I am using smigrate.exe for this purpose successfully.

I was using Front Page... How can I obtain the tool?

smigrate.exe is on our portal server in C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\web server extensions\60\BIN. There's also instructions (and download link if you don't already have it) at www.microsoft.com/.../stsf12.mspx

using smigrate will not make any difference. FP 03 gives you the GUI to the
same utility smigrate.exe amd both creates the same file type (.FWP -
FrontPage Web Package)

If you have added/modified any binaries, assemblies or any server level
modifications, both options (FP GUI or Simgrate) will be useless.

I don;t know your environment and what exactly you want to achieve and
answer could vary depending upon the unknowns and what you have in your
site.

If you have added custom Web Parts and introduced binaries (assemblies etc)
use Web Part deployment tools to build WP Package (CAB) and deploy them by
STSADMN Add WP operation.
See documentation on MSDN for details.

Above will address your external dependency issues of your Web Project and
the next question is how to get the site  moved across dev  & prod.

If your site is a sub-site then only choice you have is SMIGRATE. Use
SMIGRATE or FP GUI to get your site moved. SMIGRATE does not carry over any
personalizatins, security and persmissions and after the move you will need
to do all the plumbing and wiring to make it work.

If your site is a top-level site you can use either SMIGRATE or STSADM
(backup/restore). STSADM backup/restore is full fidelity move that carryover
everything - including permissions, personalization, content, page logic,
navigation etc.