During pregnancy, your body produces a special hormone called Relaxin. This relaxes ligaments in your abdomen so to create more space for the baby to grow. However, it can lead to loose skin post-pregnancy. As the abdomen expands, the skin also stretches, leading to loose skin around the stomach.
This loose belly skin can take several weeks or many months to reduce and repair. After having a baby your skin should slowly return to normal, but it does take time for skin to regain its elasticity, and sometimes you need to help it along with the recovery process.
For some women, it takes about six months before they start to see a reduction in loose skin. If diet and exercise aren't taking you as far as you'd like, you could consider a procedure like abdominoplasty – usually called a tummy tuck – but it's not recommended if you're planning on having more children.
But above all, don't freak out—excess postpartum belly skin is just one of those things that can happen after pregnancy, even if you're incredibly fit. “It's not uncommon for new moms to have loose skin after having a baby,” Wider says. The bottom line: You're far from alone on this one.
It takes time for your body to fully recover from pregnancy. Your postpartum belly won't instantly go back to how it was before you were pregnant – it's a process that can take months or even years, while some bellies may take on a different shape permanently.
Loose skin after weight loss is not permanent and will disappear over time. After a month or two, you should no longer see excess skin hanging from your body. If you are still having problems with excess skin, then you should see a doctor.
You can reduce your mum tum via diet, exercise, or a combination of both. Of course, as you might expect, it all depends on what exactly is causing your post-pregnancy pooch. If your mum tum is primarily caused by pregnancy weight gain, diet or exercise could do the trick.
It's recommended that belly bands are worn between two to 12 weeks postpartum for the best possible results.
After giving birth, it can take several weeks or even months for the skin around the abdomen to spring back to its pre-pregnancy shape.
You gain stretch marks, add pounds, and crave different foods. After birth, you may find that your body isn't that different from your pregnant body. For some women, this remains true a year or more after giving birth. It's possible for your postpartum belly to go away, but it takes time and dedication.
Generally, if the muscles are going to heal on their own, they will within three months of birth. If you are several months postpartum, it's likely that your diastasis recti is here to stay. Some women have had success using targeted exercises to help the muscles move closer together.
Skin starts to loosen or sag as people get older, due to changes in the molecules that keep it elastic, firm, and hydrated. Exercise, supplements, and laser resurfacing are some approaches that may help tighten loose skin.
Laser treatment Some lasers can send heat deep into the skin without wounding the top layer of your skin. These lasers are used to tighten skin all over the body and can be especially helpful for tightening loose skin on the belly and upper arms.
Postpartum Hormone Imbalances Make Weight Loss Difficult
In fact, it can take quite a while for your hormones to return to normal levels. For many women, it takes three to six months to get their estrogen and progesterone back on track, depending on whether they're breastfeeding or not.
However, a belly bulge that doesn't go away for months after delivery can be a sign of diastasis recti—a separation of your abdominal muscles. The normal separation between your abdominal muscles is about 0.5 – 1 centimeter or about one finger width.
To lose stomach overhang you have to burn fat cells in both the fat you can see directly under the skin and also the more dangerous fat that you can't see that surrounds your organs. Cardio such as swimming, aerobics, running or dancing will burn this excess fat store.
A stomach overhang is excess fat hanging down over your pants' waistband. A mum pouch is excess weight, skin, or muscle separation that many women carry around their midsection after giving birth. The mum pouch often differs in that it is often caused by diastasis recti.
Focus on Your Core: Besides overall exercise, focusing on your core muscles is essential. These muscles support your spine and help you maintain good posture. Strengthening your core can also help tighten the muscles in your lower abdomen, reducing the appearance of an apron belly.
After birth, hormone levels drop quickly and often take the glow with them. In addition, the stress that comes with becoming a new parent and sleep deprivation can quickly make the skin look dull, dry and tired.
The cost for excess skin removal surgery will depend on which areas are being worked on. A single area can cost around $4,000 while multiple areas require more than one surgery and can cost more than $20,000.