Tummy Tucks - Bolingbrook,IL

E.,
I'm an Exercise Physiologist specializing in prenatal and postpartum fitness. One of my areas of expertise is the abdominal area and what happens to it during and after pregnancy...and how to fix it. There may be some additional skin, but chances are, that's not the main problem. The separation of the connective tissue that holds the abdominal muscles together along with postural misalignments cause the area to bulge and hang. Doing traditional crunches, oblique work, and other well-known abdominal exercises along with daily postpartum activity actually make the damage worse. Working it the right way will bring the muscles back together along with realigning the postural deficiencies.
Unfortunately, I've seen this scenario too many times before. Doctors are not educated on things other than medicine and surgery, so that's what they turn to. I've had people come to me after they've had a tummy-tuck, because they're worse off afterwards. If the muscles have to be cut, it actually makes the posture worse and can cause back problems. If you can get the abs back together first, then if there's still skin (which there usually isn't after the realignment) the surgery would be quite easy and recovery quite quick.
There are many testimonials of our program on Mamasource (look up Big Belly Fitness in the business section) as well as our website www.bigbellyfitness.net. We have several of our "Tummy-Time for Mommy" - The Method to Your Ab-ness classes starting in the area in the next couple of weeks.
Good luck!

You seemed to of done everything you could to be fit and per your height you are most certainly a slender woman. I bet is it's just excess skin from your pregencies unfortunately the only way to get rid of that would be a tummy tuck. I have a friend of a friend who had one done by Dr. Evan Manoils he is in Orland Park ###-###-####. I had him remove a few skin tags and a large mole on my face and I have NO scars. When my son was just a year old he fell and split his lip open we had the hospital page him and he was there before we even finished with the paperwork. I had asked him about some lipo for myself and he said sure after you eat better and exercise consistantly come back in 12 months and we will see if you have any problem areas that might need lipo. So it was nice to see he was truly concerned about my health rather than making some money by sucking my fat out. Good luck although I'm sure you look great NOW, but I do understand you don't "feel" comfortable. And yes if they need to cut the muscle tissue it will be painful but like everything else that too will pass.

I just want to let you know as a mother of 2 myself, after two kids every woman in the world has that pouch. My Grandma told me this after my second child. She has it my mom has it. No matter how skinny you are it will be there. It is one of those badges of honor that shows you are a mom. That is why they have mom-jeans because if you have had more than one more than likely you need your pants a little higher on your waste so that pouch doesn't hang over your pants. Good luck.

I'm in the same boat as you. I am 5'11 and 130 pounds (which is borderline underweight by BMI standards) although I've never dieted- this is just how I'm built. I've been doing Pilates religiously for a year now and I actually have a 'two-pack'. You can see the top two of the six pack clear as day as well as definition in my laterals (sides) so I know my tummy is strong and toned, but that bottom four pack is covered by a doughnut-shaped pooch of stretch-mark covered loose skin all around my belly button. It makes me want to cry. My husband is OK with a tummy tuck, but I don't think I can handle the recovery time with the two small toddlers in my house. So we are going to wait 2 years until I no longer have to lift them in and out of carseats, etc after surgery. I will be VERY interested in what you decide and how it works for you. Would you mind keeping me/Mamasource posted on your progress? I would be eternally grateful.

Hi E.,
I had a tummy tuck last March, and it was the best thing I could have ever done for myself!! My Plastic surgeon, Dr. Parungao, located in Naperville and Hinsdale, was absolutely exellent. He's very detail oriented, and I couldn't have been more happy with the results. It took about 6 weeks to completely heal; and afterwards I was able to wear clothes I hadn't worn in the past 15+ years, and I felt like I was 16 again!! The greatest thing about it though is how much my overal self-confidence went up. My advice to you is that if this is something you want to do, then go for it! There are a lot of people who have differing feelings when it comes to plastic surgery, and it's been the subject of a lot of controversy. The bottom line though, is this is your body. You are the one who has to live with it for the rest of your life, and you need to be happy with it. As for me personally, I would do it all over again! Please feel free to ask any other questions you have about it. Good luck to you!

J.