The aftereffects of pregnancy or significant weight loss can have a big impact on the appearance of your abdomen.
This is mainly due to a space between the rectus muscles of the abdomen—called the rectus diastasis—that widens after childbirth or weight loss. It is responsible for the belly pooch many women experience and cannot diminish in the gym or with healthy eating. In fact, exercise and toning other parts of the body can exacerbate the appearance of the belly bulge, making it look more pronounced.
A tummy tuck, or abdominoplasty, is the procedure Dr. David Mashhadian recommends to correct the problem so you achieve a slender, shapely midsection and regain your confidence.
How Does a Tummy Tuck Work?
A tummy tuck aims to strengthen the muscles in your core, remove excess fat and skin, and shape your abdomen to be flatter for a more slender physique. Dr. Mashhadian may also recommend pairing your tummy tuck with liposuction, which gives him greater control over your abdominal shaping. The procedure itself begins with the infusion of tumescent fluid, which helps control bleeding and provides numbing both during and after the procedure. Liposuction is the next step for patients who select that option.
Then, Dr. Mashhadian makes the incision just above the pubic region. It can be quite a long incision, but it’s well camouflaged beneath your clothes and even bathing suits. Then your abdominal muscles are anchored to the abdominal wall and tightened, and your excess skin is removed. Your belly button may need to be relocated, and once Dr. Mashhadian is satisfied with the shape and placement of all your tissues, excess skin is removed, and your incision is closed.
The overall result is a shapelier, more flattering abdomen, better fitting clothes, and your confidence restored.
Am I a Good Candidate?
Men and women alike may benefit from the abdominal shaping a tummy tuck can achieve. Ideal candidates are generally healthy adults who have excess abdominal skin following weight loss or childbirth, stretched muscles from pregnancy, or fat that resists all exercise and dieting efforts.
If you’re still growing your family, it is best to postpone an abdominoplasty until you are finished having children. A comprehensive consultation with Dr. Mashhadian is a great way to get started.
What are the Benefits of a Tummy Tuck?
You may be surprised to learn that a tummy tuck has benefits beyond the final cosmetic results. In fact, an abdominoplasty can lead to greater health benefits overall.
Repair or prevent a ventral hernia
Shoring up the strength of your core muscles and reattaching them to the abdominal wall narrows the space through which tissues can bulge.
Improve stress urinary incontinence
It’s an unfortunate reality that the bladder muscles are stretched during pregnancy, and pressure on the urethra can give rise to leakage during sudden movement like sneezing, coughing, or exercise. No amount of exercise can fully correct this situation, so women are often left feeling helpless. With a tummy tuck, tightening the muscles near the pelvic wall reduces pressure on the bladder and urethra. For most women, this relieves their stress incontinence.
Strengthen your core muscles
When your core muscles are weakened, this can force surrounding muscles to compensate, resulting in back pain. By tightening your rectus muscles, they become stronger and more able to share the work of supporting your core. Your posture improves, which also reduces the back pain and stabilizes your pelvic and spinal position.
Exercise easier
You may not notice, but that belly bulge can get in the way of exercise in more ways than one. Even a little excess skin can get in the way of some types of exercise, like yoga or abdominal crunches.
If your routine is more aerobic, your stomach may interfere with your balance or slow you down. After a tummy tuck, that skin is gone, so your range of motion can be improved. Your abdominal muscles will also be stronger, better able to perform, and overall, your core muscles will work better together.
Be healthier
Many of Dr. Mashhadian’s abdominoplasty patients are so pleased with their results—which are expected to last a lifetime—they’re motivated to maintain an active lifestyle with tasty, healthy food. Many patients report great emotional relief as well, which drives up their confidence and leads to improvements in all aspects of their lives.
If you’re disheartened by how little change you’ve achieved in slimming down your abdomen, perhaps a tummy tuck at Rodeo Surgical Art can help you reshape your physique and strengthen your core.
