For women a common area which is hated is the stomach area. This can be for several reasons, perhaps you are trying to lose weight but you have stubborn fat left around your stomach which makes you feel paranoid, or perhaps you have given birth and are left feeling self conscious about the way you stomach now looks. There are many reasons why we are not fond of our stomachs, regardless of what your reason is, know that you are not alone. More and more women (and men) are beginning to opt for tummy tuck surgeries.

This type of surgery looks to remove all excess fat and skin from your stomach, and also tightening your abdominal muscles. By opting for this type of surgery you can be left for a flatter stomach which is much firmer than before the surgery. Also if giving birth is a reason why you are self conscious, this surgery can reduce the appearance of stretch marks which you may have.

This is not the only reason people have this type of operation though. They can also be used to remove excess skin after you have lost a lot of weight. So if you have lost plenty of weight and have folds of skin left then this could be ideal for you.

When looking at any cosmetic surgery it is incredibly important that you remember this is not a quick fix solution to help you lose weight. You cannot have this surgery and expect to be able to not exercise. It is important to continue exercising and maintaining a healthy regime including diet and so on.

If you are looking for permanent results then you can achieve them from this procedure however as with anything you will need to continue to look after yourself. If you stop exercising and have a poor diet you must expect for the weight to come back.

If you are looking into this or are interested, you will need to do more than just look at information on the internet. Set up an appointment with a physician and talk through it properly. When it comes to cosmetic surgery you want to be 100% sure that it is what you want to do and understand what it is this procedure is going to entail. If you discuss with your physician what results you would like, your physician will be able to tell you whether or not this procedure is for you and whether you have realistic expectations.

There are alternatives to having a tucking procedure, such as liposuction, where the fat is sucked out. However sometimes having a tuck is preferred over this procedure as the tuck does not just merely get rid of excess fat which you have.

When preparing to have a tummy tuck, you must be ready to do anything your surgeon asks you to. For example, it is necessary to stop smoking for a certain amount of time prior to the operation so there are not implications with the operation and so your recovery is not slowed down by a chest infection for example.

The surgeon may also ask you to lose some weight, you want this tuck to be as effective as possible, so if your surgeon says lose 10lbs and then we will operate, you should be willing to do this. It is not a miracle procedure; you must expect to do something to achieve your desired look.

They may also ask you to stop taking any contraceptive pills around 6 weeks before your surgery. This is to limit the risk of blood clotting during recovery. It can sometimes be easy to forget that you are not taking your pill, so remember to use another type of contraception during this time!

A tummy tuck generally is done under a general anaesthetic which means that you be asleep during the whole procedure. It is likely that your surgeon will draw on you to give him a rough outline of what he is doing, and it is also likely that they take before and after pictures as sometimes it can be difficult to see changes within yourself in a mirror.

The operation itself will take around three hours, as there are several types of tummy tucks this may vary, depending on the amount of fat you want to be removed from your stomach.

The three main types are; standard tuck, mini tuck and extended tuck. The standard tuck is where cuts are made above your bikini line; the torn muscles will be pulled together and stitched in place. While the excess fat is removed, your belly button will be repositioned so that it is in an appropriate position after the tuck.

A mini tuck is where only the fat below your belly button is removed, so you will have one incision along your bikini line. The extended tuck is where fat from your abdomen and back is removed; you will have the same procedure as during a standard tuck, but with an extra scare around your back.

When recovering from this surgery it is likely that you will wear dressings over your stomach, sometimes for weeks after your surgery. You will also have a drip in your arm, which will stay in place until you heal enough and are able to consume enough fluids yourself. It is not abnormal to have feelings of discomfort or pain and you will be prescribed pain killers to aid you with this. After around ten days you will be able to do light activities such as walking, you are generally allowed to go back to work from 2-4 weeks after your surgery. All vigorous activity should be avoided for up to 6 weeks after your surgery.

Getting a tummy tuck can be a good idea, it will certainly provide you with the desired results however you must be aware of all aspects of a tummy tuck, know the risks, have realistic goals and most importantly remember that you must continue exercising and eating healthy to maintain a tighter, flatter stomach.