The joy of becoming a mother does not prevent insecurities. After pregnancy, during the postpartum period, it can be difficult to recognise yourself in a transformed body. Depending on the new mother's metabolism, pregnancy weight gain and starting weight, some kilos may resist every effort to exercise. Saddlebags, a post-pregnancy belly apron, fuller hips: fat cells remain stored around the thighs, abdomen and buttocks… Cryolipolysis and radiofrequency are aesthetic medicine techniques that help reduce belly fat and regain a flat stomach after pregnancy.
Taking time to regain your figure
During the 9 months of pregnancy, the female body prepares for the baby's arrival. Weight gain is part of the natural physiological process. Alongside the weight of the baby, placenta, uterus and amniotic fluid, the mother's body stores proteins and fats to prepare for breastfeeding and strengthen itself for childbirth. Some kilos are due to increased blood volume, breast size and water retention. Weight gain accelerates in the final trimester.
Doctors recommend average pregnancy weight gain of between 10 and 13 kilos. However, this range is only a guide. Slimmer women may gain more. Women with a larger build are advised to control their weight gain.
Never losing pregnancy weight is a source of anxiety for many pregnant women. When tackling excess kilos, impatience is your worst enemy and time your best ally. Although a natural weight loss of 6 to 10 kilos occurs at childbirth, regaining your original figure takes time. Do not focus on the scales. The uterus takes around 8 weeks to return to its original size. If you breastfeed, some stored fat will be used to produce breast milk. Weight loss occurs gradually and varies considerably between women and body types. Regaining your previous weight takes time, often between 9 months and a year after the baby's birth.
Exercising and adopting a healthy diet
After the baby is born, adopt a varied, balanced diet. Favour fruit, vegetables, fibre and cereals, rich in nutrients and vitamins and low in fat.
Conversely, limit fatty, sugary and processed foods.
However, 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, balanced diet, resuming physical exercise is essential to lose stored kilos and strengthen abdominal muscles. Pelvic floor rehabilitation must be complete before resuming physical activity, which must be approved by your doctor or midwife. During the first postnatal month, the 'postpartum body' needs to recover gently from childbirth. Starting again with simple exercises and gentle, low-impact activities such as swimming, walking and gentle gymnastics is recommended… Choosing an activity you enjoy is key to regularity. Prefer short sessions several times a week to a single long weekly session.
Post-pregnancy belly apron and saddlebags: considering cryolipolysis and radiofrequency
Some body areas retain fullness despite a balanced diet and exercise. Slimming becomes difficult. The areas most prone to fat storage are the abdomen, thighs, hips and buttocks. Around the abdomen, stretched skin can form an unsightly "fat apron" or "post-pregnancy belly apron".
To reduce stubborn saddlebags and eliminate this post-pregnancy belly apron without surgery, aesthetic medicine is an option. Cryolipolysis involves applying extreme cold to targeted areas (abdomen, buttocks…) to destroy fat cells. Quick and painless, the procedure uses a device that draws in fatty areas and exposes them to very cold temperatures. This technique allows slimming through cold without surgery. Fat cells are gradually eliminated by the body after the session. Fat tissue loses 30% to 40% of its thickness, and the figure regains its slimness and harmony.
Having cellulite after pregnancy is very common. Increased female sex hormones (oestrogens) during pregnancy encourage cellulite development. In women, fat cells enlarge and cause unsightly irregularities on the skin's surface. This is commonly called "orange peel skin", a source of insecurity and distress.
Various solutions exist to treat this phenomenon and remove cellulite: radiofrequency and anti-cellulite mesotherapy. Effective on all cellulite types (fibrous, oedematous and adipose), radiofrequency involves delivering a heat-generating current beneath the skin to eliminate cellulite. Abdominal radiofrequency sessions eliminate fat cells stored in the abdominal area and reshape the figure, restoring a flat stomach. Less invasive than abdominoplasty surgery, this treatment causes neither pain nor side effects.
