What a Tummy Tuck does that Exercise Can’t

Even for women who live a healthy lifestyle, aging and motherhood can lead to unwanted physical changes, especially pertaining to the midsection. For many women, after becoming mothers, all the diet and exercise in the world aren’t enough for them to regain the flat tummy they had in their youth. Does this sound like a struggle that you are experiencing? In this article, your board-certified Manhattan plastic surgeon Dr. B. Aviva Preminger wants to let you know how a tummy tuck can help restore your midsection when diet and exercise fall short.

Pregnancy changes a woman’s body

Specifically, the weight fluctuations during pregnancy often affect the abdominal wall. Midline muscles loosen as part of these weight changes, stretching to the point that they cannot bounce back after pregnancy. These muscles may even separate during pregnancy, a phenomenon known clinically as diastasis recti. This is estimated to affect about half of all women who give birth. When diastasis recti occurs, your abdominal tissue has less support than it needs. This creates a midsection that looks and feels weaker.

A tummy tuck can be the difference you’ve been seeking

If you’ve been unable to regain a firm midsection following pregnancy, it is important to know that this often happens through no fault of your own. Even when you do all the right things and give your best effort, this will not heal muscles that have separated. A tummy tuck can provide lasting changes that even the most diligent regimen of diet and exercise cannot achieve.

When performed by an experienced, highly-trained surgeon, a tummy tuck tightens the abdominal wall, repairing separated muscles and trimming loose skin. This allows you to regain the flat, toned abdomen you had before motherhood while also minimizing or even eliminating stretch marks. In many cases, a tummy tuck is performed in combination with liposuction, and both procedures are often part of a mommy makeover. Whereas a tummy tuck is not intended as a method of fat reduction, liposuction removes small pockets of stubborn, excess fat.

What to Expect from a Tummy Tuck in Manhattan

While you might experience some swelling and bruising in the days immediately following your tummy tuck, many patients who undergo this procedure notice some physical changes right away. You also can expect some downtime—about two weeks, in most cases, before resuming your normal routine and light exercise—so you will want to make sure you can arrange some help around the house and caring for your children during this crucial stage of recovery. Results of a tummy tuck are permanent if you maintain a healthy lifestyle with a nutritious diet and regular exercise.

Dr. Preminger can perform most tummy tucks on an outpatient basis. As a mother herself, she understands the challenges and struggles that women face after pregnancy in trying to recapture their former shape and appearance. She is a board-certified, Ivy League-educated plastic surgeon who is ready to put her knowledge and expertise to work to help you obtain the flat abdomen you once had. To learn more about a tummy tuck or any of our other body contouring procedures offered at Preminger Plastic Surgery, schedule a consultation with Dr. Preminger today by calling (212) 706-1900. We look forward to seeing you at our boutique-style office, located on the Upper East Side of Manhattan in New York City.