For some women, this scar tissue can't be removed with exercise or diet changes alone (which may mean surgery is the only way to completely eliminate a postpartum pouch). For others, following an exercise program and focusing on core exercises can be enough to flatten the appearance of this pouch.
Answer: Flat tummy after C-section without surgery
In many patients diet, exercise including abdominal strengthening exercises in patients with good skin elasticity can often flatten the stomach even after a C-section. However you should have an evaluation by a board certified plastic surgeon to advise you.
This is common, and after you give birth, both your stomach and your uterus will start to contract to their pre-pregnancy sizes. Expect it to take around six weeks for your uterus to contract fully. At six weeks, you may have already lost the weight you gained during pregnancy.
For women with a c-section scar and pooch, a tummy tuck can remove the excess skin protruding above the scar, as well as tighten and smooth the overall belly area. Keep in mind, however, that a tummy tuck involves its own incisions and post-operative scarring.
The most common way to get rid of a C-section overhang is with an Abdominoplasty procedure, often known as a Tummy Tuck. A tummy tuck procedure with an expert MYA surgeon will remove excess skin or fat, unwanted scars, stretch marks and tighten the stomach muscles, to create the appearance of a flatter stomach.
Usually there is a layer of fat between the skin and the muscle. When this layer is disrupted, the scar is not able to move freely. The C-section scar is anchored down to your core abdominal muscles. As a result, the stretched out skin of your belly and the fat above it are more noticeable.
While the scar itself will diminish over time, the shelf won't go away on its own. The leftover tissue from your cesarean section may leave you feeling insecure. If you're considering a Tummy Tuck, Liposuction, or other procedure, here's what you need to know.
This pouch normally reduces over time but may never totally disappear. The pouch is partly due to excess skin, the natural result of your pregnancy, but is primarily due to excess fat deposits. Some women are able to reduce or even eliminate this pouch through diet and exercise; others may not be so fortunate.
The fascia is left to heal on its own, and how it heals depends on an individual's characteristics. Some women are lucky to come away scar-free, without any sign of a C-section pooch. However, other women are left with a red, rigid scar often accompanied by an overhang of loose skin.
During pregnancy, the abdominal muscles stretch apart to accommodate the growing fetus. However, after birth, if these muscles do not go back to their original position and close the gap, the organs behind the muscles bulge out, causing the belly to sag. This is diastasis recti.
The best way of getting rid of stomach overhang is a surgical procedure known as abdominoplasty at our London clinic, which will remove it completely. This procedure tightens the stomach muscles and removes excess skin and fatty tissues from the middle and lower abdominal region.
It's impossible to spot treat an apron belly. The only ways to reduce one are through overall weight reduction and surgical/non-surgical options.
After your C-section, you might look like you're still pregnant. This is normal. Most women lose 13 pounds (6 kilograms) during birth, including the weight of the baby, placenta and amniotic fluid. During your recovery, you'll drop more weight as your body gets rid of excess fluids.
Previous research has hinted that babies delivered by c-section fail to acquire some of the microbes from their mothers that vaginally delivered children gain. This observation has led some parents to swab infants born by c-section with vaginal fluids, in an attempt to restore any missing microbes.
In most c-sections, the bladder and intestines are moved aside so the ob-gyn can keep them safely out of the way while delivering the baby and repairing the uterine incision. Those organs won't be moved outside the body, though.
We know that every patient has a different labor and delivery experience, but in general, it takes around six weeks to completely heal from your C-section.
Just like with any surgery, your body needs time to heal afterward. Expect to stay in the hospital for 2 to 4 days after your delivery. If there are complications, your stay will be longer. Give your body 6 to 8 weeks to fully heal.
Whether you are planning a scheduled c-section for health or personal reasons, you can work with your doctors' office to decide when you'd like your baby's birthday to be. The date you choose will vary depending on your specific circumstances and the policies of your health care providers and hospital.
You can reduce or remove your apron belly
Losing weight with a healthy diet and regular exercise is an option because overall weight loss can sometimes reduce fat deposits. However, it is impossible to spot-treat an apron belly because there are two layers of fat in your stomach.
During pregnancy, the muscles stretch to accommodate the growing fetus. The connective tissue between the abdominal muscles can thin and weaken, and that can lead to a bulge in your belly. That post-pregnancy bulge is commonly known as a "mommy pooch" or "mommy-tummy" and it will not go away with diet and exercise.
Most women will not have any trouble getting pregnant again after having this operation, but there are other big risks they need to consider."
In rare cases, your C-section incision might open (or reopen). In medical terms, this is called C-section dehiscence.