Diet and physical exercise alone cannot produce this result because this situation is often accompanied by mutual distancing of abdominal muscles and subsequent weakening of the abdominal wall.
The so-called ‘tummy’ is quite a common blemish that affects both men and women without distinction, even young people who are not necessarily ‘plump’. Indeed, a prominent abdomen is not always associated with an overweight problem. Many people complain of a bulky, bloated or relaxed stomach that presents folds, despite being pleased with their ideal weight. Strict diets and exhausting sessions at the gym serve to no purpose. Very often, especially in the advanced phase, this problem is does not only make the person’s body look ungraceful but causes abdominal muscles to spread apart with subsequent weakening of the abdominal wall. In such cases, the pleasure of wearing figure hugging clothes and of sunbathing in a bikini without worrying about ‘concealing the tummy’ can be restored by abdominoplasty, which is dedicated plastic surgery to remodel the abdominal area (it is not designed for weight loss).
Surgery
It consists in removing excessive adipose tissues and skin folds from the central and lower region of the abdomen to rearrange the muscle wall, restore efficient abdominal tension and, when possible, to also remove some stretch marks along with the removed skin. Two incisions are performed during surgery, one is oblong in the lower abdomen, and the other is circular around the navel. Then we stretch the superficial tissues inwards and downwards, and remove excessive fat. On completion of the surgical procedure, after incisions have been sutured, a ‘compressive’ medication is applied and will later be replaced by a sheath (to be worn for about 4 weeks). Abdominoplasty, performed under general surgery, requires a stay in hospital of 1-2 days and a convalescence period of about 2-4 weeks, with the recommendation to sleep in a supine position at least for the first 15 days after surgery.
After a week of complete rest, the patient can gradually recommence normal activities, starting from the least demanding ones. For exhausting sports we recommend waiting at least 6-12 weeks.
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