One of the most universal experiences of pregnancy is the challenge of regaining your pre-baby body. Many women give birth to find that their body does not “bounce back” like they hoped, even months or years after they last gave birth. Even if you did not gain excess weight with your pregnancy, the stretching of skin and muscle that occurs can result in permanent changes to your figure, especially in your abdomen. Below, we list three ways you can regain your pre-baby belly.
- Targeted exercise. The cause behind most post-partum pooches is diastasis recti, the separation of the right and left side of the muscles in the area known as the “six pack,” caused by the excess weight the belly is required to carry. When the muscle tissue is stretched, it starts to thin and become weaker and results in bulging. Once this occurs, it can be very challenging to reverse.
Exercise can help with mild cases, however, common belly-busting moves like planks and crunches can worsen this condition. Your doctor and a physical trainer should be able to point you to exercises and stretches that can help tone and rehab this part of your body.
- Tummy Tuck. If your abdominal muscles do not respond to exercise, or your diastasis recti is too severe to be corrected with exercise, a tummy tuck can restore your belly to pre-baby condition…or better. A tummy tuck is also a great way to address excess skin that hasn’t “snapped back” and stretch marks.
During a tummy tuck, your surgeon will trim away excess skin and sew the muscle tissue back together, creating a firm, smooth surface, not to mention better support for your internal organs. Trimming the excess skin not only removes unsightly, loose skin, but the stretch marks that go along with it. While a tummy tuck will not remove all stretch marks, it will remove a good portion of them.
- Liposuction. Whether performed in conjunction with a tummy tuck or on its own (depending on your needs), liposuction can recontour your body, creating eye-catching curves and removing those stubborn fat deposits that pregnancy weight gain has left behind.
Southern Surgical Arts has recently added an exciting new technology that goes beyond the limits of traditional liposuction. VASERlipo allows a qualified cosmetic surgeon to precisely sculpt your physique and add high-definition contours in the six-pack abdominal area. Depending on your belly’s condition, you may only need a liposuction procedure to achieve your aesthetic goals. However, if you also have a pooch, excess skin, or stretch marks, talk to your surgeon to see if combining Vaserlipo and a tummy tuck is an option for you.
Southern Surgical Arts offers many additional procedures to help you regain your pre-baby body, including skinpen treatments to minimize stretch marks, breast lifts and augmentation to restore fullness and volume to your bust, vaginal rejuvenation and more. We would love to discuss your options with you in a complimentary personal consultation. To make your appointment, please call Southern Surgical Arts at 423-266-3331.
Want to know more about the essentials of an entire Mommy Makeover? View this infographic.
