Secrets to a Sexier Stomach

By: Katharine Griffiths
Created on 11th August 2010

How many of us really have the flat, toned midriff of our dreams? Whether your problem is a stubborn pocket of fat on an otherwise slim belly, stretch marks or a more serious weight problem, our team of experts has the answer. Be warned though – beauty comes at a price!

For most women, the thought of baring our stomach to the world sends shivers down the spine. Everyone’s problem is different, of course – for some of us, it’s a case of a few stretch marks brought on by pregnancy or extreme weight fluctuation.

For others, ageing and motherhood have taken their toll on their abs, leaving them with loose, sagging and crêpey skin. And then there are those amongst us who suffer with fat on our bellies – from a small ‘spare tyre’ to a full on lorryload!

We’ve tracked down some of the top experts in the field to give you their advice on how to achieve the stomach you’ve always wanted, from diet and exercise tips right through to invasive surgery.

Success starts at home

Whatever your problem, the best way to give yourself a helping hand towards the toned tum of your dreams is to eat a healthy diet and step up the exercise regime. 

Dr Daniel Sister of BeautyWorksWest explains how he always starts with diet and exercise advice because otherwise any treatments will be undermined: “A lot of people think they can have a treatment and after just one session they can walk across the street and eat a chocolate cake, but it doesn’t work like that. You need a change of lifestyle and more discipline to ensure and maintain results.”

Zap those stretch marks

We’ve all got them, but some are worse than others and if you’ve ever been pregnant or gained a lot of weight for any reason, chances are your belly will be riddled with stretch marks. But the good news is, you don’t have to put up with them forever.

The Strawberry: “Its treatment of stretch marks is phenomenal,” says Sharon Cobley, Director of LaserLipo/ Strawberry Laser.

“We do microdermabrasion on the area to be treated initially. Then we use three different lasers; first we take off the dead skin cells with one of the lasers, then use the two others to tackle the stretch marks, which also creates an inch loss and a skin tightening sensation at the same time. And then you follow it with an LED for general healing. It’s not painful; you don’t feel a thing, but you will see visual improvement straightaway.

“Old, new, red, white, purple – we can tackle any stretch marks although the older they are, the longer it takes to get rid of them.”

Other options: Rioblush

Tighten and tone

Gravity catches up with us all in the end, and the skin on your stomach is particularly prone to sagging as ageing and weight fluctuation take their toll. Sadly, as this problem isn’t associated with fat, there is very little that diet or exercise can do to solve it. Thankfully, though, help is at hand in the form of some of the most advanced light-based treatments on the market.

Thermage: Thermage is a safe, non-invasive, radiofrequency (RF) cosmetic procedure that helps smooth, tighten and contour skin for an overall younger looking appearance.

Hannah Orchard at 111 Harley Street has been getting some amazing results on the abdomen: “Thermage skin tightening is the gold standard for the treatment of loose, lax and sagging skin. Its natural ‘no-knife’ approach to redefining and sculpting problem areas is proving to be a great hit and is really resonating with our clients.

“The best results are seen in people that are at a healthy weight with specific areas of laxity that the gym won’t improve. Post pregnancy tummies, baggy knees, upper arms and sagging jaw lines can all be safely and successfully treated.”

Other options: Titan

Fat burners

Let’s face it, this is the real issue for most of us – women naturally have rounder bellies than men, but who can honestly say they wouldn’t like theirs to be a little bit flatter? For those who have stubborn pockets of fat, rather than serious weight issues, these days there are some pretty nifty treatments to help you shift the flab.

VASER: “VASER Liposelection is an exciting new, gentle technology that allows the safe and precise removal of unwanted fat fromyour hips, thighs, abdomen, love handles, knees, back, arms, neck and chin,” explains Dr Roberto Viel of the London Centre for Aesthetic Surgery.

“With LipoSelection by VASER, it is now easier to reduce those stubborn spots that won’t respond to diet and exercise. It is particularly effective for the abdominal area, an area where many men and woman find that ‘spare tyre’ hard to shift through exercise.

“What distinguishes VASER Liposelection is its ability to differentiate body fat from tissues that are best left undisturbed – such as nerves, blood vessels and connective tissues. This latest generation of ultrasonic energy simply bounces off these healthy and important tissues while targeting and dissolving the less structured fat cells. Your VASER treatment will actually remove the fat, but leave your other tissues intact.

“This allows your skin to retract smoothly and evenly after the procedure and minimises the pain and bruising typically associated with fat removal. Most patients experience a fast recovery and return to normal activities within days.”

Other options: The Strawberry, BodyTite

And when all else fails...

Surgery isn’t for everyone and should never be taken lightly, but there are those of us for whom it’s the only option. If you are severely overweight, liposuction may be the answer, but if there’s a lot of excess skin – say after extreme weight loss – then abdominoplasty might be your best bet.

Abdominoplasty: Leading plastic surgeon Mr Richard Matthews explains all about this procedure. “Broadly speaking, if the main problem is excess fat and skin tone is good, without stretch marks, then some form of liposuction or a non-invasive treatment, such as Ultrashape or Thermage, will be helpful.

“But, if there is significant loose skin, with or without stretch marks and/or if the inner muscle girdle of the tummy is loose, then abdominoplasty surgery is indicated, sometimes in combination with liposuction.

“Full abdominoplasty is generally the best solution for women whose tummies have not recovered well after pregnancy, especially after large babies or twins, for people who have lost a lot of weight and whose skin has failed to ‘take up’, resulting in loose folds, and for people whose previous abdominal surgery has left a distorted, ugly effect, possibly following infection.”

And what does the surgery entail?

“In a full abdominoplasty,” says Mr Matthews, “an incision is made through the skin and fat low down on the tummy, extending to the hip on each side. The undersurface of the fat is lifted off the front of the muscle layer all the way up to the lower edge of the rib cage and the bottom of the breast bone, freeing the tummy button and its stalk, leaving it marooned as a sort of island on the way.

“Bleeding is stopped and muscle tightening is performed if required. The skin and fatty layer is then pulled firmly downwards and all excess cut off. The fresh lower skin edge is then stitched up and the hole in the skin where the tummy button was freed is stitched up as a midline vertical scar.

“Finally, the tummy button is brought out through a fresh hole in the tightened skin and stitched into place.”

Full abdominoplasty is a serious operation, requiring general anaesthesia and a minimum of two nights in hospital, but it can also be life-changing, so if you’ve tried everything else to no avail, perhaps it’s time to take the plunge.