" – Which

SPARK IDEA
Dec 17, 2025
9 min read

Updated: Dec 24, 2025

Postpartum Sagging Tummy! Want to Cry When Looking in the Mirror? The Epic Guide to Reclaiming Your Golden Body: Deep Dive into the Battle of Dignity "Tummy Tuck" vs. "Liposuction + Renuvien" – Which is Your Final Answer? (By Dr. Teng, Aurora Clinic)

The silent sobs of "Mothers" that I want to embrace.

Hello to all mothers in Surat Thani, Koh Samui, and every strong-hearted woman reading this.

I am "Dr. Teng," Dr. Apiruk Wongsaowasup (MD. 35777), a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon and the Medical Director of Aurora Clinic.

Today, I am not here to write a typical medical article. I intend to write a "Love Letter" to the bodies of every mother out there.

Throughout the 14 years I have held a scalpel, I have sat and listened to the stories of countless women who walked into the consultation room feeling broken... not because of physical illness, but because of the heartache caused by "changes in body shape."

Many mothers have shared with me:

"Doctor, my husband says it’s fine, he loves my heart. But every time he touches my belly, I flinch. I feel ashamed. I push him away until our relationship starts to drift apart."

"Doctor, the closet full of beautiful clothes I used to buy has turned into trash because I can't fit into a single piece. I have to wear only oversized dresses to hide my shape."

"Doctor... can you please get this 'lump of meat' out of my life? I hate it."

Every time I hear this, I feel a lump in my throat... because I know well that a sagging abdomen is not just a matter of beauty. It eats away at the "Confidence" and "Self-Esteem" of a woman completely.

In the past, options were limited. If you didn't accept it, you had to undergo scary major surgery.

But in the world of 2024-2025, medical science has advanced significantly. We now have both "Abdominoplasty (Tummy Tuck)" which is refined like a work of art, and the innovative "Renuvien (J-Plasma)" that tightens skin without long incisions.

Today, I volunteer to be your "Compass," guiding all mothers out of insecurity and toward a new, more fabulous shape than ever before, with the deepest, most detailed, and most sincere information a doctor could possibly write.

PART 1: Anatomy of "Mommy Tummy" – Decoding the Sag (Why doesn't the belly go down even with exercise?)

Before choosing a treatment, we must understand our "Enemy" first.

Why do some celebrity moms snap back to being thin immediately after birth? But why do we try so hard, yet the belly still hangs like a coffee bag?

The answer lies not in "diligence," but in "Anatomy."

Postpartum abdominal damage occurs at 3 levels (The Triad of Destruction):

1. Skin & Dermis: When the rubber band loses elasticity

Human skin has limits. Imagine a rubber band; if we stretch it to its limit and hold it there for 9 months... when released, it won't shrink back to its original size, right?

Stretch Marks: Caused by the severe "tearing" of collagen and elastin fibers in the dermis.
Laxity: The skin loses its tension, causing folds and wrinkles, especially around the navel and lower abdomen.

2. Adipose Tissue: Stubborn Fat

A woman's body is designed to accumulate abdominal fat during pregnancy as an energy reserve for milk production. This fat responds very poorly to exercise (Metabolically Resistant). Even if a mother loses weight until her arms and legs are slender, this "coconut milk belly" often remains.

3. Musculo-Aponeurotic Layer: The Hidden Villain

This is the most critical point! This condition is called Diastasis Recti (Abdominal Muscle Separation).

Normally, the Six Pack muscles (Rectus Abdominis) are close together in the middle.
During pregnancy, the uterus expands, pushing these muscles to "tear apart" down the center, like a broken zipper.
Result: The abdominal wall loses strength. Internal organs (intestines) push forward, causing a bulging belly all the time, looking like early pregnancy. The more you eat, the more it bulges. And importantly... Sit-ups will make this condition worse!

Summary: If you have only "Fat" -> Liposuction solves it.

But if you have "Sagging Skin" + "Separated Muscles" -> Liposuction alone will make the "skin hang even worse!"

PART 2: The Red Corner Challenger: Tummy Tuck (Abdominoplasty) – Operation "Demolition & Reconstruction" for an S-Waist

Tummy Tuck Program to boost your confidence with the SEBT technique | Designed and performed by Dr. Apiruk, Plastic Surgeon.

This is the "Gold Standard" for postpartum body recovery.

Many fear the word "surgery," but I want you to view it as "Tailoring a new suit to fit your body."

