It’s a question often posed to Dr. Thomas Bartell: can liposuction fix mommy tummy?
Truth be told, for about 9 out of 10 women, liposuction isn’t enough to get that flat tummy back after pregnancy. That’s because women who’ve been pregnant often experience diastasis recti, or a separation and stretching out of the abdominal muscles.
- What Causes Mommy Tummy?
- What Happens During a Tummy Tuck Procedure?
- Could a Mini Tummy Tuck Help Me?
What Causes Mommy Tummy?
It’s not in your head. It’s also not because you haven’t been working hard enough at your Madison fitness bootcamp. If you feel like you still look pregnant even though you’re back to your pre-baby weight, it’s likely due to something called diastasis recti.
During pregnancy, as your uterus expands with your growing baby, it pushes your abdominal muscles out and to the side. After pregnancy, those abdominal muscles sometimes don’t return to their original position, leaving the abdomen looking rounded like in early pregnancy.
This pouchy-looking tummy, as well as any excess skin from the pregnancy, can’t be fixed through liposuction. These issues can only be corrected with a tummy tuck.
What Happens During a Tummy Tuck Procedure?
To begin the procedure, Dr. Bartell starts by performing liposuction on the upper abdomen and waist area, as well as off onto the hips to get a nice contour.
Next, Dr. Bartell makes a low incision that’s below the hair line or C-section scar. The incision will come up a little on either side, like a bikini bottom does. Dr. Bartell keeps the incision low enough so that the scar won’t show in a two-piece swimsuit.
To correct the diastasis recti, Dr. Bartell reaffixes the abdominal muscles to each other to make them strong, stable, and in the correct position, and then pulls down the entire muscular structure. This creates a flat foundation. Any excess skin or muscle is also removed. Dr. Bartell then moves the belly button back to its original position and fixes any irregularities in its shape. Finally, Dr. Bartell applies sutures, a drainage tube, and bandages the area.
And because Dr. Bartell only performs below-the-neck body recontouring procedures, you can be assured that he’s a true tummy tuck expert. In fact, tummy tucks are Dr. Bartell’s second most popular procedure.
Could a Mini Tummy Tuck Help Me?
Occasionally, a patient requests a mini tummy tuck, which Dr. Bartell has only performed on rare occasions because most patients are not good candidates for this small procedure. Mini tummy tucks are only helpful for women who only have issues below the belly button. A mini tummy tuck can’t correct any excess skin or protrusion above the belly button. This smaller procedure also yields more modest results.
For these reasons, a regular tummy tuck is usually the best option for the vast majority of patients.
For further reading: Am I a Good Candidate for a Tummy Tuck?
Tummy Tucks in Madison, Wisconsin
Maybe you’ve lost a lot of weight or had bariatric surgery. Perhaps you’re done having kiddos and unhappy with how they’ve left your tummy. Whatever your reason, if you’re considering a tummy tuck, schedule your consult today with Dr. Bartell. At your consult, you’ll be able to ask questions and see real before and after photos of actual patients.
Dr. Bartell solely performs below-the-neck body recontouring procedures, including liposuction and tummy tuck in Madison, Wisconsin.
Dr. Bartell Body Recontouring Specialist
Can Liposuction Fix Mommy Tummy? brought to you by Dr. Thomas Bartell