Medical benefits of a tummy tuck explained by plastic surgeon in Huntington Beach area

By Thomas T. Nguyen, M.D

Medical Benefits of a Tummy Tuck in Huntington Beach area

Most people are familiar with the cosmetic benefits of a tummy tuck – a tighter, more contoured abdominal area – but don’t know that there are also medical benefits that patients get from the procedure. Dr. Thuan Nguyen, plastic surgeon at Orange County Cosmetic & Reconstructive Surgery Center near Huntington Beach, CA, explains the many ways a tummy tuck can enhance both your appearance and your health below.

Better posture and reduced back pain

A variety of factors can cause the abdominal muscles to become weak and stretched (“distended”), which can cause your stomach to protrude. These include, among others:

Age
Multiple pregnancies
Significant weight loss

In addition to distended muscles, some people also suffer from a condition called diastasis recti, in which the muscles of the abdomen physically separate in the middle and can even cause a visible indentation down the center of the stomach. These muscular problems not only cause issues with your physical appearance, but also lead to health problems such as a “sway back” posture that contributes to chronic back pain.

While you can try to strengthen these weakened and separated muscles, they often cannot go back to their original state with diet and exercise alone. That’s when a tummy tuck (also called an abdominoplasty) comes in – one of the key elements of the procedure is tightening of the abdominal muscles and repositioning these muscles back together if they have separated. The procedure tightens the wall of the abdomen inside and out to restore a more youthful, toned shape. With a better muscular support system, your spine will be more supported, which can improve your posture and alleviate problems such as back pain.

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Reduce stress urinary incontinence

Few medical conditions can be as embarrassing as stress urinary incontinence, and it is an extremely common issue that affects women both after pregnancy and as part of the natural aging process. Stress urinary incontinence is characterized by accidental leakage of urine when you are coughing, exercising, laughing, or sneezing, and it can dramatically impact your quality of life. While patients are often encouraged to do pelvic floor exercises to strengthen the area surrounding the bladder and reduce this type of incontinence, a tummy tuck can also help improve the condition. During the procedure, the plastic surgeon uses soft tissue to obstruct the bladder, so the patient no longer experiences urinary incontinence after recovery.

Relieve ventral hernias

When the abdominal muscles are weakened, a condition called a ventral hernia can occur, in which the intestines or abdominal tissues are pushed through the abdominal wall. This leads to the appearance of a sack or bulge in your stomach, places pressure on your skin, and cause mild to sharp pain and discomfort. During a tummy tuck, the abdominal muscles are stitched back together and surgically tightened, which corrects the hernia and provides relief from its symptoms.

Reignited love of exercise

While a tummy tuck is not a weight loss procedure, it can help you lose weight and keep it off by making exercise more enjoyable. With your abdominal muscles tightened and in the proper position, you will be able to see the benefits of working out in the gym and other types of physical activity. When you enjoy being active and get out to exercise more frequently, your whole body will thank you – your weight is easier to maintain, and your heart and other organs are healthier.

Learn whether you are a good candidate

If you are interested in learning more about a tummy tuck and whether you are a candidate, we are here to help. Dr. Nguyen conducts a personalized consultation with anyone who is considering a tummy tuck. The consultation includes several important steps. In addition to a thorough discussion with you about your desired results and treatment preferences, he will evaluate your skin and abdomen to determine whether a tummy tuck is a good fit for your individual body, and if so, which type of tummy tuck procedure to use. He will also provide information about what to realistically expect before, during, and after your procedure.

If you are in Huntington Beach, CA area and are ready to have a flatter, healthier abdominal and pelvic area, call Orange County Cosmetic & Reconstructive Surgery Center today at (714) 421-4022!

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