A stubborm tummy pouch

Exercise and diet are the healthiest methods of staying in shape. However, there are many men and women who are bothered by the persistent tummy pooch despite diet and exercise. A number of women complain that after pregnancy they developed an abdominal bulge that would not go away no matter how much they diet or exercise. What causes this stubborn tummy pooch? Three basic changes may be observed in people with abdominal bulges:

- Stretched Skin

- Excess Fat

- Weakened Abdominal Wall

Stretched skin occurs in people who gained or lost weight or more commonly following pregnancy. Today there is no effective way to tighten the sagging abdominal skin other than having it surgically removed. This procedure is known as a tummy tuck or abdominoplasty. The incision for a tummy tuck is placed low so that the scar can be hidden behind underwear. Fat accumulation in the abdominal area can also be resistant to diet and exercise. In such cases, unwanted fat can be removed with liposuction or a tummy tuck. The abdominal wall consists of abdominal muscles and a membrane between these muscles called a fascia.

With age or following pregnancy the fascia stretches causing the abdomen to bulge. Abdominal exercises frequently fail to tighten the stretched fascia. This fascia can be effectively tightened using sutures during a tummy tuck to improve the contour of the abdomen. Most people go home the same day after a tummy tuck and return to work in about 10-14 days. The new shape of the abdomen is evident immediately after the procedure and continues to improve over the next several months.

A tummy tuck procedure to reshape the abdomen discussed.

Vladimir Grigoryants, MD

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