Tummy Tuck Could Address Back Pain and Urinary Incontinence, finds Study

Tummy tuck surgery or abdominoplasty is a widely requested body contouring procedure that improves the appearance of the midsection. It can address concerns such as a protruding belly, skin laxity, and sagging muscles that typically occur after a major weight loss, resulting in a flatter, more toned abdomen. While the aesthetic benefits of tummy tuck surgery are already evident, studies say that the procedure also offers significant medical benefits of tummy tuck that the cosmetic improvements. A study published in the March issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery in 2018, the official medical journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), found that a tummy tuck can reduce back pain and incontinence after childbearing, highlighting the clinical benefits of tummy tuck beyond aesthetics.

Tummy tuck surgery or abdominoplasty involves removing excess fat and skin to improve abdominal contour when diet and exercise fail to provide the desired outcomes. According to the researchers, a tummy tuck is more than a cosmetic procedure as it can improve back pain and urinary incontinence, the two most common physical complaints by women after labor and delivery. In fact, this cosmetic surgical procedure is a key component of a “mommy makeover”, a slew of procedures designed to restore the shape of a woman’s body after childbearing.

Medical Benefits of Tummy Tuck: ASPS Study Findings

A study published in the March issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery in 2018, the official medical journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), found that tummy tuck surgery can reduce back pain and incontinence after childbearing, highlighting the clinical benefits of tummy tuck beyond aesthetics.

The study’s participants were 214 women who underwent tummy tuck and muscle repair at nine Australian plastic surgery centers. They were around 42 years old with an average of 2.5 deliveries. The women were asked to rate their disability from back pain and urinary incontinence before and after surgery. Preoperatively, about 51 percent of women reported moderate to severe disability from back pain, while 42.5 percent said urinary incontinence was a “significant concern”. The study found that:

• Scores for back pain relief after abdominoplasty continued to improve from six weeks to six months after abdominoplasty
• After six months, only nine percent of patients still had moderate disability from back pain.
• Urinary incontinence did not improve after six weeks, but remained a significant problem for less than two percent of women.
• Though the women underwent abdominoplasty surgery using different techniques, the improvements in back pain and incontinence were similar regardless of the technique used.

According to another study published in the Aesthetic Surgery Journal in 2014, the official clinical publication of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS), the specified results are visible particularly among women who have not undergone an earlier cesarean section.

Here are the details of the study.

The study surveyed tummy tuck candidates to find out the changes if any, in their stress urinary incontinence symptoms

• Ninety percent of the women who were part of the study had at least one pregnancy
• A number of factors were analyzed including
  • amount of weight gain with pregnancy
  • number of pregnancies
  • multiple vs. single pregnancies
  • history of cesarean sections
  • amount of weight loss before surgery
  • symptoms related to stress or urgency incontinence
  • severity of incontinence following abdominoplasty
• Results showed that the symptoms of stress urinary incontinence were alleviated significantly in 60% of the women
• It was also evident that positive results were observed in women who hadn’t undergone an earlier cesarean section

Surgeons involved in the study pointed out that they pull up adequate soft tissue in the pelvic area during the tummy tuck surgery. The pull may be good enough to suspend the urethra, thus building a minor bladder outlet obstruction to minimize incontinence. However, they also noted the importance of conducting anatomic studies to determine the optimal surgical techniques for abdominoplasty. They say “it should be good enough to improve incontinence and narrow down the patients with stress urinary incontinence to benefit the most”.

Tummy tucks ranked third for a third year in a row in 2023, according to ASPS statistics. In 2023, 170,110 tummy tucks were performed compared to 161,948 in 2022, registering a 5% increase.

Functional Benefits and Recovery Considerations After Tummy Tuck

In addition to proven cosmetic benefits, abdominoplasty offers functional benefits. The functional improvements involve restoration of strength and stability in the abdominal and pelvic region as the operation includes repair of the abdominal muscle separation that can occur after pregnancy. This core strength improvement after tummy tuck helps support the spine, improve posture, and reduce physical discomfort. The aesthetic benefits are a flatter, firmer abdominal shape that is more proportionate with the patient’s body type and weight. By reducing common post-childbirth concerns like back pain and incontinence, a postpartum tummy tuck for back and bladder issues improves quality of life for women.

If you are considering this procedure, preparing well for it is also important. This requires maintaining a stable weight, quitting smoking, and undergoing a full medical evaluation. It’s also important to follow your surgeon’s pre-operative instructions closely to ensure a safe and smooth recovery.

A complete abdominoplasty involves long incisions to remove skin and fat, general anesthesia, suturing of the abdominal muscles, and long recovery times. Expert NYC plastic surgeons also offer liposuction-only abdominoplasty. This minimally-invasive tummy tuck surgery is an ideal option for patients who have good skin and muscle tone, and without issues like excess skin in the midsection or loose abdominal muscles. It is performed using advanced liposuction devices such as BodyTite and Vaserlipo and offers benefits such as short downtime, minimal postsurgical trauma, minimal scarring and quick recovery.