A Tummy Tuck is not just cutting skin! It is a 5-step process to sculpt a new figure:

Liposuction (Pilot Lipo): I suck out the fat from the waist and back flanks first to thin out the torso.
Muscle Repair (Internal Corset): I stitch the separated muscles back together tightly, from the xiphoid process down to the pubis.
- Result: The abdomen becomes flat immediately, and the waist becomes tiny like wearing a permanent corset without having to suck in your stomach.
Skin Resection: Pulling the upper abdominal skin down and cutting away all the sagging skin and stretch marks below the navel.
Umbilicoplasty (Navel Sculpting): Creating a hole in a new position and decorating a beautiful navel (I have a special technique, which I will share in the next Part).
Closure: Stitching the wound at the bikini line using a tension-reduction technique.

Types of Tummy Tuck (Choose based on severity):

Mini Tummy Tuck: Cuts skin only below the navel, shorter scar. Suitable for those with minimal sagging and muscle separation only in the lower part.
Full Tummy Tuck: (Most Popular) Corrects the entire abdomen, relocates the navel. Suitable for general postpartum mothers.
Extended Tummy Tuck: Scar extends to the back waist. Suitable for massive weight loss patients.

Advantages you can't get from other methods:

Flatest Possible abdomen.
Real waist reduction (from muscle repair).
100% removal of stretch marks below the navel.

PART 3: The Blue Corner Challenger: Liposuction + Renuvien (J-Plasma) – The "Skin Shrinking" Innovation with No Long Scars

Liposuction program using the Micro Aire PAL machine, technology imported from the USA | Liposuction by Dr. Apiruk, Plastic Surgeon

For mothers who are "not very sagging" or "fear long scars," this is the technology I am proud to present.

Renuvien, also known as J-Plasma, is an innovation from the USA that has revolutionized the liposuction industry.

The Science Behind Renuvien (Why is it cool?): It is a combination of 2 types of energy:

Helium Plasma: Acts as a heat conductor and simultaneous coolant.
Radio Frequency (RF): Provides thermal energy.

The "Shrink Wrap Effect" Mechanism: I insert a wand releasing energy under the skin. The plasma energy causes the Fibroseptal Network (skin attachment fibers) to contract immediately!

High heat (85°C) occurs in a split second to tighten the skin.
Coolness from helium immediately coats the skin to prevent burning.
Result: The skin snaps back tightly against the muscle, just like when we apply fire to plastic wrap and it shrinks around the object inside.

Advantages of J-Plasma over general RF:

Tighter: Immediate results of 30-50%, improving continuously up to 6 months.
Safer: Built-in cooling system reduces burn risks.
Tiny Scars: Just 0.5 cm puncture holes (same holes as liposuction).

Precautions:

Cannot fix separated muscles (If the belly bulges due to muscles, this won't make it completely flat).
Cannot remove severely sagging skin (skin that folds over).
Stretch marks remain (but skin becomes tighter, making marks appear slightly fainter).

PART 4: THE BATTLE – Deep Comparison

Liposuction = Weight Loss? #WeightLoss #DrTeng #AuroraClinic #PlasticSurgeon

To make it clear, let me compare them from the perspective mothers are most curious about.

Decision Factor	Tummy Tuck (Abdominoplasty)	Lipo + Renuvien (Liposuction + J-Plasma)
Sagging Level Solved	Level 10/10 (Skin folds in layers)	Level 4-6/10 (Loose, not firm)
Flatness	Flat like a board	Slim (based on fat removed)
Waistline	Very Curvy (Due to muscle repair)	Curvier (From waist liposuction)
Scars	Long bikini line scar (Hidden in panties)	2-3 tiny dots (Barely visible)
Pain Level	7/10 (Tightness for the first 3-5 days)	3/10 (Soreness like internal bruising)
Recovery Time	2 Weeks (Walk bent over initially)	3-5 Days (Back to work quickly)
Stretch Marks	Gone entirely (Below navel)	Still present
Ideal Candidate	Mothers with many kids / Twins / Hanging skin	Mothers with one kid / Bulging fat / Not very sagging

PART 5: The Art of Creating "Navels" and "Scars" (Dr. Teng's Signature)

Many people dare not do a Tummy Tuck because they fear two things: "Ugly Belly Button" and "Centipede Scar."

At Aurora Clinic, I prioritize these two points the most because they are the trademark of a Plastic Surgeon.

1. The Ideal Umbilicus (Dream Navel)

The navel in a general Tummy Tuck is often a round, hollow hole that looks obviously surgical. But Dr. Teng's technique is "Hooded Umbilicoplasty."

