Is it safe for a 73 year old woman to have a tummy tuck?

The short answer is yes if your mother is in other wise good health.  However, it is true that abdominoplasty has a more challenging recovery than most elective surgeries, and with age, even in someone in excellent health, it takes longer to regain your energy with age.I am a little more selective in my patient choice: I would not recommend surgery in somebody who is very over weight or with a fairly sedentary lifestyle, and would be less likely to consider it together with other procedures..  That being said, the procedure can still be very rewarding, and done properly with low risk.

Yes, if you are healthy and a good candidate for the procedure go for it. I have done patients who are older than you without any problem.

 The most important factor determining whether abdominoplasty is a safe procedures is the patient's underlying health conditions and general state of fitness.  The second most important item is making sure the procedure is performed by a board-certified physician in a location that has qualified anesthesiologist or nurse anesthetist to administer anesthesia.  You want to make sure that your physician has a good reputation and that the facility is certified by the appropriate organizations.   Many of the horror stories that you hear about plastic surgery are a result of surgery being performed by unqualified individuals in a less than ideal facility.