We all love our children, but the changes to our bodies that come with having children are not always as loved. The breasts and the belly are the two areas that can suffer the most, and the Mommy Makeover can help both.
Mommy Makeover – Breast Enhancement
Breast can enlarge, deflate or sag with pregnancy. The Mommy Makeover is modified depending on the problem. The most common Breast Enhancement is Breast Augmentation. Breast Implants are used to restore lost volume, and fill loose skin. If sagging is present, a Breast Lift can be used to reshape the breast. When breast enlarge with pregnancy and do not deflate, the result is macromastia, or breast that remain too large. Breast Reduction surgery is used in this situation, to restore a more comfortable breast volume. Breast Reduction reduces and lifts the breast and can also provide Areola Reduction. When needed, Nipple Reduction can also be incorporated into the procedure. For more about Breast Shaping procedures visit my Breast Enhancement page.
Mommy Makeover – Belly Enhancement
The abdomen also takes a hit with pregnancy. The abdominal wall, muscle and skin, is stretched maximally during the final trimester. The tough fascial layer that surrounds the muscle often gives, causing laxity of the muscle and separation of the rectus muscles down the middle (diastasis recti). While exercise will strengthen the muscle, it cannot repair the overstretched fascia. A Tummy Tuck, or Abdominoplasty, can tighten the fascia, repair the diastasis, remove the excess skin and remove any baby fat that remains on the lower belly. Mini Tummy Tucks (Mini Abdominoplasty) and Liposuction can also be part of a complete Mommy Makeover. For more about Belly Shaping procedures visit my Body Enhancement page.
Mommy Makeover Before and After Pictures
This Mommy Makeover Video features before and after photos and more Mommy Makeover information. A variety of Tummy Tucks before and afters are revealed, from small to large. Other details of the Mommy Makeover are also discussed regarding the tummy tuck scar, and when to use breast implants, breast reduction or a breast lift.
Mommy Makeover Video – Before and Afters
The Mommy Makeover video segment below was broadcast live on the San Francisco Bay Area’s News Station, KRON4. The (415) number shown in the feature was for callers to ask questions during the show. Michelle in San Jose, California, called in to ask if her C-section scar can be used to perform a Tummy Tuck. Good question! If you have questions about Mommy Makeovers, Breast Augmentation or Abdominoplasty (Tummy Tucks) please call (925) 943-6353 for more information, or use the contact form on this page to email me.
Mommy Makeover Frequently Asked Questions
This Mommy Makeover Video includes answers to more Mommy Makeover frequently asked questions. Tummy Tucks and Abdominoplasty before and after pictures are shown, and more Belly and Breast Enhancement details are shared including:
Mommy Makeover before and after pictures
Extended Tummy Tuck before and afters for skin laxity
Abdominoplasty before and afters for muscle laxity
Tummy Tuck before and afters for disproportionate fat
How to treat the Muffin Top
Where is the Tummy Tuck scar?
Can a C-section Scar be used for a Tummy Tuck?
When are Breast Implants used for Breast Enhancement?
When is a Breast Lift recommended?
Can Breast Reduction be performed instead?
Which are the strongest Breast Implants?
Allergan style 410 Breast Implants information
Sientra High-Strength Breast Implants information
More Mommy Makeover Information
Thank you for watching part three of Mommy Makeovers. Be sure to watch the rest of the show. Links are provided below:
My most recent KRON4 Body Beautiful television appearance featuring Mommy Makeovers is packed with information that every woman considering Breast Enhancement or Abdominoplasty (Tummy Tuck) can use.
What is a Mommy Makeover
Mommy Makeover is a generic term for a combination of procedures that restore both the breasts and the belly. Since this is very desirable after childbirth, mommies are the number one patients for Mommy Makeovers. The combination is also common after weight loss, when breast volume is lost and the abdominal skin remains stretched out. A Mommy makeover can also be performed to cosmetically enhance the results of Bariatric Surgery. As a member of the American Society of Bariatric Plastic Surgeons, Mommy Makeovers are an area of particular interest to me.
Abdominoplasty (Tummy Tucks)
The previous post reviewed the options for remodeling the upstairs (Breast Enhancement). This Mommy Makeover Video concentrates on downstairs (Body Enhancement). The mainstay of Body Enhancement is the Tummy Tuck or Abdominoplasty. The procedure allows a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon to tighten the abdominal muscles and remove excess belly skin and fat. The result is a smoother, firmer tummy.
