Tummy tuck doctors help patients who have done hundreds of crunches and planks and still can’t get rid of that sagging bulge above the beltline. Other popular candidates include new mothers and people who have undergone recent significant weight loss, both of whom have loose abdominal skin that exercise often can’t touch. Sound like the procedure for you? Here’s more information about what to expect:

• Before Your Surgery. Tummy tuck doctors provide their patients with a list of dos and don’ts prior to their surgery day. Common don’ts include no radical diets (just eat normal-sized, healthy meals) and no smoking for two weeks on either side of your procedure (smoking can drastically reduce your body’s ability to heal). Be sure to provide your surgeon with a complete list of meds you take, including vitamins and herbal supplements, so they can check for any possible complications.

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• During Your Surgery. Your job is pretty easy the day of your surgery: show up. You’ll be under a general anesthetic, so you’ll sleep peacefully through the whole procedure, which can take anywhere from one to five hours, depending on the extent of the work you’re having done. Since you’ll be completely under, you’ll want to make sure you have someone to drive you home from the hospital. In rare cases, more extensive procedures may require an overnight stay.

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• After Your Surgery. One of the questions tummy tuck doctors hear most often is, “Will there be much pain after my surgery?” The procedure is a common one, but it is still a fairly major surgery, one in which some skin is surgically removed and the remaining edges sewn together. There is bound to be a little swelling and pain. In the vast majority of cases, this pain is easily managed with proper positioning, ice packs, and pain medication prescribed by your doctor. You will be restricted from heavy lifting or strenuous physical activity for about six months. Bandage care and replacement is also important, but your doctor will tell you exactly what to do and what to be on the lookout for.

A tummy tuck is safe, efficient, and practical. Which is probably why the top tummy tuck surgeons all over the country report that tummy tucks produce the second highest patient satisfaction rate among all plastic surgery procedures (85%, second only to breast augmentations). If you’re interested in learning more, schedule a consultation with a surgeon for more tummy tuck information, and find out if a tummy tuck is right for you. More.