I have read the entire thread as well and found it to be very interesting to say the least.
It's great to read and hear others opinions, however I truly admire experience. We have some vets on here who post great information for all of us.
I'm 37, 130lbs 5'5 and have been into a healthy lifestyle since I was 18. I weight train, run, bike and play sports like no tomorrow.
I work hard to maintain my level of fitness and enjoy the added benifits of looking and feeling good.
I have two children who I adore and through pregnancy I gained weight and have lost it both times in a short amount of time because of what I have out into it both pre and post baby.
I did however have some scaring and stretch marks just below the belly button in which I did not welcome.
There was nothing I could have done to loose some loose stretched skin which I devolped through being pregnant.
There is no diet, no pill, not anything that I ever heard could help put me even close to where I was when it came to my abdominal area looking tight and strong. I had excellant mucsle underneath. My body was in great shape, however that loose area below had me thinking.
I ended up doing my homework, then I made the decision to have surgery. Best decision ever on my part. I never done it to loose wieght, I done it to remove a small amount of loose stretched skin.
I had the best medical team, I done exactly what was asked and the result was what I had visioned. The scar was minimal and it was below the bikini line.
Abdominoplasty Surgery is no walk in the park in the recovery stage. Muscles hurt when you play with them but they heal if you take good care of them like anything else.
Its been a year an a half since I had surgery and I'm right back to where I left off at. It didn't take me long to get back in shape because I was determined and motivated to get back in the gym.
Cheers,