5 Lesser-Known Advantages Of Having A Tummy Tuck

Anyone who has a tendency to store more weight in the belly area knows how frustrating it can be to maintain a slim waistline when counting calories and exercise don’t seem to do the trick. Often, people will lose fat from other areas of the body, but they’re left with a disproportionately larger stomach that makes them look even heavier than they were before. When you’re ready to finally ready to get rid of the stretched-out skin and excess fat that linger in this area after you’ve had significant weight fluctuations or have been pregnant, a procedure that can make a significant impact is the tummy tuck. Los Angeles-based plastic surgeons at Cassileth Plastic Surgery & Skin Care regularly meet with patients who don’t realize that, in addition to removing fat from the abdominal area, there are a lot of other (possibly surprising) medical and cosmetic benefits of a tummy tuck. The team delves into some of the major ways this cosmetic procedure can transform your body here:

1. Repairing Separated Muscles

When a baby is growing, the muscle wall in a pregnant woman’s abdominal area and its surrounding tissues are stretched. It’s not uncommon for the two bands of the six pack muscles in the center of the stomach to separate, creating a gap between them and giving your stomach a protruding appearance even after months since the birth. During a tummy tuck procedure, your plastic surgeon gains adequate access to fix this condition, known as diastasis recti, by pulling the muscles back together and narrowing the separated area.

2. Slimming Down “Transition Areas”

Liposuction is a surgical procedure that focuses specifically on removing stubborn, subcutaneous fat from isolated spots on the body by suctioning it from directly below the skin. It’s very useful for those problem areas that are mostly unresponsive to conventional weight loss tactics. This procedure is often paired with a tummy tuck as a way of not only removing a larger amount of fat, but also enhancing areas that aren’t traditionally addressed as part of tummy tuck surgery—such as fat on the flanks, outer thighs, hips, and lower back. The pairing helps to create a more streamlined silhouette and more balanced-looking overall proportions.

3. Reducing Back Pain

In addition to improving the appearance of your body proportions, a tummy tuck can also create functional improvements for your health to give you a better quality of life. Tummy tucks can address such common post-pregnancy symptoms as back pain caused by strained abdominal muscles that aren’t giving the lower back proper support. This type of pain can become worse when it’s left untreated for a long time. If you’re still suffering from chronic back pain, a plastic surgeon can stabilize the core muscles while removing excess fat and hanging skin.

4. Giving You Better Posture

Good posture not only makes you look more attractive, but is essential for keeping your bones, ligaments, and other body parts in the correct positions without causing too much stress or tension in any one area. Having proper posture can also make you more energized, as you’re using your muscles more efficiently. This minimizes muscle pain and reduces the risk of injury. When your stomach muscles are better supported, they can support your spine more easily and your posture will be improved.

5. Fixing a Ventral Hernia

A ventral hernia can occur when there’s tissue bulging through a gap in front of the abdominal wall, creating a visible protrusion. This often occurs due to obesity, previous surgery, or pregnancy and can cause chronic pain. The only way to have this corrected is with surgery, and doctors can often improve this issue during a tummy tuck.

To learn more about the benefits of a tummy tuck in Los Angeles, as well as other body contouring treatments, get in touch with the Cassileth Plastic Surgery & Skin Care team. For more details, call them at (310) 278-8200 or fill out a contact form to request an appointment.