How To Get Rid Of Hanging Belly After C-Section Years Later?

Can you ever get rid of C-section overhang

Medically reviewed by Dr. Omar Tillo MD, MS, EBOPRAS, FRCS (Plast) Many women are left with a hanging belly after c-section, which distorts the appearance of their abdomen. Tummy tuck and BodyTite are two cosmetic treatments that can help get rid of a hanging belly to restore a more defined stomach.

Can you get rid of C-section pooch years later?

March 20, 2020 Women who give birth via cesarean section are often left with a pouch of excess skin above their scar, commonly referred to as a c-section pooch or c-shelf. Since everyone heals differently, it can’t be predicted whether or not a c-shelf will develop and, if it does, if it will fade naturally.

While diet and exercise can help women lose excess fat after pregnancy, a healthy lifestyle can’t make a c-section scar and bulge go away. Some women may find their c-shelf sticks around for years, while others may notice the area gradually flattens over time. Those with a prominent c-shelf may feel discouraged when they can’t seem to flatten their belly, despite a rigorous exercise routine.

Unfortunately, if this concern doesn’t go away on its own, surgical intervention is typically the only effective solution. At Richmond Aesthetic Surgery, Dr. Neil Zemmel helps women address a variety of post-pregnancy concerns in the mommy makeover, which combines multiple procedures into one treatment plan.

1. Tummy tuck surgery, specifically, is one of the most common procedures performed as part of the mommy makeover.
2. This is because the abdomen tends to have excess skin after pregnancy, which can be resolved through the procedure.
3. Stretched abdominal muscles, which lead to another kind of postpartum abdominal bulge, are also corrected during this surgery.

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.

While these scars tend to be longer than a c-section scar, they also tend to be thinner, and the c-shelf puffiness is typically not a problem anymore. As with any type of scarring, it should gradually lighten and flatten over time, though it may never completely go away. To help patients minimize the appearance of their scars, Dr.

Zemmel offers laser scar removal techniques. For more details about how a tummy tuck can help reduce c-section scarring and excess skin, please contact us to set up a consultation with Dr. Zemmel. Previous Post Next Post

Can you get rid of belly overhang without surgery?

Laser/CoolSculpting procedures – Nonsurgical procedures involving lasers can certainly be appealing if you’re looking for a little help getting rid of some belly fat. They can also be used to remove fat in other trouble areas at the same time and don’t need to only focus on the abdominal area.

How do I get rid of my C-section pouch 5 years later?

What causes a C-section pouch? – To really understand a C-section pouch, let’s take a step back and explain what happens during a C-section, This surgical procedure is a way to bring your baby into the world, without going through vaginal delivery. It involves a doctor making an incision through your abdominal wall and uterus, either horizontally (the most common kind of cesarean section) or vertically (only used in emergency C-sections).

• The decision to have a C-section can be made ahead of time (an elective C-section birth), usually if your baby is in the bottom or feet first position or if you’re pregnant with more than one baby.
• On the flip side, you might have an unplanned or emergency C-section if your labour isn’t progressing, your baby is showing signs of distress or there is a complication during labour.

During surgery, your doctor will make a 10cm cut to lift out your baby, before cutting the umbilical cord and removing the placenta. Then, layers of muscle, fat and skin will be stitched back together and a dressing will be placed over your wound. This incision is what can cause a C-section shelf from appearing, which can present as a bump or a stubborn pouch of fatty tissue.

• 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.
• Plus, some women find wearing belly bands and compression underwear a helpful way to strengthen their core muscles after a C-section delivery.

No matter how pronounced your pouch might seem, it’s so important to be kind to yourself during your postpartum recovery, Your body has worked so hard to bring your baby into the world and you’ve just been through one of the biggest events many women ever face: childbirth.

Why won’t my C-section belly go away?

Why Do I Have a C-Section Pooch? – First, let’s talk about the causes of the C-section pooch. The C-section pooch occurs when the C-section scar is anchored down to your core abdominal muscles. That makes the stretched out skin of your belly and the fat above it more noticeable.

• When the layer of fat between the skin and the muscle is disrupted during the surgery, the scar is not able to move freely.
• As a result, the pooch or bulging belly appears.
• The C-section pooch does not mean you had a problem with surgery or that your scars are healing poorly.
• Rather, it means that your scar is stuck down to the muscle below.

Usually there is a layer of fat between the skin and the muscle. When a scar forms it tethers the skin to stick directly down to your muscle, and this creates the bulge of fat over the scar, or the C-section pooch. The C-section scar is anchored down to your core abdominal muscles.

