Sometimes it is difficult for us to get rid of the stubborn fat around our middles and we develop sagging or flabby bellies. Additionally, it may be loose skin and weakened or stretched out muscles creating the unwanted gut. If exercise has not helped, or if the problem is loose skin and weakened muscles, a tummy tuck may be what you need.

Feeling comfortable with your body as well as in your clothes is important to a person's mental well-being. Living with unsightly bulges around the abdomen can affect how others see you and how you see yourself. Who would turn down the chance to get a firmer, sleeker body? Tummy tucks offer you the option of revealing the slimmer you.

Before you elect to have a tummy tuck, however, you should know the facts.

Realistically, an abdominoplasty is a serious, intensive and invasive procedure. For a full tummy tuck, the surgeon must place an incision on your lower abdomen. This cut is usually placed just above the pubic area (below the swimsuit line for women) and runs from the crest of one hip to the crest of the other. Once the opening has been made, the doctor separates your skin and abdominal wall from the incision to several inches above the navel. Before the process begins, you are given a sedative, of course.

Once these preliminary steps are completed, your doctor then removes excess fat as needed. He or she may also tighten the muscles if necessary. In some cases, skin with stretch marks is removed along with the excess skin. It is not always possible or practical to cut away all of that skin, though.

The skin is then pulled downwards over any deep tissue repairs made and the excess is trimmed. The new margins are sutured and left to heal. The navel is intact but may have a slightly different appearance or shape.

In patients with large amounts of extra skin, a second incision may be placed around the navel. The excess is removed from both sites and you are sutured as usual. After the procedure, you should expect scarring. Over time, though, your scars will begin to fade.

Recovery time is critical to the overall success of the procedure. Usually, patients experience few if any complications. After surgery, it is vital that you follow your surgeon's instructions. You can expect your activity to be very limited and in some cases, drains will be placed at the surgery site to prevent fluids from building up and impeding healing.

If you have drainage tubes, you can expect them to be removed within the first week of recovery. Also, it will be about ten days later when your stitches are removed. Bruising and swelling should reach a peak around this time as well.

After several weeks, your doctor will instruct you on resuming normal activity and exercise. The key is to follow all directions exactly for optimal healing.

In a few months, you will start to see the actual results of your procedure. Although time has passed, you should keep your appointments with your plastic surgeon. These appointments are to keep a careful eye on your progress and ensure you do not suffer any complications.

Tummy tuck surgery is a reasonable option if you want a more fit profile. As with any surgery, being well-informed will help you make the decision best suited to you.