Congratulations on becoming a new mom! After 9 months, you’ve just welcomed a precious little one into your family and you couldn’t be happier. However, it is no secret that a wild rollercoaster ride of emotions and complications often accompanies life after childbirth.
Several changes occur in a woman’s body after pregnancy and childbirth. Typically, a woman’s uterus will return to its normal size after approximately 6 to 8 weeks. But for some women, it could take much longer for their postpartum tummy to feel and look “normal”. Other new mothers may discover that the appearance of their bellies has changed permanently, with many women suffering from an unwanted bulging belly and loose, sagging skin in their lower abdomen.
And that is where abdominoplasty, or more commonly known as tummy tuck, comes in! An increasing number of women are turning to abdominoplasty surgery in Singapore as part of their post-pregnancy mommy makeover.
The effect of pregnancy on your tummy
Childbirth is one of life’s most precious moments. However, as we have briefly mentioned above, many women will notice some sagging in their lower abdomen after giving birth. Unfortunately, no amount of physical activity or dietary changes will be able to eliminate this belly pouch completely.
So, what causes this bulging belly? Well, sagging in the lower abdomen frequently occurs as a result of two contributing causes — the first is that the extra skin that has nowhere to go makes up a large portion of the affected area and the second is diastasis recti.
Many women suffer from diastasis recti, or abdominal separation, where the stomach muscles separate as a result of the uterus expanding to make room for a growing baby. In fact, research has found that at least 60% of women experience this overstretching of their “six-pack” muscles after giving birth. A protruding belly will result from the abdominal wall weakening and slackening after childbirth because the thinner midline tissue cannot support the torso and internal organs.
So, how can abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) help?
Tummy tuck surgery is a cosmetic surgical procedure that tightens the abdominal muscles and removes excess skin to reshape and contour the abdomen.
Performed under local or general anesthesia, a horizontal incision is created between the pubic bone and the belly button. Depending on your anatomy and needs, the size of this incision might range from a few inches to the whole length of your abdomen. For women who had caesarean section births, the incision can be performed in the same place, leaving only a single scar.
A professional surgeon will then restore the abdominal muscles and trim the excess skin off before closing the incision. The end result? A flatter, firmer stomach!
The best time to schedule a tummy tuck procedure
While it may be tempting to schedule an appointment for your mommy makeover as soon as possible, it is recommended that you wait at least 6 months after giving birth, or 6 months after you finish breastfeeding, if you are a breastfeeding mother.
This is to ensure that most of the tissues in your abdomen that have been stretched during pregnancy have healed. Moreover, whatever is in your breastmilk is transferred to your nursing child. In normal conditions, this is safe, but when the mother receives anesthesia, this could pose a risk to the child.
Additionally, be sure to read up on the post-abdominoplasty recovery process so you can make an informed decision on when to schedule your surgery.
Undergo your post-pregnancy mommy makeover with The Clifford Surgery Clinic
The goal is to remove the appearance of any bulge so you can get back to looking and feeling as confident as you did pre-pregnancy. However, it is important to note that the quality of your comfort and recuperation could vary depending on the doctor you choose to do your tummy tuck surgery!
Here at The Clifford Surgery Clinic, our surgeons are qualified and trained to perform a variety of cosmetic surgery operations, including abdominoplasty. As an established clinic in Singapore with over 18 years of medical experience in plastic and cosmetic surgeries, we are committed to always putting our patients’ comfort and safety first.
Book an appointment with us today and let us help you in your mommy makeover journey to confidence and beauty.