Question:
Any post ops (one year+) avoid a tummy tuck with exercise?

My 21 year old daughter is doing The Firm and when I visited her, I could tell how much she had firmed/toned up by doing The Firm exercise videos. Just wondering if anyone on this site is doing these exercises and has toned up their belly enough to avoid having surgery? Or is the "apron" always going to be there? I'm happy with my body at 13 months post op, all except my belly. I would rather exercise it off than have surgery. And by the way, I do exercise regularly and feel great, but my stomach isn't budging..........Help!    — Annie H. (posted on November 21, 2002)

November 21, 2002
It is possible to do alot of firming with the appropriate exercise. However, when a person has carried around an excessive amount of weight for a prolonged period of time you can never fully regain skin tone and elasticity. Once skin has stretch marks (and sometimes even when it doesn't) you've lost the integrity of the skin and the only way to correct it is with plastic surgery. I'd say work hard at toning to achieve maximum results but just be aware that if you already have an apron the chances of eliminating it completely through exercise is almost nil. The TT isn't so bad - I had one and LOVE the results. Best wishes to you!
   — ronascott

November 21, 2002
One of my first questions to the surgeon is going to be if I can do ab exercises like anyone else with the surgery. I know a woman who once was over 250 lbs and is now a body builder. She never had a tt and has washboard abs now. I'm hoping that I can do it without the tt as well. I just hope you can do the work necessary if you've had this surgery.
   — susanje