If you’ve been preparing for tummy tuck surgery, your plastic surgeon has probably already educated you on the basics to ensure a safe, speedy recovery. No smoking, no intense workouts, and plenty of healthy, whole foods that can provide your body the nourishment it needs to recover in the healthiest way possible.

Exercising regularly and practicing good nutrition are often considered the best ways to lose weight and tighten loose skin naturally. Doing strength-training exercises can help tone and tighten certain problem areas, while eating nutrient-dense foods can help stave off weight gain and inflammation. But when these healthy lifestyle practices fail to work, you might be facing excess sagging skin.

The weeks that follow the birth of your child are often one of the most happy and exciting (though tiring!) times for you and your family. As you devote time to caring for and getting to know your newborn, your body is most likely easing itself into its new, slimmer post-baby self.