Wednesday, January 17th 2018
Let’s talk about tummy bulges. What’s going on when there’s no more baby, but there’s still a bulge? Sometimes that bulge is more than just a bulge. Sometimes it’s not just loose skin or even extra fat. When you’ve done all you can do, and there’s still more round than flat in your tummy, something else might be going on.
Diastasis Recti:
A common cause of tummy bulge after baby is called Diastasis Recti. The rectus muscles are those “ab” muscles you work out when you do planks or sit-ups. They’re part of your “core” muscles. They are a pair of muscles, one on either side of your belly button, and they run from your lower ribs to your pubic bone. Before pregnancy, the two muscles are pretty close together, so when they are toned, your belly appears flat. After pregnancy, the two muscles can get stretched apart from each other, making a gap between them. This gap isn’t filled with more muscle, though, so it’s not something you can fix by strengthening your abs. Instead, the gap is just an inelastic type of tissue called the linea alba.
The linea alba doesn’t really have any strength, so when the muscle gap is wide (as in diastasis recti), you get a bulge.
Umbilical Hernia:
Another reason for bulge after baby is a true hernia. Diastasis recti is not a hernia. The two are completely separate things. A hernia is a bulge of the abdominal contents (usually fat or bowel) through a hole in the lining that usually contains it. So diastasis is a stretched abdominal wall, while a hernia requires there to be a hole in that wall.
Some people have both diastasis and a hernia. Others have just one or the other. The good news is that both can be fixed. And we often fix them at the same time as a tummy tuck. The tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) will address the diastasis and/or hernia, any extra skin and any excess fat to help you get rid of that bulge once and for all.
Call my office for more information or to schedule your consultation time: 404.250.3333.
To your best self! Dr. Kavali
Dr. Carmen Kavali is a board-certified plastic surgeon serving patients in Sandy Springs, Buckhead, and the greater Atlanta, Georgia area. At Monarch Plastic Surgery & Skin Renewal Center, she focuses on natural-looking results through advanced surgical techniques in facial rejuvenation, breast surgery, and body contouring.
Dr. Kavali earned both her Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering and her Doctor of Medicine from Mercer University. She completed her general surgery residency at the University of Illinois at Chicago and advanced fellowship training in plastic and reconstructive surgery at Wayne State University School of Medicine.
She is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, the only plastic surgery board recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties. Dr. Kavali is also an active member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery, and the Medical Association of Georgia.
Known for her patient-focused approach and refined aesthetic results, Dr. Kavali frequently lectures on topics including breast augmentation, facial rejuvenation, and body contouring. Her work has been featured in publications such as NewBeauty, Best Self Atlanta, and Modern Luxury.
