New Procedure Helps You Get Rid of That 'Muffin Top'

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The Oxford English dictionary has just been updated with about 900 new words including one that is defined as “a protuberance of flesh above the waistband of a tight pair of trousers.” That’s right, we’re talking about a “muffin top.”

It’s that extra belly fat that some people just can’t seem to get rid of no matter how much they diet and exercise. As a result, some people turn to cosmetic surgery, such as a tummy tuck to give them that flat-belly look, but some of these methods can be quite painful, invasive and are not ideal for all patients.

Dr. Matthew Schulman, a board certified plastic surgeon and assistant professor of plastic surgery at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City, has come up with a new procedure to melt away the fat. It’s called “Smooth Tuck.”

“Smooth Tuck is a procedure that I developed mostly out of necessity. I started seeing a lot of patients who were requesting a reduction in their stomach and abdomen, but they weren't ideal candidates for a tummy tuck,” he said. “Men and women, who have excess abdominal fat and unwanted hanging belly skin, can reap incredible benefits from the procedure.”

This new procedure allows Schulman do aggressive liposuction and then remove the skin that is hanging with one operation.

“With a hidden scar, minimal recovery and because there is no muscle repair that is associated with a tummy tuck, there is none of the restrictions that we put on a patient after a tummy tuck,” he said.

Doris Grey, a 57-year-old mother, said she did everything to lose her extra belly fat, but nothing worked.

“I think you are most aware of being overweight in your stomach area and after three c-sections and having the kind of an area which never responded to diet or exercise… I decided that this new procedure seemed to be the thing for me.”

The Smooth Tuck takes approximately two hours and is performed under general anesthesia, and unlike traditional tummy tucks, a patient can return home the same day and resume their normal activities within three to five days.

“I had said to my friend Norma, ‘I don't know why I'm doing this, I'm 57 years old — why am I doing this?’ and she said ‘you're doing it for you,’ and I think that's the answer… I’m doing it for me.”

Schulman said patients may return to exercising and heavy lifting in 14 days, compared with a tummy tuck, which requires up to eight weeks away from the gym.