Mini Tummy Tucks (Mini Abdominoplasty)
When the upper abdominal wall looks good (above the belly-button) and just the lower tummy needs tucking, a Mini Tummy Tuck may be a better choice. The Mini Abdominoplasty operation is a smaller procedure, with a quicker recovery. The fact that it’s a smaller procedure also means it is not a substitute for when a full Tummy Tuck is indicated.
Liposuction
Liposuction can also be used for body sculpting. Liposuction allows areas of disproportionate fat to be removed via small, discretely placed incisions. If your skin has good elasticity, it will smooth out after the fat is removed. The skin over an area of liposuction can shrink due to it’s own elasticity, but if the skin is loose prior to liposuctioning, a Tummy Tuck is almost always a better choice.
Mommy Makeover Video – Breast Augmentation
The Mommy Makeover video segment below was broadcast live on the San Francisco Bay Area’s News Station, KRON4. The (415) number shown in the feature was for callers to ask questions during the show. If you have questions about Mommy Makeovers, Breast Augmentation or Abdominoplasty (Tummy Tucks) please call (925) 943-6353 for more information, or use the contact form on this page to email me.
Mommy Makeover Frequently Asked Questions
This Mommy Makeover Video includes answers to many of the frequently asked questions about Tummy Tucks and Abdominoplasty. Other tummy shaping procedures are also discussed including, Mini Tummy Tucks, Mini Abdominoplasty and Liposuction. Some of the Mommy Makeover Information covered includes:
What diet and exercise can and can’t do.
What is the definition of the Mommy Makeover
Can Tummy Tucks be safely combined with Breast Implants?
Do only Mommies benefit from Mommy Makeovers?
How can a Mommy Makeover help after pregnancy?
How can a Mommy Makeover help after weight loss?
What differences are there with Tummy Tucks for Women and Men?
Will Liposuction tighten loose skin?
What are the advantages of a Mini Tummy Tuck?
What are the limitations of a Mini Tummy Tuck?
Why are Mini Abdominoplasty scars shorter?
Does an Abdominoplasty cut the abdominal muscles?
More Mommy Makeover Information
Thank you for watching part two of Mommy Makeovers. Be sure to watch the rest of the show. Links are provided below:
What does the mini in Mini Tummy Tuck mean to you? In Cosmetic Plastic Surgery, mini means less downtime, less expense and shorter period of time before you can enjoy your results. Sounds too good to be true, right? Well it’s not, but there is a catch. Mini procedures are great, but they require a more experienced guide.
Mini Tummy Tuck Before and After (Mini Abdominoplasty)
Why More Experience is Necessary for Mini Procedures
In general, mini procedures are not more difficult than their maxi counter parts. In fact, the majority of the mini procedure’s upside comes from their simplicity. This is also the mini’s limitation, and truly knowing the limitations of a mini procedure is only possible if you have experience with the read deal. For a Mini Tummy Tuck, this means experience with both Abdominoplasty and Liposuction.
Let’s Talk Mini Tummy Tuck (Mini Abdominoplasty)
What is a Mini Tummy Tuck? The procedure combines the best skin tightening techniques of a Tummy Tuck with the shortened recovery of liposuction. For appropriately selected patients, this means more value. This means a great result for less (downtime, discomfort and dollars).
When the “Simple” Procedure gets Complicated
Since a Mini Tummy Tuck seems simpler and easier than a Full Tummy Tuck, you might think less training would be necessary, but this is not the case. Taking a weekend course on “How to Perform a Mini Tummy Tuck,” is a great refresher when you already know how to do a Full Tummy Tuck and Liposuction. There is no downside to learning how best to integrate and refine two techniques into a hybrid that gives great results, with a shorter recovery period, for well selected patients.
The Problem with Mini Tummy Tucks
The problems occur when a weekend course is the entirety of a cosmetic surgeon’s training. It is not possible to learn everything that is needed for a Mini Tummy Tuck in a few hours or even days. Without a sound foundation in general Plastic Surgery techniques, the necessary anatomy, the specific techniques and the alternatives to the Mini Abdominoplasty, the mini procedure surgeon cannot achieve maxi results. It takes years of training and experience to learn both how to do a Mini Tummy Tuck and who will benefit from a Mini Abdominoplasty.
