Bulging Belly Go Away! How to Get Back Your Flat Tummy

December 2, 2014
By Susan Kamyab
The Plastic Surgery Channel

Trying to lose that belly fat can almost feel impossible!  The abdomen following pregnancy can be in a state where going to the gym and dieting won’t fix the flab. In order to get your midsection to the flat, tight, toned point again, you need to eat right, work out and, when necessary, spot-treat those problem areas. If you don’t feel confident with how your stomach looks, you won’t want to show it off in a cute bikini or any fitted clothing.

Treating the Root of the Problem

Loose skin is a common difficulty, which can be caused by pregnancy or drastic weight loss.  The most effective way to treat this is by skin tighteners or a tummy tuck.  Then there is the fat bulge, which is caused by hormonal changes, lack of exercise, a fat-filled diet, genetics or a combination of extra skin, fat and stretched out muscles. The best way to get rid of those is with any number of fat removing procedures, whether it be the non-invasive CoolSculpting for small areas or liposuction combined with a tummy tuck for bigger issues.

“Everybody Loves A Tummy Tuck”

Actress Patricia Heaton (Everybody Loves Raymond, Mom’s Night Out), a mother of four, explained to People why she underwent a tummy tuck. “I had four C-sections and my stomach looked like the map of the world.  I wanted to fit into the gowns that I got to wear.”

The tummy tuck alone worked wonders on Heaton’s body and she looks better than ever. But, sometimes women may need a little more work done on their stomach if they are hoping for the results they desire. Dr. Dustin Reid and Dr. Ashley Gordon, board certified plastic surgeons that share a practice in Austin, discuss the “Tummy Tuck 360.”  This procedure couples a tummy tuck with liposuction, providing a “shrink-wrapped” result for a woman wanting to reshape her midsection after multiple childbirths.

Removing All the Unwanted Fat

“The tummy tuck is always in the top 5 procedures every month,” says Dr. Reid.  But, Dr. Reid admits that while he and his patients are always very happy with the results, there seemed to be something lacking. “It didn’t really address the flab in the back.” This is a common problem for post-pregnant women. After 2-3 kids, hormones associated with pregnancy can leave them wider.  Luckily, with the tummy tuck 360, this combination technique can specifically remove all the unwanted fat from your mid-section, including the back and saddle bags.

Belly Full of Confidence

A flabby belly can leave you feeling insecure and less confident with your body.  Rest assured, no matter what the cause is, the right doctor can give you back the belly and confidence you once had.  Dr. Gordon explains, “Lots of women will go back to the gym and do sit ups and it gets worse.  They don’t get the results because the crunches won’t fix the deflated skin.”  The unresponsive, stretched abdominal muscles require a surgical fix. Speaking with a board certified plastic will allow your procedure (or lack of one) to be custom tailored to your own unique problems.