In summary
A tummy tuck removes the stretch marks that are on the skin it takes away, which in a full tummy tuck is usually the area between the belly button and the pubic area. Stretch marks above the belly button or on the flanks are not removed: they move lower as the skin is tightened. The ones that remain can be treated later with radiofrequency microneedling or laser.
Reviewed by Dr. Oscar Barón · Plastic surgeon · SCCP
Below the belly button (full tummy tuck)
- Stay Above the belly button and flanks
- For the rest Laser or RF microneedling
Last updated: October 2026 · Medically reviewed by Dr. Oscar Barón, SCCP plastic surgeon
It is one of the first questions patients ask when they consider a tummy tuck, especially after pregnancy: will my stretch marks go away? The answer is “some of them”. A tummy tuck removes skin, and the stretch marks on that skin go with it. The rest stay. Here is how to know which ones are which, and what you can do about the ones that remain.
Which stretch marks a tummy tuck removes
A tummy tuck, or abdominoplasty, removes loose skin and fat from the lower abdomen and, when needed, repairs separated abdominal muscles. The stretch marks located on the skin that is removed are gone for good, because that skin is no longer there.
In a full tummy tuck, the skin that is removed is usually the area between the belly button and the pubic area. So stretch marks in the lower abdomen, below the navel, are the ones most likely to disappear. How much skin can be removed depends on how loose your abdominal skin is: the looser it is, the more the surgeon can take.
Stretch marks above the belly button: what happens to them
Stretch marks above the belly button are not removed. To close the incision, the surgeon pulls the upper abdominal skin down towards the pubic area. The stretch marks on that upper skin travel down with it, so after surgery they sit lower on the abdomen. Because the skin is tighter, some look a little flatter or narrower, but they are still visible.
The same applies to stretch marks on the flanks, hips or breasts: a tummy tuck does not change them.
Mini vs full tummy tuck: why it matters for stretch marks
The type of tummy tuck decides how much skin, and therefore how many stretch marks, are removed:
- Mini tummy tuck: removes a smaller strip of skin below the belly button through a shorter scar. It only removes the stretch marks inside that strip.
- Full tummy tuck: removes the skin from around the belly button down to the pubic area and allows muscle repair. It removes more of the lower abdominal stretch marks.
You can see the techniques we use and who each one is for on our tummy tuck in Colombia page. The choice depends on your skin, your muscles and what you want to change, not only on your stretch marks.
Tummy tuck stretch marks before and after: what to expect
When you look at before and after results, check where the stretch marks were. Patients whose stretch marks were concentrated below the navel usually see most of them gone. Patients with stretch marks across the whole abdomen still have the upper ones after surgery, now lower and on tighter skin.
Two more things are part of every result: the tummy tuck scar, which runs low across the abdomen and is designed to sit under underwear, and a belly button that is repositioned in most full tummy tucks. Ask your surgeon to mark on your own abdomen which skin is likely to be removed; it is the clearest way to know what to expect.
Treating the stretch marks that remain (laser, Morpheus8)
The stretch marks that stay can be treated once your surgeon confirms the skin and the scar have healed:
- Radiofrequency microneedling, such as Morpheus8 Body, stimulates new collagen in the dermis.
- Lasers can reduce the redness of recent stretch marks or improve the texture of older ones.
No treatment erases stretch marks completely, and the color matters: red stretch marks respond better than white ones. We explain the difference in our guide to red vs white stretch marks, and you can see the options on our stretch marks treatment page.
Tummy tuck after pregnancy: stretch marks and muscle separation
After pregnancy, stretch marks usually come with two other changes: loose skin and separated abdominal muscles (diastasis recti). A full tummy tuck can address all three in one surgery: it removes the lower skin with its stretch marks, tightens the rest and repairs the muscles.
If you also want to change your breasts or other areas, these procedures are often combined in a mommy makeover. Most surgeons recommend waiting until you have finished having children and your weight is stable, because a new pregnancy can stretch the skin again.
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