A tummy tuck is a transformative procedure that slims and sculpts the body. However, there are more benefits to this popular treatment than initially meets the eye. There are many ways to customize your treatment, addressing your specific needs with a tummy tuck. As a plastic surgeon in the Fort Worth, TX, area, I always enjoy informing patients of a few unexpected perks they can enjoy.
Relieving back pain
Pregnancy and significant weight loss leave permanent marks on the body. Many women struggle with stretched abdominal muscles—also known as diastasis recti—after they give birth. This lack of support and strength in the core area puts extra strain on the back or neck. Your surgeon may repair these abdominal muscles during tummy tuck surgery, strengthening your core and reducing back pain.
Improved posture through core strengthening
Relieving back pain by repairing and reinforcing these muscles improves core strength and spinal support. Not only do patients often experience reduced back discomfort, but they also notice improvements in posture and a more upright, confident bearing.
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Reducing urinary incontinence
Urinary incontinence (loss of bladder control) is a common problem that affects up to 15% of women in the United States. It is often caused by the weakening of muscles and tissues on the pelvic floor that can no longer provide enough support to the bladder. Tummy tuck surgery adjusts and tightens skin and tissue near these pelvic floor muscles. If you improve these areas near the bladder and urethra, you may also increase muscle support and reduce urinary incontinence.
Repositioning the belly button
During tummy tuck surgery, your surgeon makes a low hip-to-hip incision across the bikini line. They also create a circular incision around the belly button to release it from the surrounding skin. After excess tissue is removed and the remaining skin is pulled and tightened, the surgeon repositions the belly button. You can ask your doctor to reshape or contour your belly button’s appearance or even make the orientation more appealing.
Removal of stretch marks below the belly button
One of the often overlooked—and yet impactful—benefits of a tummy tuck is removing stretch marks below the belly button. Because this portion of skin is routinely removed during a standard abdominoplasty, most stretch marks in that area are removed entirely. While marks above the navel may shift downward, they’re strategically concealed by typical undergarments and swimwear.
Increasing exercise tolerance
Excess fat and saggy skin are more than just eyesores. They can also affect your quality of life by literally weighing you down. After unwanted tissue is removed during a tummy tuck, many patients find exercise and movement more comfortable. Folds and flaps no longer chafe during workouts, and you can wear the form-fitting exercise clothing you’ve always dreamed of.
Tummy tuck surgery offers many aesthetic benefits, and this procedure can change lives in unique ways. To see more examples of the results you can expect after treatment, browse our before-and-after gallery.
If you would like to learn more about tummy tuck surgery and talk to a plastic surgeon in the Fort Worth, TX, area, please request a consultation online. You can also contact our practice by phone at (817) 442-1236.