Post-Partum Abdominoplasty: Information For Moms Considering A Tummy Tuck Procedure

As any mother knows, a woman's body never quite returns to normal after multiple pregnancies. For this reason, post-partum abdominoplasty (or more commonly referred to as a tummy tuck) is an excellent solution for moms that wish to tighten their tummy and remove excess skin.

The tummy tuck procedure is meant to nip and tuck loose skin, budges and pouches to help a mom get back to her pre-pregnancy figure. This is especially the case for women that have undergone multiple c-sections and can't seem to tighten up that lower abdominal "pouch" no matter how hard she diets or exercises. Fortunately, abdominoplasty can do just that-shrink
the lower abdomen while creating a smooth and toned look to the entire stomach area.

The First Step toward a Tummy Tuck Procedure: Setting up the Consultation

When considering abdominoplasty or a tummy tuck, a woman will first meet with a plastic surgeon for a consultation. During the meeting she will discuss with the doctor her goals for her body and target areas she'd like to improve upon.

A consultation is also a good way to remove any false expectations about the surgery, as a tummy tuck will not take care of excess fat or stretch marks. For women with those particular concerns in mind, other procedures (such as liposuction or laser treatment) in addition to a tummy tuck may work best to achieve her desired result.

However, once a woman decides to go ahead with abdominoplasty, she will then be scheduled for surgery and given instructions to ensure post-op success. Such instructions may include not lifting the kids or other heavy objects for a few weeks and wound care instructions to ensure minimal scaring.

How Abdominoplasty Works

A tummy tuck procedure can take between two to six hours and is done under partial or total anesthesia. Once the patient is sedated, the doctor will then remove the skin between the belly button and pubic area. From there the plastic surgeon will tighten the muscles and stretch the skin down from above the belly button.

Once the muscles are tightened and the skin is flattened out, the doctor will then suture the area into place- which is generally done below the panty line to ensure the most discrete scar possible. Finally, the belly button will be brought through the overlying skin or a new belly button will be created all together to complete the procedure.

What If I get Pregnant Again after a Tummy Tuck?

This is a common concern for moms that wish to undergo abdominoplasty, yet worry that an error with birth control or even a child by choice may cause future complications. First and foremost, rest assured that there is no harm to the baby should a woman get pregnant following a tummy tuck.

However, a woman may be disappointed to find out that the effects of the surgery can come undone with the stretching of the stomach. Similarly, a woman may have more stretch marks than before, as the skin was pulled tighter during the tummy tuck procedure and may not have as much wiggle room to naturally give with the growth of the baby.

Clearly, the best way to keep the procedure intact during pregnancy is to gain weight slowly in the beginning, use anti-scarring creams and keep up with daily exercise. The absolute worst case scenario may entail a woman having the procedure re-done a few months after the birth of the child.

Getting Started With Abdominoplasty

If abdominoplasty sounds right for you, the best way to get started is to call a board certified cosmetic surgeon for a free consultation. Then based on the discussion between you and your doctor, you can set up a surgery date and be on your way to a gorgeous, flat stomach in no time!

Seed Newsvine

Bookmark this article in your preferred program

Comments

Add Comment

Popular Articles in this cathegory

This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 License.