Sometimes Diet and Exercise Can’t Get Your Tummy Back to Pre-Pregnancy Condition
With the holiday season upon us and a new year just around the corner, one of the most common new year’s resolutions is to lose weight and change one’s appearance. Those goals often include a more toned midriff, which can be created with a procedure often called a tummy tuck.
One of my most satisfying operations is an abdominoplasty – or tummy tuck – because it can drastically change the appearance of the tummy in such a positive way and accomplish something that diet and exercise alone cannot. It’s a procedure that I’ve performed many times over the years with pleasing results for both my patients and myself. The National Institute of Health offers a great insight into the procedure here.
How Do I Know if I am a Candidate for a Tummy Tuck?
Despite many of my patient’s best efforts, excess tummy skin and fat can be exceedingly difficult to remove with diet and exercise alone. Women, in particular, who have had children, often experience stretching in their abdominal wall. The skin and muscle tone frequently fail to return to their “pre-pregnancy” state despite exercise and dieting. Here’s what happens to your body: With pregnancy the abdominal area is stretched to such a degree that after delivery the elasticity of the abdominal wall is permanently damaged and cannot retract, thus a tummy tuck is sometimes the only solution available.
Patients who have lost a significant amount of weight often have similar findings in their abdominal wall area because of the long-standing stretching that took place before their weight loss. A tummy tuck can be helpful for this situation as well, by removing excess skin that can be unsightly or uncomfortable.
How Can I Get More Information About an Abdominoplasty?
If you are interested in having a smoother and shapelier abdomen, let’s talk. As always, please contact me with your questions and concerns. You can reach me at 775-398-4600 to schedule a consultation.
