Having a baby was a true miracle for you and transformed your life. It gave you the greatest gift you could ever have. It also transformed your body. You knew that your breasts and waistline would expand as your little one grew inside of you, preparing for a grand entrance to the world. Once you held your baby in your arms, you knew it was all worth it. Now you want to reclaim the body you used to have in your pre-mommy days. You have tried to tighten up your midsection and trim away the baby fat with diligent exercise and healthy eating. While you have shed the excess weight, your abdomen hasn't lived up to your expectations. You still have deposits of fat and loose muscle tone. There's excess skin as well, resulting from the way your skin was forced to stretch as your baby developed. You have stretch marks that are marring your skin as well. You think a tummy tuck may be the best solution for you, but you don't know if it will improve your stretch marks as well. You're looking at the big picture and want to make sure you will be happy with your results.

What Caused Your Stretch Marks in the First Place? 

When you were pregnant, the middle layer of your skin was pushed to the limit and beyond. This layer is known as the dermis and its responsible for helping your skin to maintain its shape. It also makes your skin elastic. Pregnancy causes the skin to stretch beyond its capacity to do so. The end result is scarring as fibers in your skin are broken. Every woman is unique. Your amount of scarring and how pronounced your scarring is will depend on your personal situation. If you are not happy with scarring, a tummy tuck can help you to deal with this issue while you are reclaiming your figure.

How Can a Tummy Tuck Improve Stretch Marks?

A tummy tuck is a solution for stretch marks below your belly button. When you have this surgical procedure, your surgeon will make an incision that runs from one hip to the other. This incision will be so low that it is near the pubic line so that your scar will be discreet and you still wear that bikini if you want to. Once the incision has been made, fat will be removed. Your muscles will be tightened through the use of sutures. Excess skin will be trimmed away, including skin with stretch marks beneath the area of your belly button. When your incision is closed, you will have a smooth, tight abdomen without stretch marks.

What About Stretch Marks that are Above Your Navel?

If you have stretch marks above the belly button region that were not addressed during your tummy tuck, you have several options. You can try a variety of creams that are available on the market to improve the appearance of your skin. Your doctor may be able to offer you a prescription variety as well. If you are still not satisfied with your results, you can choose laser removal. A laser light is applied to the surface of your skin where you have stretch marks. A fine layer of skin is removed by the laser light. Healthy, new skin will replace it. In the end, you can say goodbye to those pesky stretch marks.

What are the Advantages of Choosing a Tummy Tuck Over Other Solutions?

While a tummy tuck procedure is involved, it will give you the most comprehensive results to target your abdomen. No matter how much you work out or how little you eat, you may still struggle with toning your body after pregnancy. It took nine months for your body to change. It won't go back to the way it was overnight. In some cases, your own efforts may not be effective enough in helping you to feel good about yourself. If you have not been able to shape your body the way you want, a tummy tuck can transform your body.

You Can Have Your Baby and Your Pre-Baby Body Too

Choosing a tummy tuck allows you to have a comprehensive procedure that will address the typical problem spots that many women struggle with after pregnancy. There is no shame in needing some extra help to get your body on track. You have brought your gift into the world. It's time to give yourself a present. With a tummy tuck, you will be able to trim your tummy down to size again. You can also take care of those stretch marks that stand out on your skin. If you don't want them as a reminder of your battle scars, place yourself in the hands of your capable surgeon.

Take Your Surgeon's Advice

In the end, you will find out about the best approach to resolve stretch marks when you talk to your plastic surgeon. Your surgeon will be able to look at your body and discuss the goals that you have in mind to improve your appearance. Be honest about your expectations so that you can find out if they are realistic. Learn about the process that is involved in a tummy tuck, what will happen to your stretch marks, and what you can expect when all is said and done. 

At Rucker MD Plastic Surgery Clinic in Wisconsin, you'll reap the benefits of dealing with Dr. Joseph Rucker, a board-certified plastic surgeon specializing in tummy tuck. Dr. Rucker will evaluate your abdomen and talk to you about the best solutions for your problems. When you work together, you can find the best path to take to improve your stretch marks and your tummy. Visit www.ruckermd.com to learn more about him, his practice, and your options.