Make 2016 the Year Of the Tummy

By Susan K Buenaventura, MS, MD

The Sendi Center for Cosmetic Surgery

More Beauty Skin Care & Gorgeous Smiles Articles

Make 2016 the Year Of the Tummy

Is your tummy a problem in clothing or with your shape? Problems in this area are due to one of three things excess fat, excess skin and /or loose abdominal wall muscle. Like any other process, once you determine the cause of the problem, you can find a solution.

Excess skin? If you have excess skin from pregnancies or weight loss, surgery is the only truly effective way to remove excess skin. This is called an abdominoplasty or tummy tuck. If you have a more moderate skin excess, you may be a candidate for a mini-tummy tuck.

Full tummy tucks usually involve and overnight stay in the hospital. Mini tummy tucks can be done as an outpatient. Thermage is a non-surgical radiofrequency device that can also tighten skin and can be performed with no downtime.

Loose abdominal wall muscle? This is a common problem after pregnancies, or after significant weight loss. The rectus abdominal muscles have been stretched, and are no longer aligned properly. Abdominal exercises will strengthen the muscle but will not realign the muscle.

This is called a diastasis rectus and it can be repaired surgically by bringing the muscles back to the center of the abdominal wall. This can take strain off of the lower back, aid digestion, and restore proper support to the abdominal wall. Women also find that after a diastasis repair, they are able perform exercises that isolate the rectus muscle much more effectively.

Excess fatty tissue? Removal of excess fatty tissue can be done with traditional liposuction using the tumescent technique. Women get fuller in the midsection after pregnancies, when some stubborn fatty tissue accumulates around the abdomen, love handles and hip areas.

This trend continues as women go through menopause and the hormonal shifts that occur cause further fat deposition in the abdominal and back areas. A board certified plastic surgeon can help you determine which of the above procedures can be most beneficial for you.

Coolsculpting this is a non-surgical way to get rid of fat that is more gradual than liposuction but requires no downtime. It involves freezing the fat cells, which subsequently die off and the contour of the area is gradually improved. It is cleared by the FDA for non-invasive Fat removal.

So what are you waiting for? Make this your year to address those problem areas. Make an appointment with a board certified plastic sur-

geon today.