Warmer weather is on its way and soon after is bathing suit season. For some, the excitement is stifled by anxiety over body image. One big concern is the belly bulge from fat or due to loose skin because of weight loss. While there are some non surgical fat melting options now, they have limitations and don’t have a strong affect on stretched out skin or any affect on abdominal muscle repair. This is why Abdominoplasty, also known as the “Tummy Tuck” is the most effective and desired means of contouring the stomach area. But the benefits are triple fold and we will discuss them here.

No Shame in the Belly Pooch Game

While some cases of flabby tummy are due to excess fat, there are many reasons that contribute to this problem that are difficult to control. One example of a good reason you may be left with a belly bulge is from weight change. It could be from modifying an unhealthy lifestyle to a healthier one or even from pregnancy. Even though losing weight or having a baby are wonderful things, most people still don’t like the end result of extra flabby skin and maybe a little stubborn belly pooch that won’t go away. Other causes are:

• normal ageing
• previous surgeries
• gravity
• illness
• abdominal separation also called diastasis recti

Farewell to the Belly Flab

While Liposuction alone may be a great option for some people, Abdominoplasty doesn’t just address removal of fat. It has a multi faceted approach to address all factors causing the bulge. Abdominoplasty contours flatter abs by any or all of these means:

• removing fat
• removing excess skin
• tightening muscles
• contouring the firmness and shape of the abdomen

Triple Benefits to Tummy Tuck

Your tummy bulge may be caused by a separation in the abdominal muscles, also known as diastasis recti. It can happen in anyone, but commonly is a result of the extra pressure put on the abdomen but the expanding uterus in pregnancy. This separation of the core abdominal muscles not only causes a belly bulge that won’t go away after weight loss and exercise, but it can have other uncomfortable side effects.

An Australian study with 214 women demonstrated that Abdominoplasty with muscle repair helped the majority of patients with their back pain and urinary incontinence. So the triple benefit of Abdominoplasty in the cases of diastasis recti is that you’ll have:

• a flat tummy resulting from closing the bulging gap between the abdominal muscles
• repaired core muscles and the ability to strengthen them unlike before so that you could also have less or no more back pain
• better urinary control because of the abdominal muscles’ link to the pelvic floor muscles

Abdominoplasty can help you look and feel better. Flat abs can be yours in time for swimsuit season if you start the process now. Schedule a Tummy Tuck consultation to determine the best options for you at www.davinciplastic.com.

Steven Davison M.D.

Board Certified Plastic/Reconstructive Surgeon

The warnings about “life never being the same” after kids never stops, and rightly so because they’re true. This is good in many ways, but sometimes the warnings to new moms about their body postpartum and post-nursing gets overlooked.

CELEBRITY SUPER MOM BODIES AREN’T “THE NORM”… This is especially true with all the gossip and fashion magazines highlighting the celebrities’ flat stomachs and curvy breasts within weeks of having a baby. Some celebrities, such as Kourtney Kardashian, have even admitted that the tabloids airbrushed their postpartum bodies to look better. This can give a false expectation to many moms, even those who are extremely fit and healthy, about how their body will look after having one or multiple children.

THE ABS THAT NO NUMBER OF CRUNCHES WILL FIX… Realistically, the stretched skin has to go somewhere and sometimes the extra tummy bulge isn’t just from the stubborn baby fat that won’t go away. Sometimes the tummy bulge is a result of a hernia or loose abdomen muscles that separated during the time of extra stress, called diastasis recti. Unfortunately, no matter how much you work out and even get back to your pre baby weight, if you’re abdomen muscles have been torn, the belly won’t be able to go back to being flat.

TUMMY TUCK TO THE RESCUE…Ideally, a patient who’d like a tummy tuck, aka abdominoplasty, is in great shape and just needs a little help with that small bulge that won’t go away, whether it’s a little fat, loose skin or from diastasis recti. Even if you’re not completely toned, a tummy tuck is that perfect boost to get you over the hump of achieving a flat stomach, especially if you’re within 10 pounds of your ideal weight. Moms sacrifice so much of themselves to bear, birth and bring up children that a tummy tuck is a well deserved confidence builder to have a stomach they’re not ashamed of.

WE WON’T LEAVE OUT THE BELLY BUTTON… Also, if the belly button got stretched out during pregnancy weight gain, a belly button repair is a simple revision to add to a tummy tuck. It is sometimes even necessary, depending on how much loose skin will be removed during the tuck. This will give the belly button an ideal shape and position on the abdomen.

TUMMY TUCK IS NOT ONE SIZE FITS ALL… Depending on your body’s unique needs, there are a variety of abdominoplasty techniques to help you achieve your ideal abdomen. They will address the skin, fat and muscles in the stomach area to contour for your unique physique. Your health, the technique and extent of the surgery will also determine whether the recovery is 1 to 4 weeks, but either way there will be a recovery period. Oral pain medication, arnica, and rest will help the swelling, bruising and soreness resulting from surgery.

EVEN SUPER MOMS NEED HELP AFTER SURGERY… Since moms wear many hats, extra help should be scheduled with the normal household and children needs that are typically juggled among the many other things they do. If you over do it right after surgery, your recovery will take longer, so don’t hesitate to ask for assistance.

Your body has changed since having children and that’s normal, but that doesn’t mean you’ll have to forego a beautifully contoured abdomen. Schedule a consultation today to discuss your ideal “Mommy Tuck” results, www.davinciplastic.com.

Steven Davison M.D.

Board certified Plastic/Reconstructive Surgeon