Almost everyone has heard of a tummy tuck or an abdominoplasty – a cosmetic surgery done to flatten and tone the abdominal area.  But, did you know there are benefits other than cosmetic when it comes to undergoing a tummy tuck? Below we discuss some of the medical benefits you may experience.

Tummy tucks can help with stress urinary incontinence

After childbirth, some women in Portland, OR, develop Stress Urinary Incontinent (SUI). This condition is a bladder issue where leakage occurs when a woman coughs, sneezes, exercises or laughs. SUI can be treated without surgery, though, for patients who are experiencing more severe symptoms, a tummy tuck can help. During the tummy tuck, a small bladder obstruction is made with the soft tissue near the pelvic area, reducing the leakage after surgery.

Tummy tucks can improve posture

Stomach muscles may become separated and weakened after extreme weight loss or pregnancy, and often diet and exercise do not help. A tummy tuck can tighten these weakened muscles, which flattens the abdomen. A sway back can also be the result of weak abdominal muscles. When the stomach muscles are tightened, it provides an improved support to the spine, resulting in improved posture.

Tummy tucks can correct ventral hernias

Abdominal weakness caused by excessive weight loss or surgeries, such as C-sections or appendectomies, may cause ventral hernias. Ventral hernias occur when abdominal tissue or intestine breaks through the wall of the abdomen, forming a sack or pocket. Since hernias can easily recur, surgeons often combine a tummy tuck and hernia repair for added strength to the abdominal wall.

If you are interested in a tummy tuck for any of the reasons above, contact us today!