I create a "Hood" or an upper eyelid for the navel to curve down and slightly cover the hole.
Hide the scar inside the navel hole.
This makes the navel look like a Vertical Oval, which is the characteristic of a slim and sexy person's navel. It looks very natural.

2. The Invisible Scar

Position: I ask the patient to wear their favorite panties or the bikini they intend to wear to measure right there. The scar must be lower than the panty line only.
Suturing: I use the "Tension-Free Closure" technique. This involves stitching the fascia layer (tissue covering the muscle) to take the tension instead of the skin. This allows the upper skin to come together gently. The scar does not widen, does not tear, and remains a fine line.
Care: I provide a scar reduction program (Laser + Scar Gel) after the procedure so the scar fades to be barely visible within 1 year.

PART 6: Pain Management – Does it Hurt? Is it Scary? (Truth from the OR)

I understand that pain is what everyone fears most. At Aurora Clinic, we use the ERAS (Enhanced Recovery After Surgery) protocol to minimize pain.

TAP Block (Transversus Abdominis Plane Block): This is the highlight! While you are under anesthesia, I inject a nerve block into the abdominal nerves using a Long-acting local anesthetic. This means for the first 24-48 hours after waking up, you will feel numb and tight, but "not tortured by pain." It reduces morphine use and speeds up recovery significantly.
No Drain Technique (In some cases): With Meticulous Hemostasis surgical techniques (stopping bleeding precisely), most of my cases "do not require blood drain tubes." You can go home comfortably without carrying blood bottles.
Anesthesiologist: Care is provided 100% by a specialized anesthesiologist. Safe and worry-free. Wake up without dizziness or nausea.

PART 7: Why Aurora Clinic? (Surat Thani - Koh Samui)

Tummy Tuck surgery is "Major Surgery." Do not risk it with illegal clinics or non-specialist doctors!

Board Certified Plastic Surgeon: Dr. Teng (MD. 35777) is a plastic surgeon trained for 14 years, knowing every layer of the abdomen deeply.
Authentic J-Plasma: This machine costs millions. There are very few places in the South that have it. Be confident that you are using truly world-class innovation.
Safety Standard: Positive Pressure Operating Room, hospital-grade sterility, complete life-saving equipment.
Honesty: I am straightforward. If you sag a little, I won't cheer for cutting skin. But if you sag a lot, I will tell you that liposuction alone won't look good. I help choose what is "worth it and most suitable for you."

Epilogue: To Mothers... Who Deserve Their Confidence Back

Sagging belly #DrTeng #SuratThaniClinic #AuroraClinic #KohSamuiClinic #tummytucksurgery

I want to leave a final message to all mothers...

Walking in to consult me about wanting abdominal surgery "is not a luxury, and it is not shameful."

It is "Repairing the Body" worn down from performing the greatest duty in the world: being a mother.

Mothers have the right to be beautiful again... The right to wear a swimsuit with confidence... The right to look in the mirror and smile at yourself once more...

Whether your solution is Tummy Tuck or Renuvien, I, Dr. Teng, promise to use all my knowledge and skill to take care of you the best I can, just like family.

Feel free to stop by for a chat at Aurora Clinic Surat Thani or Koh Samui. I am waiting to be a part of "Returning the Golden Body" to you, mom.

"Because a mother's beauty... is the family's happiness."

💡 Frequently Asked Questions (Q&A)

Q: I had a C-Section. Will the scar overlap the old one?

Dr. Teng: Good news! A Tummy Tuck will "cut away the old C-section scar entirely!" And create a new scar that is more beautiful, smoother, and lower than before (hidden deeper in a bikini than a C-section scar).

Q: Can I have children again after a Tummy Tuck?

Dr. Teng: Physically, "Yes, you can." The uterus can expand normally; it is not dangerous to the baby. However... the abdomen where we tightly repaired the muscles will be stretched out again, causing it to lose shape. Therefore, I recommend "closing the factory permanently" (sterilization or sure contraception) before doing it. It will be the most worthwhile and provide sustainable beauty.

Q: Can I do it if I weigh a lot?

Dr. Teng: A Tummy Tuck is not a weight-loss method, but a "body contouring" procedure. If your BMI is over 30, I recommend losing weight first for safety and the best results. But if your BMI is normal but you have a hanging belly, you can do it right away. It will definitely be beautiful.

Q: I live on Koh Samui. How do I recover?

Dr. Teng: For patients in Samui or other provinces, we have recommendations for accommodation near the clinic. After a Tummy Tuck, stay 1-2 nights, then you can go back to recover at home. For Renuvien, you can go home immediately after the procedure.