Tummy tuck: surgery, exercises, threads, masks

For a girl, a beautiful figure is no less important than a pretty face. Each person has their own criterion of beauty, but generally accepted concepts include long legs, a thin waist, a flat stomach. It is this part of the body that often becomes the subject of disappointment and the cause of complexes, since it is one of the first to react to extra pounds, loses tone after bearing a child. There are many ways to tighten the abdomen, which can strengthen the press and return it to its former appearance. [ 1 ]

Indications for abdominal skin tightening

The need to tighten the abdomen most often arises when it has lost its shape due to prolonged muscle expansion during pregnancy, after rapid weight loss. Age and hormonal changes also lead to loss of elasticity and sagging skin. Not everyone knows that the transverse abdominal muscle is important for the lumbar vertebrae, strengthening it, we prevent injuries and back pain. [ 2 ]

• Postpartum tummy tuck

After giving birth, every woman dreams of getting back her slim, toned figure. And if at first the main attention is paid only to the baby, then as it grows, the mother has time for herself. You can start doing exercises 1.5-2 months after giving birth, a month later after a cesarean section. Do the loads gradually. Of course, the main task is to strengthen the press, which will lead to a tightening of the abdomen, and to think about your diet.

Non-surgical tummy tuck

Not only surgical interventions help to shed unnecessary subcutaneous ballast, but also various cosmetic and physical procedures; fortunately, many methods and special means have been developed for this.

This method is much more preferable for young people than plastic surgery, because it allows them to stay away from life and work for a long time, not to be subjected to anesthesia, not to undergo a rehabilitation course, and not to have complications.

All non-surgical procedures performed in salons, depending on what effect needs to be achieved (getting rid of skin that has lost elasticity or a layer of fat), are divided into several types:

• cosmetology massage;
• wrapping with lifting agents;
• thread lifting;
• injections;
• hardware methods: galvanotherapy, laser liposuction, ultrasonic cavitation, RF lifting.

Tummy tuck at home

It is quite possible to strengthen muscles at home by doing special abdominal exercises. Regular gymnastics (preferably daily) combined with proper nutrition will certainly give results.

Gymnastics for tightening the abdomen is based on concentration on specific groups of abdominal muscles and influencing them with the help of your body. Each exercise requires 15-20 repetitions. Here are possible ones, done in a lying position:

• legs bent at the knees, arms crossed, palms on shoulders - the upper body lifts off the floor and reaches the knees (for the central muscle group);
• arms along the body, legs straight, first they are slowly raised upwards (it is advisable not to bend the knees), then the upper part of the body is involved, resting on the shoulder blades (the lower abdominal muscles are involved);
• hands behind the head, legs bent, feet on the floor, alternately connect the knee and elbow on opposite sides (for oblique muscles);
• legs bent at the knees, arms along the body, tighten the abdominal muscles and raise the pelvis, hold for 10 seconds, lower;
• fix your feet, for example, by placing them under a sofa, raise your upper body, and slowly lower yourself;
• Turn over onto your stomach, leaning on your forearms with your elbows bent and your toes, lift your torso off the floor and hold it for as long as possible.

Tummy Tuck Products

In addition to physical exercises, special cosmetics with a lifting effect will help to normalize the stomach. Their task is to make the skin more elastic and flexible, returning it to its previous appearance.

The task of the tummy tuck cream is to activate blood microcirculation for the purpose of deeper cell nutrition, their faster regeneration, moisturizing and toning of the epidermis, eliminating edema. In order for it to "work", the composition must contain:

• hyaluronic acid for collagen production;
• retinol, which activates cell division;
• glycerin, which softens the upper layer of the epidermis;
• oils for skin moisturizing;
• plant extracts that nourish it;
• essential oils that accelerate regeneration;
• caffeine, which increases energy metabolism;
• organic acids that exfoliate dead cells;
• vitamins C and E are antioxidants;
• minerals for the restoration of cell membranes.

Oils for Tightening the Belly

Vegetable oils will help solve the problem, and also save money. A combination of basic and essential oils has proven to have a good effect of tightening the abdomen. They are used simply instead of cream or for massage, wraps.

Avocado, grape seed, jojoba, olive and other oils are used as a base in cosmetology. They are useful for the skin with their polyunsaturated fatty acids, vitamins, microelements, due to which the epidermis is healed, its regeneration is accelerated, flabbiness is eliminated, elasticity is increased.

Castor oil is considered more effective in tightening the skin of the abdomen, since it has the highest penetrating ability. It is obtained from castor seeds by cold or hot pressing.

Its main effect on the skin is moisturizing, nourishing, improving the water-lipid balance, softening, accelerating cell renewal. The lifting result will be more noticeable if you add a few drops of lemon juice to it. This mixture should be applied to the stomach every night before going to bed.

