Any mother, whether in Utah, or somewhere else, will tell you that pregnancy exacts a toll on a woman’s body. They’ll also tell you that life is never the same after having a child. For any number of reasons a healthy diet and consistent exercise are sometimes not enough to repair the toll that pregnancy can exact on a mother’s figure.

Pregnancy stretches the abdominal muscles and can create pockets of fat that are difficult to get rid of, especially for mothers who have had multiple children. Even individuals with otherwise normal and healthy body weights and size proportions can develop abdomens that protrude and/or are loose and sagging.

Getting back to your “pre-baby” figure often includes striving for a flat and well-toned stomach. In many cases, however, pregnancy changes a woman’s body in ways that crunches and salads may not be able to fix. That’s where tummy tucks come in.

Tummy tucks are not the same thing as liposuction. Liposuction only removes unwanted fat from target areas, whereas a tummy tuck will tighten the muscles of the abdomen and remove excess skin and fat. Liposuction is often performed during the tummy tuck procedure to ensure a smooth and flat abdomen and more contoured waistline.

If you are physically healthy, at a stable weight, and do not smoke you’re a good candidate for a tummy tuck. Smoking hampers your body’s ability to heal and so it is recommended that you not smoke at the very least 2 weeks before and after surgery.  If you are planning on having more children or losing significant weight in the future, it is generally recommended that you postpone the tummy tuck procedure until such time that you’ll not be subject to significant fluctuations in weight, which may diminish some of the effects of the surgery.

Lastly, a tummy tuck procedure is not a solution for weight loss; instead it intended for people who have tried diet and exercise but have stubborn belly fat and excess skin as the result of aging, pregnancy, or other reasons. If you have questions about the tummy tuck procedure, contact us. A board certified plastic surgeon can educate you about all your options and help you make the decision that is best for you.