While abdominoplasty remains one of the most popular cosmetic procedures for both men and women, one of the primary concerns for many people is how their scar may look post-surgery. As such, many people ask if their tummy tuck scars will go away.

Fortunately, there are a few things you can do during your recovery process to help minimize the appearance of your post-tummy tuck scar.

The single most important tummy tuck recovery tip is to follow your plastic surgeon’s guidelines as closely as possible. Your plastic surgeon will likely send you home with a special compression garment to wear, along with special instructions about how long to avoid heavy lifting and strenuous exercise.

After childbirth, many women find that dieting and exercise just aren’t enough to get their bodies back to their pre-baby look. Sometimes, even when you try your hardest, the natural effects of childbirth can’t be reversed through lifestyle changes alone. When this is the case, many women opt for a mommy makeover, which can combine multiple procedures, including a tummy tuck, into one.

A tummy tuck is such an integral part of any mommy makeover, as the stomach is one of the areas that is most affected by pregnancy. Because your skin naturally stretches and your hips often store extra fat deposits during pregnancy, it can be difficult to get rid of excess skin and tummy weight once your little one is here.

The difference between a tummy tuck and a mini tummy tuck comes down to how much of the abdomen needs to be corrected:

• A regular tummy tuck addresses the entire abdominal area, removing any loose skin both above and below the navel, and will repair abdominal muscles that may have become separated or weakened.
• A mini tummy tuck focuses on the portion of the stomach from the belly button downward, tightening loose skin of the lower abdomen. Men and women with loose skin only on their low abdomen may be candidates for a mini tummy tuck.

The reality is that the majority of people benefit from a full abdominoplasty,