Can Exercise Achieve the Same Results as a Tummy Tuck
We’re all after a flat, defined, and stunningly smooth stomach. Glossy magazines and catwalks are full of gorgeous women with toned abs strutting their stuff, while ads featuring muscle-clad male models regularly fill our screens.So it’s no surprise, that according to Sydney's Dr Jeremy Hunt, one of the most popular confidence-boosting cosmetic surgery procedures after breast augmentation is abdominoplasty, or the aptly named tummy tuck.
Very often, pregnancy, lifestyle and genetics play a part on how tight and toned stomach muscles are. Sadly, the tissue that binds the two muscles in your stomach together can sometimes stretch and tear, meaning that a flat stomach without surgery could be impossible to achieve.
But what exactly does a tummy tuck involve? Who would be suitable? And what are the risks?
A tummy tuck, or abdominoplasty is surgery to remove a large section of skin and fat from the abdomen. There are two types of fat that need targeting. One layer is the inch you can pinch on your stomach. The other lies under the abdominal wall and is knows as visceral fat. So a surgeon will determine how much needs removing, and will mark the area up with a pen. Under a general anaesthetic, the fat, skin and tissue will be sliced away and if necessary, a new belly button position will be created. Surgery can take anywhere between two to five hours, depending on the area being worked on. Once all sutures are in place, drains will be attached to remove excess fluid and a compression garment will be fitted to aid healing and reduce pain caused by movement.
Tummy tucks are great for people who’ve tried everything to rid themselves of a baggy belly. But this is major surgery, so the risk of complications should always be discussed with a surgeon and anaesthetist. It may seem like a quick fix because admittedly most before and after results are amazing. But healing can take weeks and there will definitely be a fairly large scar from hip to hip (though very likely this will be below the bikini line so you can strut your stuff without feeling self conscious).
There are a few non-surgical alternatives that offer temporary inch-loss treatments, but these should be taken with a pinch of salt. They’re great for fitting into a dress before party season, or for rapid temporary weight loss before a special event. But very likely it’s just water retention that’s targeted, and you’ll be back to your pre-treatment size after a week or so.
So what are the alternatives to the surgeon’s scalpel?
Getting rid of stress is a priority. When you’re stressed, your body produces a hormone called cortisol which diminishes your ability to burn fat. It’s an evolutionary coping mechanism that affects everyone. So lose the stress and you’ll lose weight. A healthy lifestyle is the next step. Eating your five a day of fruit and veg (or one of Glamour Magazines top 50 stomach flattening foods), cutting out saturated fats, caffeine and junk food, and reducing alcohol consumption are all vital in battling the bulge. Not only will this help you burn away and use up your stored fat reserves, it’ll improve your skin and give you more energy for the next step: exercise.
This comes in two parts. You’ll need to strengthen and tighten your muscles through a mix of Pilates and yoga. Push ups are another great exercise, as are squats, crunches and planks. Find a daily routine you can work to, and keep to it. This isn’t about working up a sweat, it’s about controlled exercise that builds and strengthens muscle.
Fat reduction comes after. Unfortunately, there’s no way to target which areas to burn so you’ll need a good schedule of resistance training and cardio to get your heart pumping and remove fat from your entire body. Swimming, jogging and running are brilliant for this.
If you’re the owner of a bit of a paunch because you eat one too many burgers, then simple changes to your lifestyle and a good exercise routine will more than likely help give you a taut tum. But if your stomach muscles have been damaged because of obesity or pregnancy, then it’s sad to say spending hours sweating at the gym every day probably won’t make much of a difference. So can exercise achieve the same results as a tummy tuck? The jury’s out on this one!