Why Do So Many Mothers in Toronto Choose Tummy Tuck Surgery After Pregnancy?

By Jerome Edelstein, MD

When it comes to tummy tucks in Toronto, the most common type of client we see are women who are looking to restore firmness and a shapely contour to their abdomen after pregnancy.

Also known as abdominoplasty, they have always been a popular procedure, and there has been a massive increase in their demand over the last few years. One of the main reasons women are turning to tummy tucks, is to regain their pre pregnancy silhouette. Many women find that despite diet and exercise, they are simply unable to get back to where they used to be. In these cases, this procedure is the best solution to tackle the problem.After pregnancy and childbirth it is extremely common to experience sagging in the lower abdomen. Usually, these lower abdominal pouches tend to be quite stubborn and are not particularly responsive to diet or exercise.

There are two key reasons for this. Firstly, the excess skin that has begun to sag doesn’t have anywhere else to go. Secondly, many women develop what is known as diastasis recti following pregnancy.Diastasis recti is a condition that occurs when the abdominal muscles spread apart. During pregnancy, as the uterus expands with the baby’s growth, the tissues connecting the two halves of the ab muscles also begin to stretch. Although a degree of widening along the mid line of the abdomen is expected in all pregnancies, when the separation is more than around 2 centimeters, it is usually indicative of diastasis recti.Although the condition only occurs in around 30% of pregnancies, it typically presents itself as a stubborn lower abdominal pouch or potbelly.

Since a standard Toronto tummy tuck is designed specifically to tighten the ab muscles, remove excess skin and restore contour to the lower abdomen, it is a great way to address diastasis recti.

During the procedure, an incision is made just above the pubic bone. Depending on the extent of work being performed, this incision may be all the way from hip bone to hip bone.Once the incisions are made, the skin is pulled back to allow the surgeon to trim the excess fat and pull the ab muscles back together. The skin is then pulled back down so that it is smooth and the excess skin is trimmed away. The result is a smooth tummy without the stubborn lower abdominal pouch that plagues so many women following pregnancy and childbirth.If you are considering a tummy tuck in Toronto, it is typically recommended to wait for at least six months after giving birth, or if you are breastfeeding, at least six months after you have stopped.The main reason for this is that after six months most of the stretching will have healed and the pregnancy hormones that softens the muscles will also no longer be active. As a result, you will be able to heal more effectively and enjoy better results as the tissue is able to hold together better.Edelstein Cosmetics provides cutting edge cosmetic surgery procedures, performed by some of the top plastic surgeons in Canada.

To find out if you are suitable candidate for a tummy tuck, we welcome you to contact our clinic and set up a consultation to discuss your needs.