Ask a Surgeon - Tummy Tuck - I've been told I have a "wrestler's stomach." It looks like fat, and protrudes,...

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I've been told I have a "wrestler's stomach." It looks like fat, and protrudes, but...

Q:

I've been told I have a "wrestler's stomach." It looks like fat, and protrudes, but when I tighten it up, there's a lot of muscle. Even when I worked out six days a week, my stomach still protruded. Is it true you can have fat above and below the muscle? Can body contouring surgery be effective in treating this problem?

A:

The body stores fat in various areas. This fat is useful in times of starvation, but in this modern era, hopefully this excess fat will never be necessary. Fat can be stored subcutaneously (under the skin). Alternatively, fat can be stored inside the abdomen. This type of fat is often very dense and is associated with the various organs inside the abdomen. In particular, there is an organ known as the 'omentum' that can contain several pounds of fat. All of this fat can contribute to a protrusion of the abdominal wall, causing you to have the appearance that you complain about.

Whether or not body contouring surgery can help you depends on your particular situation. If you have been overweight, or if you have been pregnant, the muscles of the belly may have been overstretched. This would allow the contents inside the abdomen to protrude. If this is the case, then an abdominoplasty, also known as a 'tummy tuck,' might be the appropriate operation. A tummy tuck tightens the muscles of the belly, and the skin and fat may also be tightened. Sometimes this operation is performed through tiny incisions with the aid of a surgical instrument called an endoscope. If your muscles are not overstretched and you are a bit overweight, then you may benefit most from simple weight loss. Finally, liposuction might be useful if the fat is under the skin but not inside your belly. The proper procedure can only be determined from examination by a qualified surgeon.