By Rosie Wilson
A recent study by The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (ASAPS) suggested that as well as helping with aesthetics, a ‘tummy tuck’ may help to alleviate the symptoms of stress urinary incontinence.
The findings, published in the ASPAS-owned Aesthetic Surgery Journal, surveyed women who had undertaken the procedure, 90% of whom had previously had at least one pregnancy. The data also indicated that abdominoplasties were particularly effective for reducing the effects of urinary incontinence of women who had not given birth via caesarean section.
Dr. James McMahan, one of the authors of the study, explained the reasoning behind this. “In abdominoplasty procedures where we pull up sufficient soft tissue in the pelvic area, we may get enough of a pull to suspend the urethra, creating a slight bladder outlet obstruction to reduce incontinence.”
“We found that a tummy tuck significantly alleviated the symptoms of stress urinary incontinence in 60% of our patients,” he concluded.