Can you ever get a flat stomach after C-section

The question is about flattening a stomach after C-Section. The issue with C-Sections is that the muscles, if you just think about the six-pack muscles running up and down the middle of your abdomen, they get cut across the bottom and then they get stitched back together and that’s how the C-Section happens.

• You can’t contract those muscles after delivery and so they don’t pull back to the midline and that leaves a gap in between called the “diastasis.” Big deal.
• It’s a spread between the muscles.
• No matter how toned you make those muscles, that spot in the middle has no muscle support and so, you squeeze in from the sides and you buldge in the middle.

So, if you’ve ever tried to do a sit-up and you look down and it looks like there’s this sausage coming out of the middle of your abdomen, that’s a diastasis. The only way to fix that is a tummy tuck. You can’t exercise it away, you can’t get rid of it.

You just have to stitch those muscles back together. That’s part of what you’re asking about with the C-Section. The second issue with C-Sections is that a lot of times the scar is going to stick down to the muscle and that as you get more mature, as you get older, the skin gets looser and it just folds over that scar and you can’t make that go away either.

So, what you have to do is take the scar out, lift the skin up, pull it down and cut off the extra so now you don’t have the puckered adherent scar and you have a flatter stomach. So a tummy tuck essentially is combining those two concepts. It’s tightening the skin, but it’s also repairing the muscle underneath that was damaged during pregnancy.

How do you lose C-section shelves

What actually helps with the “c-section shelf” appearance?? – Manual scar tissue mobilization and cupping can help to minimize the shelf-like appearance. Both techniques essentially lift and move tissues that are stuck which can reduce the indentation and thus minimize “shelf.”

Does postpartum saggy belly go away?

When Does Postpartum Belly Go Away? Reviewed by on April 23, 2023 It can be hard to process the changes that happen before, during, and after, Your body and life change in new and exciting ways. You have a new baby, new responsibilities, and a new body.

• One area you might feel tempted to work on improving after delivery is your postpartum belly.
• During pregnancy, your body changes its shape to accommodate for carrying another human being.
• You gain, add pounds, and different foods.
• After birth, you may find that your body isn’t that different from your pregnant body.

For some women, this remains true a year or more after giving birth. It’s possible for your postpartum belly to go away, but it takes time and dedication. ‌Losing weight naturally. When you give birth, you’ll lose at least 13 pounds due to fluid loss, the, and your child’s weight leaving your system.

After the first week postpartum, you’ll probably lose even more weight. But your belly might still look like it did when you were pregnant. 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 you gained during pregnancy. This is especially true if you’re, Breastfeeding mothers shed around 500 calories per day. This is because your body uses your stored calories from pregnancy to produce milk and feed your baby.

If you have a postpartum belly a year out, don’t worry. Adjusting to being a new mom is challenging, and losing a postpartum belly takes time. Keep in mind that some women have less elastic skin than others. If you’re one of these people, it might take longer for your stomach to return to its pre-pregnancy shape.

Abdominal separation. Many women experience something called or abdominal separation while pregnant. This happens when your uterus expands and causes your stomach muscles to separate. It makes your belly stick out. It happens because of hormones and because of the pressure a growing baby puts on your body.

1. Abdominal separation happens with women who have had more than one child, twins, or a larger baby.
2. If you have abdominal separation, you might notice that your stomach has an irregular shape or bulge.
3. Some women get back pain.
4. Abdominal separation exists postpartum and takes time to heal.
5. You can avoid abdominal separation by not putting extra pressure on your stomach while you’re pregnant.

Try not to do heavy core exercises like planks or sit-ups. After you give birth, try not to lift heavy objects, do intense abdominal stretching, or sit up too quickly. If you have abdominal separation, be gentle on your body and do some specialized exercises.

• You can also wear compression underwear or a brace to help resolve your muscle separation.
• In severe cases, an operation can help repair your abdominal wall.
• Make sure to listen to your body after you give birth.
• You should experience soreness and pain, but not too much.
• It’s crucial that you don’t push yourself past your comfortability and seek help when you need it.

Exercise. Over time, your postpartum belly will lessen on its own. However, there are ways you can improve your postpartum belly at home. Once your doctor says it’s OK, try to add to your daily routine. Start with walking and light exercises. Over time, you can add running and core exercises.

