These Hips Don’t Lie (or, Two Tricks for a Flat Belly)

 Finding out you’re going to have a baby is a thrilling moment in any parent’s life.   For many women, watching your bump grow is an affirming reminder of your feminine strength and power; for others, the nine months of pregnancy are very trying, both physically and emotionally.  The roller coaster ride doesn’t end there, however – as you watch your child grow from a tiny newborn to a big kid full of personality, you’re also changing.  Everything is different, inside and out.

In the United States, 47.5% of women gain too much weight during their pregnancies – and many of them find it challenging to get back into their pre-pregnancy shape. The exhaustion of tending to a newborn, the constant chasing after toddlers, the juggling of schoolchildren’s schedules – it doesn’t leave much time for mom.

Bulges that weren’t there before

Many moms find that their shape has changed completely after pregnancy – hips widen, thighs thicken.  If despite trying to eat well and exercise, liposuction can be a great way to tone up these areas.  Small scars can allow for big improvements in shape and contour, and most patients enjoy a quick recovery after liposuction surgery.

Suddenly stretched out and saggy

Bellies can also misbehave after babies.  Sit-ups, crunches, and other core work can help tighten your stomach area internally after pregnancy, but sometimes the skin that has been expanded by the growing baby doesn’t return to normal.  For more serious skin issues (tummy skin that droops or folds over), a tummy tuck (or abdominoplasty) may be a solution for a flat belly.

To learn more about ways to improve how you look and feel after having kids, it may help to talk to a board-certified plastic surgeon about what could be right for you.  At Duet Plastic Surgery, we are a team of female plastic surgeons with a discreet boutique practice in Palo Alto. We take pride in restoring confidence and helping our patients become the most self-assured versions of themselves. Please call us at 650-380-0415 to learn more about Duet.