Can I Get the Same Tummy Tuck Results by Exercising?
Tummy tucks remain one of the most popular cosmetic surgeries available. However, many people wonder if surgery is necessary or if they can accomplish the same results simply by exercising. In this blog, we discuss what a tummy tuck can do and why it may be necessary to achieve a smoother, slimmer figure.
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A tummy tuck is often at the top of people’s wish lists for cosmetic surgeries. In fact, over 150,000 tummy tucks were performed in 2022, making it the third most popular cosmetic procedure in the United States.
However, some people wonder if they can achieve the results of a tummy tuck simply by increasing the intensity of their workouts and the time they spend doing them. In this blog, we’ll discuss some common reasons why a tummy tuck is superior to exercise when it comes to achieving a flat belly.
Reasons to Undergo a Tummy Tuck
People who choose to have tummy tuck (also called abdominoplasty) surgery do so for several reasons, including:
- Increased confidence in their appearance
- To eliminate excess skin
- To eliminate unsightly stretch marks on the stomach
- To repair muscle damage (diastasis recti)
While a tummy tuck is deemed a cosmetic procedure, it also serves to help ease physical issues that stem from damaged muscles in the abdomen.
Even though a tummy tuck is an excellent way to get a flatter stomach, it is not a weight loss method. The best candidates for a tummy tuck are at a healthy, stable weight and want to address the issues listed above.
Where Exercise Falls Short
While regular exercise and a healthy diet are always encouraged, when it comes down to it, the difference in results between exercise alone and a tummy tuck speaks for itself.
There’s No Such Thing as “Spot Reduction”
Everyone has seen articles or ads touting, “This surprising move will trim your tummy in 30 days” or “Eat this to burn belly fat.” The reality is that there is no way to focus your weight loss in one place. Everyone stores weight differently, and this is influenced by genetics, hormones, diet, and other factors.
If you want to lose some extra pounds, diet and exercise should help you reach that goal. But keep in mind that you have little control over where the weight comes off and where it stubbornly stays. If your body build tends to store abdominal weight, no amount of ab crunches or oblique twists will easily get rid of excess fat. Hanging skin on your tummy area is almost completely unaffected by exercise. If you truly want to slim down your stomach, you can only do that by undergoing a tummy tuck.
Exercise Can’t Tighten Your Skin
If you’ve lost weight, you may have noticed excess skin around your middle that makes you look heavier than you are. This can be frustrating, especially after you’ve worked so hard at shedding those pounds. Or maybe you lost weight, and the skin on your stomach was left looking like a deflated balloon. You should be able to show off the results of your hard work without continuing to feel self-conscious about what your stomach skin looks like.
If you want to define your abdominal muscles, that’s a job for the gym.
Building your muscles will strengthen your core, helping reduce back pain and poor posture. What it won’t do is tighten loose or excess skin.
A tummy tuck is the only way to eliminate extra skin on your abdomen, trimming away redundant skin and leaving you with a smooth, slender stomach.
Muscle Separation (Diastasis Recti)
Diastasis recti is a condition where your abdominal muscles have separated vertically down the midline of your stomach. It’s caused by pressure on the muscles and is most commonly seen after pregnancy or weight gain. If you’ve got a “pooch” on your stomach that won’t go away, it could be a symptom of diastasis recti. Other symptoms of diastasis recti include back and pelvic pain, weakness and abdominal discomfort, and, in more severe cases, bladder and bowel control issues.
While some people believe that diastasis recti can be remedied by physical therapy, there isn’t much medical evidence to support those claims. In fact, some abdominal exercises actually exacerbate the condition. Currently, the only way to mend diastasis recti and restore function is by surgical muscle repair, performed during a tummy tuck.
Time and Consistency
For many people who are trying to slim their stomachs, regular gym workouts are a part of their lives. They do cardio, weightlifting, and other activities designed for toning and strengthening their entire body. They may spend a lot of time doing abdominal work with the goal of flattening their stomach—-but as we mentioned above, it’s impossible to target one place on your body for fat loss.
However, not everyone is blessed with the time and resources to spend hours at the gym every week in hopes of achieving the results they want. Others simply lack the desire to commit that much time to exercising. Jobs, families, and other commitments can make extra time for exercise a rare commodity. Without consistent training, your abs will lose definition and strength, so you may just be stuck in a cycle of disappointing results.
A tummy tuck, while requiring some downtime for recovery, often provides the “jump start” needed to pursue personal fitness goals.
Learn More About Tummy Tucks in San Diego
If you’ve been considering a tummy tuck but wondering if you could get the same results by exercising, hopefully, this blog has given you some helpful information. Knowing what can and cannot be achieved with a tummy tuck makes it easier to decide if the procedure is right for you. In some cases, exercise may be the answer. But combined with a tummy tuck, your goals may be easier to achieve. Schedule a consultation for a tummy tuck with Dr. Larry Pollack by calling our office today at 858-450-9100 or complete the online contact form.