Who should Get a Mini Abdominoplasty?
Who is good candidate for a Mini Tummy Tuck? To a major degree, the answer depends on you, the Mini Tummy Tuck patient. Both the anatomy of your abdomen and your expectations will influence the decision making process. No matter how much is saved by having a mini procedure, if it does not accomplish what is expected, it will not seem worthwhile.
The Best Mini Tummy Tuck Candidates
The best candidates for the Mini Tummy Tuck are healthy, with good skin tone and problem isolated to the lower abdomen. The best candidates have too much loose skin for Liposuction, but lack muscle and skin laxity in the upper abdomen. If the skin laxity, and muscle pooching is isolated to the area below the belly-button, a Mini Abdominoplasty may be able to accomplish everything that we would want a full abdominoplasty to do.
Mini Tummy Tuck Consultations
As a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon, with over 15 years in private practice, I know that the Internet is a great source of Cosmetic Plastic Surgery information; however, the information needs to be adapted to each patient’s specific requirements. If you are interested in Body Shaping Procedures like the Tummy Tuck, Mini Tummy Tummy Tuck or Liposuction, call (925) 943-6353 today to schedule your personal consultation appointment.
The battle of the belly bulge ramps up for winter. As we enter the holiday season, big meals, more parties and less daylight for exercise combine to help us gain a little winter fat. Diet and exercise are still our best defense, but for those stubborn areas of disproportionate fat, or loose skin, there are some secret weapons.
Liposuction
Liposuction is not a substitute for a good diet and exercise plan, but it is a great compliment. Unlike weight loss, Liposuction allows you to choose the area where the fat is removed. If you have a stubborn bulge of disproportionate fat, Liposuction can sculpt the area, smooth out the unwanted curves, and accent the desired ones. More articles on Liposuction are available on the San Francisco Plastic Surgery Blog. Click on Liposuction under “Categories” on the left, or visit DrMele.com’s Liposuction information page.
Tumescent Liposuction Before and After Pictures
Tumescent Liposuction of the Abdomen – The problem here is purely fat. The skin is smooth and tight and the abdominal muscles are fit. Localized, disproportionate fat was selectively removed with Dumb-Lipo, not Smart-Lipo. No laser, no ultrasound, no radio-frequency electromagnetic waves, just safe, reliable tumescent liposuction. Good-bye belly bulge.
Tummy Tuck (Abdominoplasty)
Abdominoplasty is also not a substitute for diet and exercise. It compliments weight loss in an entirely different way. Sometimes, after pregnancy or weight loss, the skin of the abdomen is over stretched, and cannot recoil. The loose skin accumulates on the lower abdomen, and overhangs the belt-line, or even the belly-button. The skin roll may be more noticeable when sitting or bending over.
Tummy-Tuck (Abdominoplasty) Before and After Pictures
Tummy Tuck or Abdominoplasty – The problem here is skin. After massive weight loss, multiple rolls of redundant skin are seen at the belt-line, the belly-button and even higher. The Tummy Tuck permanently removes loose abdominal skin and allows tightening of the abdominal muscles. Clothes now fit. Good-bye belly bulges.
Weight loss can remove the unwanted fat, but does nothing to tighten the abdominal wall skin and muscle. Unlike Liposuction, a Tummy Tuck removes excess skin and tightens the muscles of the abdominal wall. It can remove the fat from the lower abdomen, along with central stretch marks. More articles covering the frequently asked questions about Abdominoplasty can be viewed by clicking on Tummy Tuck (Abdominoplasty) under “Categories” on the left, or visit DrMele.com’s Tummy Tuck information page.
Mommy Makeovers
Mommy Makeovers address both the belly and the breasts. Sometimes weight loss leads to a loss of breast volume, or sagging. A Mommy Makeover is a combination of abdominal rejuvenation (Liposuction or Tummy Tuck) with Breast Enhancement (Breast Augmentation or Breast Lift). The Mommy Makeover is often performed after pregnancy, or more specifically after a woman is done having children.
Pregnancy and weight gain both can lead to enlargement of the breasts and belly. After childbirth, or weight loss, the breast can lose volume and may sag, and the abdomen can get stretched out of shape. A Mommy Makeover can help both areas. For information click on the Mommy Makeover listing under Categories” on the left, or visit DrMele.com’s Mommy Makeover information page.
