The happiness of becoming a mother does not prevent insecurities. After a pregnancy, in post-partum, it is sometimes difficult to recognize oneself in a transformed body. Depending on the young mother’s metabolism, the weight gained during pregnancy and the starting weight, some kilos sometimes resist all sporting efforts. Saddlebags, pregnancy apron, generous hips, fat cells remain stored on the thighs, the belly, the buttocks… Cryolipolysis and radiofrequency are aesthetic-oriented medicine techniques that help to lose belly fat and regain a flat stomach after a 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. Along with the weight of the baby itself, the placenta, the uterus and the amniotic fluid, the maternal body stores proteins and lipids to anticipate breastfeeding and strengthen itself for the ordeal of childbirth. Some kilos are due to the increase in blood volume, breast size and water retention. Weight gain accelerates during the last trimester.
Doctors recommend an average weight gain during pregnancy between 10 and 13 kilos. But this range is only indicative. Thinner women may gain more. Women with a larger build are advised to control their weight gain.
Never losing pregnancy kilos is a source of anxiety for many pregnant women. In the fight against extra kilos, impatience is your worst enemy and time your best ally. If a natural weight loss of 6 to 10 kilos is observed at the time of childbirth, reconnecting with one’s original silhouette requires time. Do not focus on the scale. Indeed, about 8 weeks are necessary for the uterus to regain its initial size. If you breastfeed, part of the stored fat will be used for the production of breast milk. Weight loss occurs gradually, very unevenly depending on women and their morphology. Regaining one’s pre-pregnancy weight requires time, often between 9 months and a year after the baby’s birth.
After the baby is born, adopt a varied and balanced diet. Favour fruits and vegetables, fibres, cereals, rich in nutrients and vitamins and low in fat. Conversely, limit fatty, sugary and processed foods. Do not deprive yourself and avoid drastic diets ! They contribute to the “yo-yo effect” (rapid weight gain and loss) and the appearance of stretch marks.
Alongside a healthy and balanced diet, resuming physical exercise is essential to lose the kilos stored and strengthen the abdominal muscles. Perineal rehabilitation must be completed before resuming physical activity. This must be approved by the doctor or the midwife. During the first postnatal month, the ‘post-partum body‘ must gently recover from childbirth. It is recommended to start again with simple exercises and gentle sports, limiting impacts, such as swimming, walking, gentle gym… Doing a sport that brings you pleasure is the key to consistency. Prefer short sessions several times a week to a single 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 (oestrogens) promotes the development of cellulite. In women, fat cells enlarge and cause unsightly irregularities on the surface of the skin. This is what is commonly called “orange peel skin”, a source of insecurities and discomfort.
To treat this phenomenon and remove cellulite, different solutions exist : radiofrequency, anti-cellulite mesotherapy. Effective on all types of cellulite (fibrous, edematous, adipose), radiofrequency consists of delivering under the skin a heat-generating current to eliminate cellulite. Sessions of radiofrequency for the belly help eliminate fat cells stored in the abdominal area and reshape the silhouette by regaining 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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