Many of us think that if we just worked out more and did more crunches, cardio or pilates, then we could avoid needing a tummy tuck. However, the truth is that exercising more will not fix the issues that a tummy tuck is designed to address, like repairing the unwanted changes to the belly from pregnancy, weight gain and aging.
Resistant to Exercise? Really?
Here is a list of all the belly issues that exercise alone will not fix:
- Split Abdominal Muscles – Doing endless crunches cannot repair a diastasis recti, or split abdominal muscles. This condition occurs when the connective tissue between your vertically oriented belly muscles stretches and separates. Contrary to popular belief, more sit-ups will not magically bring those muscles back together, only surgery can.
- Stretched Out Skin – Significant weight loss, pregnancy, and aging all cause loose skin. Once your skin is stretched out, no amount of exercise, creams, or skin tightening treatments will return your skin back to its youthful state. In comparison, a tummy tuck surgically removes excess skin restoring tightness to your entire belly.
- Stretch Marks – Stretch marks will not diminish or go away with exercise. A tummy tuck is the only way to remove the damaged skin of the lower belly that contains stretch marks.
- Lower Belly Pooch – Core strengthening exercises can improve your body contour but they have little impact on the lower belly soft tissue. Liposuction is a great option for a lower belly pooch but it will not address loose skin. A tummy tuck offers the only definitive way to transform the appearance of your lower belly when you struggle with both excess fat AND loose skin.
The Takeaway
There are limits to what exercise can accomplish, especially for legitimate concerns like splitting of your belly muscles, loose belly skin, and stretch marks. Surgery is often the only definitive solution. So if you’ve tried everything and the problem persists, don’t feel guilty about considering a tummy tuck. It doesn’t mean you’ve failed or given up. It simply acknowledges that the issue has progressed beyond what diet and exercise alone can fix.