Becoming a mother is a beautiful experience. It also involves quite a lot of physical changes and adjustments, many of which are quite frustrating. New mothers frequently wish that their bodies could return to their pre-pregnancy state. Loose muscles, sagging skin, and changes in the way their stomach looks can all affect how young and healthy they feel.
After giving birth, many women experience sagging in their abdomen. The abdominal wall weakens due to stretched muscle tissue, and the thinner midline tissue can no longer support the torso and internal organs. When a woman experiences stretched abdominal muscles, this is a condition known as diastasis recti. It results in the appearance of a paunch or pot belly.
With little or disturbed sleep, diaper changes, and constant feedings, it can be difficult to exercise regularly. Women who do lose the baby weight after pregnancy may find that the skin on the tummy sags, since it has trouble shrinking down due to lost elasticity over time. Unfortunately, no amount of diet and exercise can return it to the way it once looked.
In these cases, a tummy tuck can be performed to trim away excess skin, eliminate stretch marks, tighten the abdominal muscles, and remove excess stubborn fat to produce tighter contours. This procedure results in a fit and flab-free tummy. It makes your stomach flatter even if you’ve gone through a few pregnancies, helping your body look like it did before giving birth.
What Happens During the Tummy-Tuck Procedure?
Local anesthesia with IV sedation is administered before the procedure begins. Once these have taken effect, the patient will be comfortable and free of any pain or discomfort for the duration of the procedure.
Next, a curving incision is made horizontally from hip to hip. It is created in between the pubic bone and the belly button. Another incision is often made around the belly button.
The skin is lifted to provide access to the underlying tissues, and the abdominal muscles are repaired and rejoined using internal sutures. The excess fat is removed with the help of liposuction. The remaining skin is redraped and tightened, and a new belly button is created. Finally, the incisions are closed with stitches.
Recovery After Your Tummy Tuck
After the tummy tuck, there will be a degree of temporary post-surgical bruising and swelling. This can be lessened with the help of cold compresses and a post-surgical elastic garment.
Most women can expect a recovery period of a minimum of 10 to 14 days before returning to normal activities. It will be important to avoid strenuous activities like sports and heavy exercise for four to six weeks.
Schedule a Consultation for Your Tummy Tuck
If you are unhappy with the look of your stomach and wish you could do something about those sagging abdominal muscles, contact us today and set up a consultation. With the help of Dr. Anthony Admire, a skilled and well-regarded board-certified plastic surgeon, you can get back that fit and toned tummy you deserve!