| Often
after pregnancy, weight loss or simply excess fat, the skin gets
stretched to form an overhanging fold of skin and fat in the lower part
of the abdomen. The waistline increases, and it becomes difficult to
wear clothes properly. The centre of gravity shifts forwards and causes
lower backache due to postural problems. It is difficult to exercise
properly and the fold succumbs to rash and skin conditions. Prevention is better than cure, but once developed,
weight loss is the main stay of treatment. A gradual but steady weight
loss to the ideal range can reduce the pendulous tummy. However, the
skin contraction depends on the elasticity of the skin. The skin has
limited ability to contract and if it has been stretched beyond its
ability to contract, even weight loss will not be able to get rid of
the pendulous tummy. Skin with stretch marks is such a skin.
Pendulous
tummy could also be due to a ventral weakness in the wall of the
stomach, called divarication of rectii. Correction of this weakness
leads to a better posture and reduces backache. This can be corrected
only by surgery.
Ideally the skin and the fat has
to be removed to correct the condition permanently. This procedure is
called Abdominoplasty or tummy tuck. If liposuction of various zones is
done at the same time, then it is called lipoabdominoplasty.
Read more about the technique in the link on Abdominoplasty.
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