Pregnancy and weight gain and loss have a tremendous impact on a woman's abdomen. No amount of dieting and exercise can fully restore the tummy to its flat desirable shape after the muscles and skin have been stretched to their limit. Men can also have trouble regaining their youthful flat abdomens after losing weight.

Both men and women can benefit from the body contouring surgery commonly known as the tummy tuck. To reduce the appearance of a protruding stomach, excess fat and skin are removed and the underlying abdominal muscles are tightened. The amount of fat deposits on your abdomen and the degree of loose abdominal skin and muscles will be taken into account when deciding on the type of tummy tuck you need. Sometimes liposuction alone will correct the problem.

A full tummy tuck involves tightening the upper and lower abdominal muscles, stretching the abdominal skin down and removing excess fat and skin. Liposuction, to remove excess fat from the hip area, is often performed in conjunction with the tummy tuck for a better body contour. A hernia of the belly button that develops after pregnancy can be repaired at the same time.

Your surgeon will make a long incision in the bikini line just above the pubic area. The skin is separated from the muscles up to the rib cage. A tiny second incision is made around the belly button. The vertical muscles of the abdomen are stitched together to provide a tighter abdominal wall and thinner waist. The skin is stretched down and excess skin and fat are removed. A new opening is cut for the belly button before it is stitched into place. Every effort is made to hide the scars in the bikini area and the scars will fade over time.

Swelling and pain of the abdomen are normal. Any discomfort you experience can be controlled with pain medication prescribed by your surgeon. An abdominal binder will offer support as your abdomen heals. You will be up and around in a day or two, but you should take it easy for a while. It may take several weeks before you feel back to normal. Light exercise, such as walking, will help you to feel better and heal faster.