Got a Post Pregnancy Belly? We Can Help!

There's no denying that having a baby radically changes your life. Yet as rewarding as having a baby can be, there are some aspects of motherhood you may wish to leave behind: your post-pregnancy belly for example. If you gained a lot of weight during your pregnancy, you may be left with a post-pregnancy paunch that doesn't go away – no matter how many crunches you do and diets you follow. If you are one of these women, a tummy tuck combined with liposuction may be the solution you've been looking for.

Changes to Your Belly During Pregnancy

Pregnancy is a wonderful time, full of excitement and changes. One of the most notable changes is to a mother's belly. As the baby grows throughout the 9 months, so does a mother's uterus. In order to accommodate the growing baby, the abdominal muscles also stretch. In fact, they can completely separate, causing a condition known as diastasis. Once the baby is born, the abdomen and uterus will shrink, but the abdominal muscles may never fully come back together again. In addition, the loose skin that is left after pregnancy may never fully tighten back to pre-pregnancy conditions—not matter how much you diet and exercise.

A Combination Approach for Best Results

When diet and exercise fail to flatten your post-pregnancy tummy, you may need to turn to plastic surgery to achieve the results you desire. There are two traditional approaches to toning and sculpting the abdomen: liposuction and abdominoplasty, also known as a tummy tuck. While you can elect to undergo just one of these procedures, more and more plastic surgeons are combining liposuction and tummy tuck for the best results.

How do they work?

Liposuction involves a hollow surgical tube being inserted into the abdomen to break apart the fat cells and remove them. While liposuction is excellent for removing excess fat, it cannot tighten abdominal muscles that have been stretched out or remove any excess sagging skin.

A tummy tuck involves surgically separating the abdominal muscles, removing the excess skin and tissue and stitching them back into place. When used in combination with liposuction, the results are often exceptional because liposuction offers surgeons the ability to sculpt and shape the stomach better.

Before deciding which procedure or procedures are right for you, it is important to consult with an experienced plastic surgeon. Your surgeon will be able to discuss all the pros and cons of each procedure and help you choose the one that is best for your needs and your budget.

Who Should Not Consider a Tummy Tuck or Liposuction?

If you are planning on getting pregnant in the future, you may want to postpone your tummy tuck/liposuction procedure. In addition, anyone who is in poor health or who has not tried other alternatives to weight loss should not undergo plastic surgery quite yet. Plastic surgery can be a wonderful addition to a healthy lifestyle, but it should not be used as an alternative to exercise or eating healthy. Also, since insurance typically does not cover cosmetic surgery, you will need to consider how your procedure will fit into your existing budget. You should ask your surgeon about any existing payment plan options.

Contact Our Pasadena Plastic Surgeons

If you are considering a tummy tuck or liposuction, it is important to choose a cosmetic surgeon carefully. There is a reason so many Pasadena women choose Dr. Kevin Ruhge to perform their liposuction and tummy tuck surgeries. His personalized approach to plastic surgery means that his clients can contact him 24/7 after a surgical procedure. If you would like to learn more about tummy tucks, liposuction, or any cosmetic surgery procedure, we invite you to meet with Dr. Ruhge for a private consultation at our office in Pasadena by calling 626.397.9095, or by scheduling an appointment online.