There is great news for women thinking about a “mommy makeover’ or a tummy tuck. Tummy tuck surgery has functional benefits. These include improvement in urinary incontinence and lower back pain symptoms. This is according to a study published in the journal of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.
A mommy makeover is one of the most common body contouring cosmetic surgeries performed for women after pregnancy. Mommy makeover surgery is done to restore an appearance reminiscent of the pre-pregnancy self.
Mommy makeover surgery typically includes
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Abdominoplasty or tummy tuck
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Liposuction
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Breast lift with or without
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Breast augmentation.
While motherhood is one of life’s richest blessings, the physical reminders of the nine months of pregnancy and vaginal delivery may be less so. Urinary stress incontinence affects 25 to 37.9% of women after pregnancy. The rates are especially high with natural vaginal delivery.
A multi-center Australian study authored by Taylor et al. included 214 women having tummy tuck surgery for cosmetic improvement. The study found a statistically significant improvement in urinary incontinence symptoms, and lower back pain symptoms. The study used questionnaires to assess symptoms before surgery, 6 weeks after and 6 months after tummy tuck surgery. The women’s average age was 42 years, with an average of 2.5 deliveries and a mean body mass index of 26.3.
All the tummy tuck surgeries in the study included a rectus plication procedure. Rectus plication is a surgical technique to repair the separated abdominal muscles. Separation or diverification of the abdominal muscles is very common after pregnancy. This abdominal muscle repair tightens the abdominal core like a corset. This is one theory behind the improvement of back pain and incontinence symptoms.
The functional benefits of tummy tuck is an added silver lining to the improvement in cosmetic appearance. And I believe it improves quality of life for women after childbearing.
Read the full study at https://journals.lww.com/plasreconsurg/Fulltext/2018/03000/Abdominoplasty_Improves_Low_Back_Pain_and_Urinary.13.aspx.
If you want to know more about tummy tuck surgery or mommy makeover, please feel free to get in touch with Dr Clare Neser Plastic and reconstructive surgeon.