Despite steady dieting and daily workouts, many women are left with a pregnancy belly months and years after giving birth. According to Beverly Hills, CA-based plastic surgeon Brent Moelleken, M.D., the "post baby pot belly" is a result of the fascia tearing during pregnancy, and no amount of crunches or sit-ups can correct this"
In an effort to help moms deal with a less than ideal post-baby body, Moelleken has developed the Hybrid Tummy Tuck, a procedure that helps women finally get rid of the belly that won't go away. "This is not your traditional tummy tuck," says Moelleken. "The technique used in the Hybrid Tummy Tuck tightens the complete fascia through a small C-section sized incision. I either utilize an already existing C-section scar and revise it, or creates a new small incision in the pubic area of the abdomen."
Moelleken is then able to tighten the complete fascia using a small incision like a key hole to work through. He does not need to create a new belly button, as in traditional tummy tucks. And for mommies with the dreaded "post partum outie" belly button, this can be repaired scarlessly from the inside with no belly button scar. Moelleken notes that while his patients love the shorter incision, he as the surgeon loves the inherently better circulation and shorter time in surgery of the Hybrid Tummy Tuck. Moelleken notes that he can more safely perform liposuction or simultaneous breast correction procedures. Lastly, the recovery with the Hybrid Tummy Tuck is only about 7 to 10 days (compared to 14 days with the traditional tummy tuck). "The real secret to returning mommies post baby pot bellies back to their pre-baby tight tummies is in the incision," he adds. "The recovery time is shorter, and this is something all mommies want so they can spend time focusing on what is important...their babies!"
Brent Moelleken, M.D. is a Beverly Hills plastic and reconstructive surgeon certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. He is an attending physician at UCLA Medical Center and Cedars-Sinai Hospitals, studied at Harvard and obtained his M.D. from Yale University. He has been practicing in Beverly Hills since 1995, has numerous studies and papers on his American Society Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) award winning superficial cheek lift and more than 100 published articles, presentations and abstracts, including many in the Journal of Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery. He was a surgeon on ABC'S hit show "Extreme Makeover," and Discovery Health Channel, and has more than 75 television appearances including Dateline, ABC, CBS, NBC, Extra, and numerous national and international shows. He does extensive charity and volunteer work through UCLA and his "About Face" surgical foundation. View these at www.drbrent.com.