Yes. Pregnancy or weight fluctuations often cause the central abdominal muscles to separate (a condition called diastasis recti), which no amount of dieting or core exercises can fix. During a full tummy tuck, we use permanent sutures to bring these muscles back together, creating an "internal corset" effect, which not only dramatically flattens the stomach and narrows the waistline but often significantly improves core strength and lower back pain.

During the first week, you will need to rest and walk slightly bent over to avoid pulling on your incisions. You will have drains in place for a few days to manage fluid. Most patients with desk jobs can return to work within 2 to 3 weeks. You will need to avoid heavy lifting (including picking up toddlers) and strenuous exercise for about 4 to 6 weeks, allowing your newly repaired core to heal securely.

It is perfectly safe to become pregnant after an abdominoplasty; it will not harm you or the baby. However, the subsequent pregnancy will stretch the abdominal skin and the repaired muscles all over again, which can compromise the beautiful aesthetic results we achieved. For this reason, we highly recommend waiting to have a tummy tuck until you are confident your family is complete.

Absolutely, and we almost always recommend it! A tummy tuck is designed to remove excess skin and repair muscle, but it doesn't always address stubborn fat pockets on the flanks (love handles) or hips. By combining abdominoplasty with liposuction, we can beautifully sculpt the entire waistline and contour the hips,delivering a much more comprehensive and hourglass-like result.