Having a baby changes everything. It can make you a more patient person. It can also give you a more nuanced, wondrous view of the world. Of course, having a baby also changes your body, especially the abdominal area. Some women choose to have tummy tuck surgery after pregnancy in order to bring their bodies closer to the way they used to be. But is this the right choice for you? Consider these pros and cons of having a tummy tuck after pregnancy.

Pro: A tummy tuck removes excess skin that's hard to get rid of otherwise

You could diet, work out, and do thousands of crunches a day, and you would probably still have loose skin on your abdominal area after giving birth. There are creams and lotions that promise to tighten loose skin, and they help a little, but the results are not typically as dramatic as you'd hope. A tummy tuck, on the other hand, directly removes this excess skin. You may still want to diet and exercise to tone your mid-section once you have recovered, but you'll actually be able to see the results since the excess skin is gone.

Con: The recovery can be a bit lengthy

A tummy tuck is a pretty major procedure, even as far as cosmetic surgery goes. You'll need to rest in bed for a week or two before slowly working your way back to your normal routine. You'll need to take pain relievers and sometimes antibiotics, which will generally mean you can't nurse your little one for a while. For this reason, it's often necessary to wean your baby before undergoing a tummy tuck.

Pro: The procedure is established and reliable

Tummy tuck procedures have changed and improved over the years, but the procedure itself is not new. It has stood the test of time, and surgeons have had a lot of time to perfect the nuances of the procedure. So, while tummy tucks do come with some risks, like any surgery, those risks are well known and can be carefully managed by doctors. 

Con: Results will go away if you get pregnant again

If you get pregnant again after having a tummy tuck, your skin will stretch out again, reversing any results you got from the tummy tuck. So, you need to be pretty sure you're not having any more babies before you get a tummy tuck.

Many women rely on tummy tucks to achieve the body they desire after pregnancy. If you have time to dedicate to recovery and don't plan on getting pregnant again, this may be the right approach for you.