Abdominal tightening with massage

Regular abdominal massage significantly improves its condition, especially if you trust specialists who know exactly which techniques are more effective for tightening. One of the popular ones is pinching massage. It is preceded by a mandatory preparatory procedure: shower, dry rubbing.

The massage begins with light stroking of the abdomen clockwise, then tapping with the edge of the palm, turning into pinching movements made by the thumb and index finger. They grab and intensively pull the skin for 10 minutes. The procedure ends with slow stroking, after which cream is applied to the skin.

Honey massage is no less useful for achieving the set goal. Before it is carried out, natural honey is applied to the stomach, then the palm is stuck to its surface and torn off. The movements are directed from the bottom up, clockwise, and so on for 10-15 minutes. At the end, the sticky surface is washed off under the shower, a tightening cream is applied.

The effect of massage is also provided by twisting the hoop. For this, a hula hoop is used - a ring-shaped sports trainer. Its daily twisting will bring obvious results without significant monetary investments.

Masks for belly tightening

Along with the above methods of tightening the abdomen, you can use masks and combine various components with a lifting effect. These can be vegetable oils and extracts, essential compounds, honey, algae, cosmetic clay, raw egg white, gelatin, yogurt, kefir, brewer's yeast, hot pepper.

The prepared mixture is applied to the cleansed skin of the abdomen and left for 30-60 minutes. You can use a film (wrap) or leave it like this. The frequency of such procedures should be 2-3 times a week.

Mumijo works very well for excessive stretching of the skin. This resinous, viscous substance can be bought at a pharmacy, diluted in warm water and added to masks. Thanks to its many minerals, it quickly restores the skin, returning its lost tone.

Tummy tuck with mesothreads

The introduction of special threads under the abdominal skin for its "reinforcement" is called thread lifting. This procedure is performed on an outpatient basis and takes several hours. With the help of the thinnest flexible needles made of medical steel, the threads are inserted under the skin. The threads themselves are made of polydioxanone, a material that came to cosmetology from surgery, where they were used to fasten the tissues of external and internal organs and tendons.

To eliminate pain, an anesthetic cream is enough. The procedure is not traumatic and does not require a rehabilitation period, except that for several days you need to refrain from physical activity, not to visit a bathhouse or sauna. The effect becomes noticeable after the first procedure, its duration is up to two years.

Tummy tuck surgery

Not every abdominal deformity responds to training, massages, and cosmetics. Sometimes the only way to correct the situation and improve its contour is a tummy tuck surgery – abdominoplasty. It involves removing fat deposits and excising sagging skin. It is performed in a hospital under general anesthesia, and the operation lasts from one and a half to three hours. A scar remains on the abdomen in the bikini area, which becomes less noticeable over time, and there is also a small scar near the navel. [ 3 ]

Drainage is installed for several days, a compression bandage is applied, and the stitches are removed after a week. In the first 7-10 days of the recovery period, anesthesia must be used due to pain; after 2 weeks, agents can be used to accelerate the healing of the stitches. If you feel well, you can start playing sports no earlier than after 4-6 months. [ 4 ]

Laser tummy tuck

Laser lifting, unlike abdominoplasty, is not an invasive procedure, and therefore does not carry the risk of any complications. The laser stimulates fibroblasts - skin structures, as a result of which they more actively synthesize collagen and elastin, which are responsible for its elasticity and density.

The visible effect is achieved after 3-4 procedures. They can cope with sagging skin, stretch marks after childbirth, but they do not remove fat. Cryosculpting can cope with it - freezing fat cells with a special device. They are frozen and then naturally excreted from the body. [ 5 ]

Non-surgical methods of tummy tuck mostly have no contraindications, except for possible allergies to certain cosmetics or damage to the superficial layers of the epidermis, but surgical operations largely depend on the general state of health and tolerance to anesthesia.

Abdominoplasty is not performed in cases of exacerbation of any inflammation, breastfeeding, heart failure, diabetes, or oncological diseases.

As with any invasive procedure, surgical tummy tuck can lead to complications. Negative consequences are often caused by failure to comply with the postoperative regime. Violation of sterility can lead to suppuration of the sutures, accumulation of exudate in the wound. If the surgeon is not qualified, coarse scars and hematomas may appear. [ 6 ], [ 7 ]

Depending on the extent of the intervention area, rehabilitation lasts from several weeks to several months. Bed rest is prescribed for the first 2 days after the operation, drainage tubes are cleaned before they are removed, and sutures are treated daily. Special compression underwear is worn for 1.5-2 months. [ 8 ], [ 9 ]

Reviews

Judging by the reviews, most women (men are much less concerned about the problem of the abdomen) prefer non-surgical lifting. Young girls, especially new mothers, are happy to visit gyms, beauty salons, try various creams, masks.

Abdominal plastic surgery is also popular, but it requires considerable financial costs and is associated with certain risks, like any other operation. Reviews indicate that not everyone is lucky enough to get to an experienced surgeon, which indicates the need for careful selection of a clinic and specialist.