It's no secret most people hate the mere thought of exercising and dieting. Most will give up long before seeing any measurable results. Those with above average will power are among the few that will be successful in losing weight. However, once the desired weight has come off, the journey is far from over. Most skin loses it's elasticity and it's ability to "snap back". This is due to the loss of a considerable amount of fat, which leaves behind loose skin. Those visions of looking like a swimsuit model quickly disappear when most realize they may instead look like thin people in baggy clothing. Fortunately, you can get that tight, youthful-looking skin with a tummy tuck operation.

A tummy tuck is a surgical procedure whereby the existing skin is cut out and the remaining skin is stretched out over the area to be tightened. The tummy tuck is then complete once the skin is sewn back on.

If you're thinking of getting a tummy tuck, there are certain criteria which must be met. Your overall health must be good. You shouldn't undergo a tummy tuck if you are currently suffering from any kind of illnesses or if you have a serious pre-existing medical condition. You should also expect realistic results after your tummy tuck. Although outstanding results can be achieved, you may not look quite the same as the model in the swimsuit catalog whose skin was never stretched to begin with. With that in mind, a tummy tuck will virtually eliminate all the loose skin that used to stretch during the times you were larger, and you may in fact look and feel quite attractive in that swimsuit.

While these factors may be an important consideration prior to surgery, you may want to give equal consideration to certain factors after the surgery has taken place. Don't expect to be able to just walk out of the hospital and go to a photo shoot. Recovery time after a tummy tuck can be weeks to months, even though most should be able to resume normal activities within a few weeks. Patience is extremely important. Post-pregnant women often undergo a tummy tuck to get rid of the stretched skin resulting from pregnancy. Before doing so, be absolutely sure that you are done with having children. If you were to become pregnant after a tummy tuck, you will undo everything done from surgery, plus risk additional damage from the surgically operated area.

If you're too impatient and want immediate results, you might find yourself extremely stressed during recovery. This may not be in your best interest, as stress hinders full recovery and will only prolong the time required. If you have pre-existing mental or emotional conditions, you may want to think twice about undergoing surgery. The effects of the recovery and the anesthesia can exacerbate emotional problems and will also hinder recovery.

The above is just a sampling of some considerations to be aware of prior to undergoing a tummy tuck operation. Please be sure to check the wealth of additional resources available to you to get the complete picture.

Author Bio
Hanif Khaki is the acclaimed author of numerous health related articles and the founder of the popular Tummy Tuck resource site www.tummy-tucks.expert-health.com