The One Surprising Thing Exercise Can’t Actually Do

Like so many other American women who have recently jumped on the health, diet, and fitness band wagon, you have have decided that 2015 is the year to really get fit and trim. After trying countless celebrity and fad diets, in addition to trendy — and often dangerous — gimmicks such as waist training corsets, you’ve been able to finally achieve some well-deserved results.

Not only have you lost fat and gained muscle in places you didn’t even know muscle could exist, you’re pleased to see that your curves are still there and more defined than ever. In fact, you might have even gained some! However, the only thing you’re disappointed in with your new body is the loose, excess skin surrounding your abdomen. This skin once held the fat you lost, and it now hangs listlessly as a reminder of the old you.

While diet and exercise has worked wonders in helping you to lose weight, unfortunately it cannot remove excess or hanging skin. For this, cosmetic surgery is required, specifically a tummy tuck.

In essence, a tummy tuck procedure involves cutting away or trimming the excess skin and tissue and reconnecting or “tucking” the areas where the excess skin was removed. Often times, the belly button is re-positioned or a new one is created entirely. While tummy tuck recovery time varies from patient to patient, typically most patients are able to resume moderate exercise in as little as four weeks though it may take up to a year for all numbness and scars to fade.

Contrary to popular belief, there are no non-surgical alternatives to a tummy tuck procedure. While there are a number of exercises that can be done to improve muscle strength and tone, there are none that can remove excess skin or that are proven effective for cellulite removal or stretch mark removal. For these, cosmetic surgery or a cosmetic procedure is needed.

By making healthy diet, exercise, and cosmetic surgery or procedures apart of your fitness plan, you achieve the body you’ve always.