"If you have had children and stretched your skin beyond return or you have been obese and lost a huge amount of weight I can see why you would opt for this surgery. It certainly will improve your self image and can improve your life over all." Bev M., 48, Atlanta, GA.

If you are considering moving forward with this cosmetic surgery procedure, you need to be sure that you deal with a very qualified and board-certified surgeon. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons is a valuable resource for finding the right surgeon. Look for them online.

The steps during the procedure involve:

* anesthesia

* incision

* removal of tissue

* closing the incision (which can be done via sutures, skin adhesives, tape or clips)

As with any type of surgery, there are certain risks involved. You should be in good health and be a non-smoker.

If you do smoke, you should give up smoking well in advance of the surgery, and you should abstain from taking medications such as aspirin, which can thin your blood.

Of course, some risks for surgery are more common than others. Possible risks of a tummy tuck include, but are not limited to ...

* scarring

* infection

* persistent pain

* anesthesia risks

* nerve damage

* abdominal pain

* chronic swelling of the legs

You should know that you will have one or two thin horizontal scar lines across your bikini line. If you have had a Cesarean section, the scars may be integrated into each other. You may need a second incision depending on the amount of fat tissue in your upper abdomen. The scar will always be visible but will fade significantly with time.

The procedure can be done on an outpatient basis, but be sure to have someone with you for the drive home, and it is advisable to have someone close by for at least one or two days after the procedure. It takes approximately one to two weeks to recover, if your surgery is without complications.

The costs vary and you will have to do some research to find what fits your budget and expectations.

Paula H, Milan MI, says: "My sister had to have a bladder lift so she asked the doctors if she could also get a tummy tuck at the same time. They did it. Because they did it at the same time, she only ended up paying something like $1,500 for the additional surgery, because she already had the anesthetic and that, they said, was the most expensive thing involved in the surgery."

As mentioned above, you need to realize that a tummy tuck may not change your life dramatically; however, if you have the finances available and are in pretty good health overall, a tummy tuck can help your clothes fit better, exercise a little better, and make you feel great!