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The birthing process can literally stretch a woman to her limits, leaving her with a beautiful bundle of joy as well as stretch marks, loose skin, and weakened stomach muscles. Exercise and diet can remove much of the excess fat, but without the aid of surgery, it may be impossible to return to your pre-baby figure.
Fortunately, a tummy tuck can cure your sagging belly. Unlike liposuction, it not only removes flab, but tightens the stomach muscles and can even eliminate stretch marks on the lower abdomen.
The procedure often results in a radical transformation; however, it is only suitable for candidates with drastic problems such as a tremendous weight loss resulting in large amounts of loose skin and women whose pregnancies have stretched their abdominal muscle beyond natural repair.
During pregnancy and birth, the muscles of the stomach can become separated due to the rapid expansion of the uterus. Some women can even feel a gap where the weakened tissue has spread thin. C-sections require abdominal muscles to be cut, often resulting in the same problem.
Although the main purpose of a tummy tuck is to remove excess skin and tone muscle, the procedure also focuses on repairing the inner girdle, a gristle-like layer of flesh in men and women that is located between the stomach muscles and fat. The inner girdle works the same as a girdle worn under a dress; it keeps the abdomen smooth and ensures everything within stays in its place. When the uterus expands to accommodate a baby, the girdle must too, sometimes becoming distorted in the process. Tummy tucks restore the girdle to its intended shape, which subsequently flattens the stomach's appearance.
The procedure involves cutting a large incision across the length of the lower abdomen. The length of the incision and subsequent scar varies depending on the individual patient's needs, but it is often runs nearly hip to hip and lies below the bikini line.
A second incision may be necessary around the navel if extra skin needs to be removed around the middle abdomen. Any excess flab, including skin marred by stretch marks on the lower abdomen, is cut away. The girdle is then exposed and tightened.
Finally, the skin that is left is sutured back into place. Depending on the amount of skin removed, the navel may be repositioned.
The recovery time for the surgery, like the recovery time for a pregnancy, will vary greatly. On average, women may feel comfortable returning to work after three weeks and resuming an exercise routine after a month; however, the full physical recovery time will be between at least three and six months. You might be sent home with a girdle to wear in order to control swelling and will need to change the dressing on your incision as directed.
There's a good chance you will go home with one or two surgical drains that attach near the incision. These will have to be emptied and monitored throughout the day. Any strange color, smell, or texture to the fluid should be reported to your doctor immediately.
Women interested in a tummy tuck should not be planning on future pregnancies or losing a significant amount of weight. Smokers should also be aware that using nicotine before and after surgery can cause further risks and complications.
If you're looking to rejuvenate your post-baby body, and exercise and dieting aren't
cutting it, a tummy tuck might be the solution for you.