Serena Williams Reveals Tummy-Tightening Procedure but Says 'I Will Always Love My Birthing Scars'

The retired tennis pro says her confidence is “coming back” but knows “my body will never be the same” after having two children

Serena Williams is taking time for self-care.

The tennis pro, 42, shared an Instagram video of herself getting a radio frequency treatment on her stomach at a spa in Paris, admitting that it’s hard for her to step away from her children to tend to her own needs.

“Being ok to take time for myself is something I have always struggled with,” Williams, who shares daughters Adira, 10 months, and Alexis Olympia, 6, with husband Alexis Ohanian, 41, wrote.

She shared that during a girls’ trip to Paris, a friend treated her to a spa day, where she first underwent the skin tightening procedure.

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“She knows after 2 babies I have been self conscious of my tummy. I just had to post this video she took. The results have been amazing,” Williams wrote. “I can see progress with my skin going back to normal and my confidence coming back. Listen my body will never be the same but neither will I cause I have 2 amazing lights in my life.”

Related: Serena Williams Reveals How She's Able to Satisfy Her Love of Competition as a Mom of Two (Exclusive)

During a radio frequency treatment, “an electromagnetic device that generates heat to stimulate the production of collage, elastin and new skin cells” is used, the Cleveland Clinic explains, saying it “lifts sagging skin.”

Williams made it a point to share that she wasn’t self-conscious of her scars — the mark of an emergency c-section she underwent during her first daughter’s birth, during which Williams “almost died” from a pulmonary embolism.

“I will always love my birthing scars,” Williams wrote, “but I just wanted to say thanks to my friend Mia and Nat for letting me know it’s ok to take time for myself away from work and kids.”

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The 23-time Grand Slam champion, who has been sharing her weight-loss journey following the birth of Adira, shared, “I finally started started being ok to take an hour (during nap time 🙈) away from my kids and work to do something for myself. I always feel guilty leaving them but I have to also remember taking care of myself, will only help me take better care of them.”

Related: Serena Williams Laments That Leaving Tennis ‘Hasn’t Been Easy’: 'I Miss Me'

She ended her post by asking her followers to share what they do for self-care — “or if you struggle with doing self care,” However, what she received instead were accolades for sharing something so personal.

“Hearing the greatest athlete of all time talk about any feelings of insecurities with her body/skin,” wrote one of the top comments. “DEF lets me know it’s okay to be open and vulnerable about mine.”

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