Plastic Surgery Articles

Having a baby is such a beautiful, life-changing experience, however many women feel that once they give birth they have to say goodbye to their flat stomachs forever. Board-certified plastic surgeon, Brent Moelleken, MD, FACS, has introduced a new technique that allows mothers to regain their “pre-baby” tummies.

The new abdominoplasty technique named The Hybrid Tummy Tuck is designed for mothers who are already in shape and don’t have a lot of excess skin. After giving birth some women develop a bulge in their lower abdomen that, regardless of the amount of exercise, will never go away.

The bulge, which appears to be a pocket of fat, is caused if the lining of the abdomen rips and creates a type of hemia during pregnancy. The hemia leads to the development of what appears to be a “pot belly” and unfortunately will not go away. According to plastic surgeons, even liposuction can’t get rid of the unwanted pouch.

The new Hybrid Tummy Tuck is designed to get rid of this extra bulge by tightening the deep layer through the use of a small incision comparable to the length of a C-section incision. According to Moelleken he designed the technique to be able to go in through existing C-section scars to prevent plastic surgeons from having to leave their patients with new scar tissue on their abdomens.

If a patient does not have an existing C-section scar, Moelleken notes that a small incision is then made near the pubic area.

The recovery time for the new technique is approximately 7 to 10 days as opposed to a traditional abdominoplasty which can take up to 2 weeks. Patients who undergo the procedure are advised not to pick up their babies for 2 weeks after surgery and not to drive for 1 week.

The new procedure costs approximately $15,000, including anesthesia and other related fees. Moelleken notes that the new Hybrid Tummy Tuck is designed for mothers who are in shape and didn’t gain more than 35 pounds during their pregnancy.

The procedure is also meant for mothers who are not planning on having additional children. If a woman becomes pregnant after having a Hybrid Tummy Tuck, the fascia, or deep layer of the abdomen, may stretch and have to be retightened.

Moelleken also suggests that any woman considering having a Hybrid Tummy Tuck should maintain a good exercise plan before and after the procedure.

“It is always best to be healthy and exercise, before and after surgery, for all patients,” Moelleken says. “No surgery is an excuse to gain weight or stop exercising.”