As rewarding as motherhood is, there’s no denying that pregnancy and childbirth can take a toll on your body. No matter how many targeted exercises you try or weight you lose, a stubborn potbelly often remains. For many women, a tummy tuck combined with liposuction can finally offer a solution.

Understanding Pregnancy Changes

Your body undergoes a variety of changes very quickly during pregnancy. Extra weight is stored throughout the body to make sure you have enough energy stockpiled to see you through your pregnancy. Many of the changes seen in the body during pregnancy will gradually return to normal as time passes and making an extra effort to eat right and exercise after your baby is born can help shed any remaining excess pregnancy pounds. Yet for some women, plastic surgery may be needed to repair permanent muscle separation and laxity.

A Combination Approach

There are two approaches to toning and sculpting the abdominal area: liposuction and tummy tuck. Although both can improve the lines of your abdomen, they work in very different ways. Liposuction involves making a few tiny incisions near the belly, through which a surgical tube is inserted and excess fat cells are removed. A tummy tuck surgically repairs separated muscles by stitching them back in place, while removing excess skin and tissue for a smoother, firmer look. Since both of these procedures address different skin and muscle issues, using them together can give you the flat and sculpted stomach you desire.