Mommy Makeover Before and After Pictures
Mommy Makeover – The problem here is childbirth. The breast have deflated and the tummy is stretched out and lax. Both the skin and the muscle of the abdominal wall are affected. Breast Augmentation combined with a Tummy Tuck, reestablish her pre-pregnancy appeal, and maybe a little more. Hello Mamma.
Schedule Your Consultation Today
Soccer season is over. Summer memories are fading. Before Thanksgiving, most of us are at our lowest weight of the year. Before the Winter doldrums set in, it’s a great time to get rid of those little bulges before they try to grow after Thanksgiving. If you have been considering a little body shaping, now is a great time to come in for a consultation. Call (925) 943-6353 and schedule your personal consultation appointment, today. Give yourself something really worth protecting this Winter, and be doubly ready for Spring.
We are wrapping up our Tummy Tuck videos this week, with more of today’s latest variations in Abdominoplasty. We will review Floating Belly Button Tummy Tucks and Fleur-de-Lys Tummy Tucks.
Floating Belly Button Tummy Tuck
Floating Belly Button Tummy Tucks are for those needing more than a Mini Tummy Tuck, but not quite a full Tummy Tuck. This Abdominoplasty does not make an incision around the belly button. Instead, the belly button “floats” downwards along with the skin. This is useful when there is a little loose skin above the belly button, that would not be treated with a mini tummy tuck. The important word is little. If you have a lot of loose skin, the belly button would float all the way off!
Fleur-de-Lys Tummy Tuck
Fleur-de-Lys Tummy Tucks remove skin at the bottom, like a full Tummy Tuck. Additionally, skin is also removed vertically, from the middle of the belly. This technique is most often used for post bariatric, and other massive weight loss patients. It allows for the maximal reduction in excess skin. With most massive weight loss patients, a Fleur-de-Lys Tummy Tuck is more than is needed, but when it is necessary, it is a great technique.
Tummy Tuck on San Francisco Bay Area Television
This is segment four of four from KRON4′s Body Beautiful. Links to previous segments are posted below. The (415) number that appears in this Tummy Tuck Video was provided for viewers to call in with their questions during the live show. If you are considering Liposuction, Tummy Tuck, Breast Augmentation, Mommy Makeovers or another Cosmetic Plastic Surgery procedure, information is available here on the San Francisco Plastic Surgery Blog, and my other websites listed above on the left under “Useful Links“. Or better, give me a call at (925) 943-6353, and schedule your personal consultation appointment.
Abdominoplasty (Tummy Tuck) Video with Before and After Pictures
Liposuction Frequently Asked Questions
The first segment of this television show reviewed Liposuction. The second segment discussed Tummy Tucks and Lower Body Lifts, while the third segment has more about Liposuction, Tummy Tucks and Mini Tummy Tucks. This video covers more general information about Abdominoplasty (Tummy Tuck) as well details of the variations listed above. Topics covered in this Tummy Tuck Video include:
What is a Floating Belly Button Tummy Tuck?
Do you need a belly button?
Can you keep your belly button?
What if I have an umbilical hernia?
What is a Fleur-de-Lis Abdominoplasty?
Who is usually a candidate for a Fleur-de-Lis Abdominoplasty?
How long does a Tummy Tuck last?
What is a Mommy Makeover?
Is there a “normal” age for a Tummy Tuck?
Can a man have a Tummy Tuck too?
When will you see your Abdominoplasty results?
Is Liposuction safer than a Tummy Tuck?
If you still have questions about Liposuction, Tummy Tuck, Breast Augmentation, Mommy Makeovers or other Cosmetic Plastic Surgery procedures, call our San Francisco Bay Area Plastic Surgery office or use the contact form on the left to ask your questions. If you are considering Cosmetic Plastic Surgery, call (925) 943-6353, and we will help you take the next step.
There are four segments to the Liposuction and Tummy Tuck Series as seen on KRON4′s Body Beautiful.
Last week, I introduced the Tummy Tuck. This week, I discuss the Tummy Tuck in more detail including Mini Tummy Tucks, but that’s not all. A viewer asks about Liposuction of the thighs vs. a Thigh Lift, and Janelle asks about Arm Liposuction vs. and Arm Lift (Brachioplasty) and the very popular Mommy Makeover.
