The joy of becoming a mother does not prevent body insecurities. After pregnancy, in the postpartum period, it can sometimes be difficult to recognize oneself in a transformed body. Depending on the young mother’s metabolism, the weight gained during pregnancy, and her initial weight, some kilos may resist all exercise efforts. Saddlebags, mummy tummy, generous hips — fat cells often remain stored in the thighs, abdomen, and buttocks. Cryolipolysis and radiofrequency are aesthetic-oriented medicine techniques that help lose belly fat and regain a flat stomach after pregnancy.
During the 9 months of pregnancy, the female body prepares for the baby’s arrival. Weight gain is part of the natural physiological process. In addition to the baby’s own weight, the placenta, uterus, and amniotic fluid, the maternal body stores proteins and lipids in anticipation of breastfeeding and to strengthen itself for the challenge of childbirth. Some weight gain is due to increased blood volume, breast enlargement, and water retention. Weight gain tends to accelerate during the third trimester.
Doctors recommend an average weight gain during pregnancy of between 10 and 13 kilos. However, this range is only indicative. Slimmer women may gain more. Women with a higher body mass are advised to monitor their weight gain.
Never losing the pregnancy weight is a source of anxiety for many pregnant women. In the battle against excess weight, impatience is your worst enemy and time your best ally. While a natural weight loss of 6 to 10 kilos is often observed at childbirth, regaining your pre-pregnancy figure takes time. Don’t focus on the scale. It typically takes about 8 weeks for the uterus to return to its original size. If you are breastfeeding, some of the stored fat will be used to produce breast milk. Weight loss happens gradually, and very unevenly depending on the woman and her body type. Getting back to your previous weight often takes between 9 months and a year after the baby is born.
After your baby is born, adopt a varied and balanced diet. Favor fruits and vegetables, fiber, cereals – foods rich in nutrients and vitamins and low in fat.
• Avoid fatty, sugary, and processed foods.
• Do not deprive yourself and avoid drastic diets!
• These contribute to the “yo-yo effect” (rapid weight loss and gain) and the appearance of stretch marks.
Alongside a healthy and balanced diet, returning to physical activity is essential to shed the stored weight and strengthen abdominal muscles. Perineal re-education must be completed before resuming any physical activity. This should be approved by your doctor or midwife. During the first postpartum month, the “postpartum body” must gently recover from childbirth.
• Start with simple exercises and low-impact sports such as swimming, walking, or gentle gymnastics.
• Doing a sport you enjoy is key to consistency.
• Choose short sessions several times a week rather than one long weekly session.
Some areas of the body retain curves despite a balanced diet and regular exercise. Slimming down then becomes difficult. The body parts most prone to storing fat are the abdomen, thighs, hips, and buttocks. In the abdominal area, loose skin can create what is known as an unsightly “apron belly” or “pregnancy pouch.”
To get rid of stubborn saddlebags and eliminate the post-pregnancy tummy without surgery, aesthetic-oriented medicine offers effective solutions. The cryolipolysis method consists of applying extreme cold to targeted areas (abdomen, buttocks, etc.) to destroy fat cells. Fast and painless, the procedure uses a device that suctions fatty areas and exposes them to very low temperatures. This technique allows slimming through cold without surgery. Fat cells are gradually eliminated by the body after the session. The fatty tissue loses 30 % to 40 % of its thickness, restoring a refined and harmonious silhouette.
Having cellulite after pregnancy is very common. Indeed, the increase in female sex hormones during pregnancy (estrogens) promotes the development of cellulite. In women, fat cells enlarge and create unsightly irregularities on the surface of the skin. This is commonly known as “orange peel skin,” a source of body complexes and discomfort.
To treat this condition and remove cellulite, various solutions exist : radiofrequency, anti-cellulite mesotherapy, carboxytherapy.
• Effective on all types of cellulite (fibrous, edematous, adipose), radiofrequency works by delivering a heat-generating current under the skin to eliminate cellulite.
• Radiofrequency sessions for the abdomen help eliminate fat cells stored in the abdominal area and reshape the silhouette by restoring a flat stomach.
• Less invasive than an abdominoplasty, this treatment causes no pain or side effects.
Article written by Dr Romano Valeria
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