Good pelvic floor exercises include, Eat well. Just like you maintained a healthy diet while pregnant, try to commit to postpartum. You’ll feel better and provide better nutrients for your baby if breastfeeding. Plus, eating a balanced diet can help you lose your postpartum belly. Be realistic. Remember that giving birth is one of the most incredible things you’ll ever do.

It pushes your body in ways you never thought possible. But all that change requires rest and recovery. In the weeks and months postpartum, let yourself rest and heal as much as possible. You might hear stories on the news about moms who regain their pre-pregnancy bodies right after giving birth. © 2023 WebMD, LLC. All rights reserved. : When Does Postpartum Belly Go Away?

Can C sections cause problems later in life

Long-Term Effects of C-Sections – Women who give birth via C-section have an increased risk of issues with subsequent pregnancies, including the risk of the incision scar tearing open during a later pregnancy or labor (uterine rupture), placenta previa (the growth of the placenta low in the uterus, blocking the cervix), placenta accreta, placenta increta, and placenta percreta (when the placenta grows deeper into the uterine wall than normal).

Why do I still look pregnant years after C-section?

You Might Have This Condition. If you still look pregnant or experience abdominal pain weeks or months after giving birth, you might be suffering from a condition called diastasis recti, or abdominal muscle separation.

Is it harder to get abs back after C-section?

Over 30 percent of births are via cesarean section in the United States. After the initial healing period, many moms may want to know how to safely return to exercise and regain their core strength. Your core muscles undergo significant changes during pregnancy, as the abdominal and pelvic floor muscles lengthen to accommodate your growing baby, and following a cesarean birth, which involves making an incision through several layers of skin and fascia in the abdominal wall.

Can you tighten a hanging stomach

What causes stomach & belly overhang? – A stomach overhang can be caused by a number of reasons, including:

Weight changes Pregnancy Genetics Stress Ageing

One thing’s for sure – no-one should have to suffer the distress caused by stomach overhang. The good news is that there are things you can do to either remove stomach overhang completely or considerably reduce it. The primary cause of stomach overhang is excess fat gathered in the area around the midriff. 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.

1. Liposuction is often performed alongside abdominoplasty for the best results.
2. Abdominoplasty can’t be performed on very overweight patients, so if you are considerably overweight you will need to lose weight until you are within several pounds of your ideal weight before the procedure can be carried out.

Opt for CoolSculpting For a non-surgical approach to getting rid of stomach overhang, consider a course of CoolSculpting treatments, CoolSculpting is carried out without anaesthetic and there’s no downtime necessary after the procedure. Precisely controlled cooling is delivered to the stomach area, crystallising the fat cells which are then naturally eliminated from your body.

• You’re left with a sculpted stomach, with no side effects from surgery.
• CoolSculpting is also ideal to treat stubborn areas such as the upper arms, inner and outer thighs and even under the chin.
• Count your calories To lose weight – either to reduce stomach overhang or before abdominoplasty – you need to eat fewer calories than you burn.

The NHS gives some useful advice on calorie counting and recipes. Studies show that those who log their food lose more weight and maintain their weight better. There are lots of apps and websites out there to help you by providing quick and easy ways to log the food and calorie count what you eat on the go, wherever you are.

1. By eating less calories than you are burning, you should see your stomach overhang reduce in time.
2. Understand insulin Insulin is the hormone that distributes blood sugar within our bodies as an energy source.
3. Once insulin has fully supplied the energy to each tissue and cells, the insulin uses any surplus to create reserve fuel in storage units.

That storage is often located in the stomach area! Insulin spikes when you eat foods with a high sugar level and the insulin increases its activity but your body can’t break down this fat when insulin is in motion. So you must avoid foods high in sucrose and fructose and refined carbohydrates.

• Move more The fat cells stored in your stomach overhang are energy fuels that are mean for burning – so use it to lose it! This is going to take dedication, effort and discipline.
• To lose stomach overhang you have to burn fat cells in both the fat you can see directly under the skin and also the more dangerous fat that you can’t see that surrounds your organs.

Cardio such as swimming, aerobics, running or dancing will burn this excess fat store. HIIT (High-Intensity Interval Training) is the fastest way to trim down stomach fat. For example, studies have shown that it is best to do short bursts of exercise, such as sprinting for 10 seconds on a treadmill and then walking for 20 seconds.

Exercises such as oblique twists, planking and crunches will also tone the lower stomach area. Weight training Everyone is sure to like the idea of burning fat even when you are resting! You can do this by weight training. When you are building lean muscle mass your body keeps on burning that fat even when you are in the recovery phase after your session.