Tummy Tuck on San Francisco Bay Area Television
This is segment three of four from KRON4′s Body Beautiful. Janelle Marie and the San Francisco Bay Area Plastic Surgery audience have more questions. Links to previous segments are posted below. The (415) number that appears in this Tummy Tuck Video was provided for viewers to call in with their questions during the live show. If you are considering Liposuction, Tummy Tuck, Breast Augmentation, Mommy Makeovers or another Cosmetic Plastic Surgery procedure, information is available here on the San Francisco Plastic Surgery Blog, and my other websites listed above on the left under “Useful Links“.
Abdominoplasty (Tummy Tuck) Video with Before and After Pictures
Liposuction Frequently Asked Questions
The first segment of this television show reviewed Liposuction. The second segment discussed Tummy Tucks and Lower Body Lifts. This video covers many of the frequently asked questions about variations of the Abdominoplasty (Tummy Tuck) as well as the Arm Lift (Brachioplasty) and Thigh Lift. Topics covered in this Tummy Tuck Video include:
What is a Floating Belly Button Tummy Tuck?
What is a Mini Tummy Tuck?
Can Liposuction enhance the results of a Mini Tummy Tuck?
Can I keep my belly button after a Tummy Tuck?
What is a Fleur-de-Lis Abdominoplasty?
Who is usually a candidate for a Fleur-de-Lis Abdominoplasty?
How long does a Tummy Tuck last?
What is a Mommy Makeover?
When is the best time for a Mommy Makeover?
Viewer Francisco from Oakland asks,”Can Liposuction help loose skin on the inner thigh?”
What is involved with a Thigh Lift?
Can Liposuction be performed on the upper arm?
What is the difference between Liposuction and an Arm Lift (Brachioplasty)?
Can Liposuction alone help loose arm skin?
What are some of the most common Plastic Surgery procedures for men?
If you have questions about Liposuction, Tummy Tuck, Breast Augmentation, Mommy Makeovers or other Cosmetic Plastic Surgery procedures, call our San Francisco Bay Area Plastic Surgery office or use the contact form on the left to ask your questions. If you are considering cosmetic plastic surgery, call (925) 943-6353, and we will help you take the next step with a personalized consultation appointment.
There are four segments to the Liposuction and Tummy Tuck Series as seen on KRON4′s Body Beautiful.
Tummy Tucks, in the San Francisco Bay Area, remain high on the list of cosmetic plastic surgery procedures. Whether performed on their own, or as part of a Mommy Makeover, abdominoplasty can repair loose overstretched skin, muscle laxity, disproportionate fat, and even remove stretch marks from the lower abdomen.
Tummy Tuck Before and After: Lower abdominal laxity distorts the appearance of the abs in this otherwise fit woman. In just a few weeks after her tummy tuck, her clothes fit better, and she is much happier with her new look.
Tummy Tuck Alternatives and Options
The Tummy Tuck is the plastic surgery work horse for abdominal rejuvenation. It addresses all three of the major areas on concern for the lower abdomen. Abdominoplasty tightens skin, removes fat and cinches up the muscles like an internal corset. For most patients, after weight loss or child birth, this is the best option. When the skin and muscles are tight, however, Liposuction alone may be sufficient to flatten the belly. When muscle and skin laxity is confined to the area below the belly-button, a mini-tummy-tuck may be a better choice.
Maintaining the Proportions of the Trunk
Sometimes the fat extends around the sides to the back. The love handles or “back fat” may look disproportionate after the belly is repaired. A Tummy Tuck can be combined with Liposuction to extend the results. As long as the skin tone is good, liposuction can be utilized to removed the love handles and back fat to rejuvenate the entire trunk.
Liposuction of the back can be combined with a tummy tuck to further enhance your results. In this case, liposuction allowed for further reduction of the waist, and smoothing of the back. The combination allows clothing to fit better than with a tummy tuck alone.
Liposuction only works when the skin retains the ability to contract and shrink to the new, slimmer shape. When the skin is over stretched, appropriately named “plastic deformation” in Engineering, it can no longer regain its original shape. This is the benefit of operations like Abdominoplasty and the circumferential Lower Body Lift or Belt Lipectomy used for Post Bariatric Plastic Surgery. These procedures remove the excess skin and allow for enhanced, more form fitting results.
