Many women give birth to their child and immediately begin dieting and exercising to get their old figure back.  While diet and exercise often achieve the weight loss results many women are looking for they do not always take care of everything.  After child birth many women notice that they have lose or flabby skin on their stomachs.  This becomes even more noticeable as they begin to lose weight and often a large problem for the mothers of twins or other multiple births.

What is a Tummy Tuck

Also known as abdominoplasty, a tummy tuck is a cosmetic surgery that removes the excess fat and skin from the abdominal area.  As a result the stomach appears as smooth and tight as before child birth.  Tummy tucks are extremely invasive surgery and can only be performed if the patient is in good health and has already lost weight.  The surgery is performed by making an incision in the abdominal area and removing the excess skin.  In some cases the belly button will need to be moved in order to move the skin properly.

The surgery can take anywhere from one to four hours depending upon the amount of skin being removed.  The level of invasiveness is often determined by the skin being moved or the results you desire.  If you are a new mother with only a little bit of lose skin your surgeon might recommend a mini-tummy tuck that requires a smaller incision, no moving of the belly button, and has a faster recovery time.  When tummy tucks are done as part of a mommy makeover the surgeon will often perform liposuction to the abdomen and thighs during the same surgery.

The Recovery Period

Since the tummy tuck is a major surgery expect to have some major downtime as soon as it is done.  Most women who undergo a tummy tuck after childbirth experience a great deal of pain for at least two weeks.  During that time prescribed medications are used to dull the pain which is present in all positions.  It is often best to sit and rest for several days following the surgery.

Swelling will occur that will often leave your body larger than when you originally went into the doctor’s office.  The wound will also drain for at least ten days and the swelling will not go down for at least one month.  Expect to be completely back on your feet in two months and you will have a post operative appointment at least six months following the surgery.  There will be scaring and the size of the scar is determined by the size of the incision.