When beginning to weight train, you should ask a trainer to create a program for you which focuses on the abdominal muscles. You can then create a ‘corset’ of muscles to hold you in for a flatter stomach. Understanding food digestion We burn more calories digesting protein than we do eating carbohydrates or fat.

1. We also burn twice as many calories digesting whole food than processed food.
2. By making simple swaps in your diet, such as eating wholemeal bread instead of white bread, you can burn calories faster.
3. Avoiding stress When you are stressed your body takes on a ‘fight or flight’ survival mode.
4. You get a sudden influx of stress hormones including insulin and cortisol.

You will then find yourself craving sweet foods such as chocolate and ice cream and salty foods such as crisps and highly processed junk food. Your body will then store those calories as a survival deposit – often on the stomach area. There are so many ways to actively reduce your stress levels, including:

Massage (especially aromatherapy) Reading a book Meditation Yoga Avoiding caffeine Making sure you get 7-8 hours sleep each night Exercising – making sure it’s something you enjoy! Spending time outside Listening to music Spending time with friends A break away

If you have been trying to reduce your stomach overhang for a long time and you still aren’t seeing the results that you want, then it may well be time to consider surgery, but do bear in mind that your surgical results will be more positive if you are following a healthy diet and exercise routine.

How can I reduce my mommy tummy overhang

Increase Aerobic Activity – Regular exercise can help reduce the appearance of your mummy tummy overhang. Yoga, pilates, and jogging can all help to burn any fat that may be causing your stomach to droop.

How do you lift a saggy stomach?

1. Exercise – At-home treatment options are ideal for minor sagging. One such option is exercising. Any workouts that build muscle mass or tighten muscles — especially around the stomach — can reduce the appearance of loose skin. Try incorporating exercises two to three times per week, including:

Weight training Resistance training Pilates Yoga

What removes a hanging belly?

Panniculectomy is a surgery done to remove stretched out, excess fat and overhanging skin from your abdomen. This can occur after a person undergoes massive weight loss. The skin may hang down and cover your thighs and genitals. Surgery to remove this skin helps improve your health and appearance.

Can you get a flat stomach after C-section?

The question is about flattening a stomach after C-Section. The issue with C-Sections is that the muscles, if you just think about the six-pack muscles running up and down the middle of your abdomen, they get cut across the bottom and then they get stitched back together and that’s how the C-Section happens.

You can’t contract those muscles after delivery and so they don’t pull back to the midline and that leaves a gap in between called the “diastasis.” Big deal. It’s a spread between the muscles. No matter how toned you make those muscles, that spot in the middle has no muscle support and so, you squeeze in from the sides and you buldge in the middle.

So, if you’ve ever tried to do a sit-up and you look down and it looks like there’s this sausage coming out of the middle of your abdomen, that’s a diastasis. The only way to fix that is a tummy tuck. You can’t exercise it away, you can’t get rid of it.

• You just have to stitch those muscles back together.
• That’s part of what you’re asking about with the C-Section.
• The second issue with C-Sections is that a lot of times the scar is going to stick down to the muscle and that as you get more mature, as you get older, the skin gets looser and it just folds over that scar and you can’t make that go away either.

So, what you have to do is take the scar out, lift the skin up, pull it down and cut off the extra so now you don’t have the puckered adherent scar and you have a flatter stomach. So a tummy tuck essentially is combining those two concepts. It’s tightening the skin, but it’s also repairing the muscle underneath that was damaged during pregnancy.

Does everyone get ac section overhang?

WHAT CAUSES THE C-SECTION POOCH? – Of course, the C-section pooch results after giving birth via cesarean section, but this pooch can also occur after any surgery that involves abdominal incisions, such as a hysterectomy. Contrary to popular belief, surgeons do not cut any abdominal muscles when making horizontal incisions during C-sections.

Rather, they first cut through the skin, then the subcutaneous tissue (a layer of fat beneath the skin), and lastly the fascia. is a sheet of connective tissue composed primarily of collagen that holds muscles and other internal organs together. The muscles are not cut; they are pulled apart so that the surgeon can,

Once the surgery is complete, the incision on the uterus is closed with dissolvable stitches and the skin closed with either stitches, staples, or surgical glue. The 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. According to top plastic surgeon,, the C-section pooch does not necessarily indicate that the scar itself is bad. Rather, the C-section pooch develops because the scar is stuck to the muscle, creating an indentation and sometimes a little overhang of tissue above.

Dr. Teitelbaum shares in an that C-section scars are “far and away the most common scars” he sees in his practice.