Tummy Tuck Frequently Asked Questions
Interested in more information about Tummy Tuck (Abdominoplasty), Mini-Tummy Tuck (Mini-Abdominoplasty), Liposuction, Lower Body Lift or Belt Lipectomy? More is available on my main web site, DrMele.com, and via any of the links embedded above. We would be happy to answer your questions via the contact form to the left or via the phone.
To schedule a private consultation in our Walnut Creek, CA, Plastic Surgery Office call (925) 943-6353.
Live Television Event on Monday, September 10, 2012, at 11:00 AM
Update: Dr. Joseph Mele, will be appearing live Monday, on KRON4′s Body Beautiful. The topic will be all about the abdomen. You can call in and get your questions answered during the show, or email them beforehand using the contact form on the left.
Recently, inquires about Mommy Makover procedures have been on the rise. Astute Bay Area consumers of Cosmetic Plastic Surgery are seeking the assistance of an experienced Board Certified Plastic Surgeon, like myself, Joseph A. Mele, MD, to repair the damage that pregnancy sometimes causes.
Mommy Makeover Before And After Pictures: Side-by-side before and after photos of Breast Augmentation combined with a Tummy Tuck.
What is a Mommy Makeover?
What is a Mommy Makeover? The Mommy Makeover takes care of the two areas of the female body that take the biggest hits with pregnancy: the breasts and the belly. Traditionally, Breast Augmentation (Breast Implants) is combined with Abdominoplasty (Tummy Tuck), but other variations exist.
The Mommy Makeover before and after photos above show what can be achieved. After pregnancy, her breasts have lost volume, but are not saggy. The skin on the abdomen has become loose and the muscle behind it is lax, bowing forward due to stretching during pregnancy. In this case, Breast Augmentation with Breast Implants restores the lost breast volume, and a Tummy Tuck tightens the abdomen.
What Else Can a Mommy Makeover do?
Other procedures can be combined or substituted depending on your specific needs. When the the breast sag, a Breast Lift can be added. If there is sagging, but size of the breasts remains good, Breast Augmentation may not be needed. On the other hand, when the breasts remain too large, a Breast Reduction is performed.
For the abdomen, when only the lower abdomen is over stretched, a Mini Tummy Tuck may be sufficient for correction. In cases where the muscle remains flat, but a collection of fat develops, Liposuction can help improve the contours. Liposuction may also be used in combination with the Tummy Tuck or Mini Tummy Tuck, to further improve the abdominal proportions.
Mommy Make Over Options
As you can see, there are many variations of Mommy Makeovers. What will work best for you depends on where the problems are, and the simplest, most predictable way available for improvement. To learn more about the Mommy Makeover, and to see what the procedure has to offer you, be certain to consult with a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon. If you are in the San Francisco Bay Area, call our Walnut Creek, CA office at (925) 943-6353, to schedule an appointment today. Alternatively, you can use the contact form at the bottom of the left column.
The Tummy Tuck remains one of the most satisfying procedures I perform. There is something very rewarding about being able to restore a stomach to its firm, youthful form. Most patients are in good shape. Many are working hard at improving the look of their abdomen; however, exercise alone does not always provide the desired results. Exercise can reduce weight and strengthen muscles, but it cannot shrink skin or tighten an abdominal wall that has been over stretched.
Tummy Tuck Before and After Pictures
Who Gets Tummy Tucks (Abdominoplasty)?
Many of my tummy tuck patients have had children. Their abdomens have stretched due to pregnancy, especially with multiple pregnancies. The baby, like weight gain, stretches the abdominal wall causing both muscle and skin laxity. This can occur even when physically fit. Abdominal wall stretching is compounded by even mild weight gain, as the fat seems to be stored preferentially in the lower abdomen.
Why is the Abdomen More Full at the Bottom?
Extra skin tends to fold over at the belly-button and at the belt line. This happens because most the attachments between the skin and abdominal muscles are loose, allowing gravity to slide the skin down over the muscles when we stand. Dense attachments between the skin and the muscle at the belly button and along the belt line keep the skin from sliding. Redundant skin above these areas accumulates and may fold over itself. The lower abdominal skin folding is accentuated by lower abdominal scars, like the scar from a C-section. The C-section scar firmly glues the skin to the underlying muscle, and gravity pulls any loose skin over the scar enhancing the pooch.
