Does a tummy tuck repair stomach muscles? Our Portland-based Waldorf Center for Plastic Surgery team knows that many patients who want to enhance their midsection wonder about the full benefits of the procedure when they’re considering tummy tuck surgery.
A tummy tuck can provide many benefits: It will improve the overall shape of the stomach area. It can involve the removal of loose skin and fat—and sometimes the abdominal muscles will be tightened as well.
Why is the necessary for certain patients? After having a baby, many women experience back pain as a result of weakened abdominal muscles that separated throughout the pregnancy. On fact, pregnancy can permanently affect the stomach muscles, causing them to stay “stretched out” for good. Unfortunately, it is not really possible to fully reverse this problem with exercise on its own.
The condition is known as diastasis recti, and it can cause the belly to stick out for months or years after you’ve had a baby. Abdominal muscle separation can also occur due to weight fluctuations from yo-yo dieting, doing weightlifting or sit-ups incorrectly, or other causes. That means men can also experience this condition, usually due to improper exercise or weightlifting techniques or gaining significant weight that causes the muscles to separate.
Separated stomach muscles can give the stomach a flabby appearance. Many people may not even be aware that muscle separation is what’s causing them to have a protruding stomach that won’t flatten regardless of how much exercise they do.
Abdominal weakness is more than just a cosmetic issue. It can also cause other medical issues, such as lower back pain. A tummy tuck will usually involve surgical tightening of the abdominal muscles to improve abdominal support, which can help with discomfort. The stomach muscles and fascia will be stitched back together to give the stomach a tighter, more toned appearance. By repairing the muscles, the aesthetic results from the surgery will also be enhanced. Strengthening the abdominal muscles can even potentially improve your posture.
Our team can tell you more about the benefits of abdominoplasty surgery if you’re interested. To get more information or schedule a consultation, call us at 503-646-0101 or fill out a contact form to arrange an appointment to discuss abdominoplasty.