What Is the Best Treatment for a Postpartum Pooch?
There is no denying that pregnancy can be a magical experience. In a matter of months, a beautiful bond between mother and child is created, and while this connection and love continues far beyond the birth, many women discover that their beautiful pregnancy may have left them with a less than desirable physique. Carrying, delivering, and breastfeeding all take a toll on a woman’s body, and women are often left with a “pooch” in their lower stomach that no amount of exercise can remedy. This unwanted extra skin and fat can affect the entire figure and damage a mother’s self-confidence. There is good news, however. Even the most stubborn of fat pockets and sagging skin can be treated cosmetically. There are several techniques designed to return a body to its pre-pregnancy size and shape.
CoolSculpting®
CoolSculpting® has significantly risen in popularity over recent years and for a good reason. Much like its name implies, CoolSculpting® freezes away body fat, resulting in firmer and sleeker silhouettes. It does so by damaging the fat cells while leaving the healthy tissue alone, allowing the damaged fat cells to exit the body naturally. This procedure provides long-lasting results with little chance of complications.
Pros:
- Non-surgical, non-invasive procedure; no downtime and no scarring
- Not only treats the abdominal “pooch” but can also treat the lower back and thighs
- Up to a 20 to 25 percent gradual reduction of fatty tissue over 12 weeks
Cons:
- Provides subtle results; only ideal for those within or very close to their goal weight
- Not for patients with skin laxity or muscle separation
Liposuction
Liposuction is one of the most commonly performed cosmetic surgeries, with over 200,000 procedures undergone last year alone. Liposuction uses hollow tubes inserted through small incisions to loosen unwanted fat before suctioning it out. Candidates for liposuction should be within 30 pounds of their ideal weight with firm and elastic skin. This is performed under general anesthesia to guarantee a painless procedure with long-lasting results.
Pros:
- Removes larger amounts of fat deposits compared to CoolSculpting®
- Targets specific trouble areas like the abdomen, thighs, arms, chest, back, and neck
- Uses small incisions
- Permanently removes fat from the body
Cons:
- Not intended for patients with skin laxity
- Incisions result in mild scarring that will generally fade over time
- Recovery may involve one week off work and four weeks of refraining from exercise
- Bruising, bleeding, and infection, though rare, may occur
Tummy Tucks
A tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) is a surgical procedure that provides long-lasting results by targeting skin and muscle laxity. This does so by removing excess skin and repairing separated abdominal muscles.
Pros:
- Smooths the entire abdomen by trimming excess skin, reducing fat deposits, and tightening lax muscles
- A tummy tuck specifically targets the lower abdomen with a single incision
Cons:
- Although uncommon, risks such as anesthesia complications, bleeding, swelling, and infection are possible
- Scar will run from hip bone to hip bone under the bikini line but will typically fade over time
- Recovery involves one to two weeks off work and the avoidance of heavy lifting for four to six weeks
For all of these procedures, it is important to remember that while they will permanently get rid of fatty tissue in the midsection, the remaining fat cells can still increase in size with weight gain. It is important to maintain a stable weight through a healthy diet and exercise regimen.
If you’re tired of your post-pregnancy pooch, schedule a consultation with board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Doezie today! Call (949) 481-9850 to set up your appointment or fill out our online contact form.