Another reason the abdomen is more full at the bottom has to do with the abdominal wall muscles. Pregnancy and weight gain increase the volume inside the abdominal cavity. This stretches not only the skin but also the tough fascial layers that support the abdominal muscles. When the fascia layers are stretched, the guts can push forward, causing a rounder belly. Tightening the muscles voluntarily can help, but when overstretched, it may not be possible to suck the guts in completely.
Fat retained inside the abdominal cavity can also cause a firm round belly that cannot be sucked in. Fat in this interior location cannot be removed with a tummy tuck or liposuction, and must be lost through diet and exercise. This is part of the reason it is best to be close to your goal weight before having your tummy tuck.
What Can be Done to Flatten the Belly After Pregnancy or Weight Loss?
Tummy Tuck Before and After Pictures
Tummy Tuck - Before and After Photos
Tummy Tuck: The Tummy Tuck, or Abdominoplasty, was created to tighten the abdominal wall muscles and to remove excess skin. A tummy tuck also removes excess fat more completely than liposuction. This three pronged approach addresses excess skin, excess fat and lax abdominal muscles. It is the most effective way to rejuvenate the shape of the abdomen. Abdominoplasty smoothes the skin, removes the fat and tightens the abdominal muscles.
Liposuction Before and After Pictures
Liposuction Before and After Pictures
Liposuction: If the skin tone and muscle wall are already in good shape, Liposuction alone may be sufficient. However, if liposuction is performed with loose skin or muscles, the results will not be optimal. The muscle is not tightened with liposuction, and the skin may lose support from the fat removal and become more irregular.
Mini Tummy Tuck Before and After Pictures
Mini Tummy Tuck Before and After Pictures
Mini-Tummy Tuck: The Mini Tummy Tuck, or Mini Abdominoplasty, can help when the muscle and skin laxity is isolated to below the belly button. It does everything a tummy tuck can do below the belly button, and can be combined with liposuction to address disproportionate fat above the belly button or on the sides. For laxity above the belly button, a tummy tuck is still the best choice.
Tummy Tuck Information
More information about tummy tucks is available on my main web site DrMele.com. If you would like specific information regarding what can be done for your tummy, schedule a consultation in our San Francisco Bay Area Plastic Surgery Office in Walnut Creek, California. Call (925) 943-6353 or use the contact form in the column on to the left.
Dr. Mele discusses Tumescent Liposuction (aka: Liposuction, Suction Assisted Lipectomy and Liposculpture) on the San Francisco Bay Area's News Station, KRON4.
Liposuction, specifically Tumescent Liposuction, remains the gold-standard in efficient, safe and predictable fat removal. It allows for the selective removal of fat from areas that are disproportionate in a way that weight loss cannot. While weight loss is indicated for obesity, liposuction is superior for the spot removal of localized collections of fat that stubbornly remain, even if you are near your ideal weight.
Mesotherapy Banned
France recently banned one of the largest “alternative” fat removal treatments because it posses a significant risk to the patient’s health. The law was far reaching, and included ALL non-surgical alternatives to liposuction. The French court found that the inclusion of some already approved methods was inconsistent with the spirit of the law, and consequently has issued an injunction pending narrowing of the law’s scope.
San Francisco Bay Area Liposuction Expert
Below is the first segment of four from an appearance on the San Francisco Bay Area News Station, KRON, Channel 4. The topic for discussion was Liposuction and Liposuction alternatives, both surgical and non-surgical. The (415) number on the video was for viewers to call in with questions during the live show. If you have questions, please call our Walnut Creek Liposuction Expert at (925) 943-6353, or use the contact form in the left column.
San Francisco Bay Area Liposuction Video
Tumescent Liposuction Topics Covered
Topics covered during the above San Francisco Bay Area Television appearance include:
The recent French Mesotherapy Ban
Problems associated with Mesotherapy
Inclusion of Some Approved Treatments in the French Mesotherapy Ban leads to the requirement for modification
Tumescent Liposuction
The ability of Tumescent Liposuction to selectively remove fat
Do lasers, ultrasound and radiofrequency dramatically improve the results of Tumescent Liposuction?
Additional Liposuction Videos
Additional Liposuction Videos from this appearance are available on the San Francisco Plastic Surgery Blog via the following links:
