Can I successfully take the elastic out the waist of my dress?

[u32ng]

I have a dress which has a kind of ruched elasticated waist & it doesn't sit very flatteringly on me. Wondering if it's possible to somehow unpick out the elastic so I can just belt it instead? Or will that end in disaster??

[MrsWinnibago]

Can't you just put a belt over the top? It will probably come out easiliy enough but it may have creases you can't iron out.