Medically reviewed by Dr. Omar Tillo MD, MS, EBOPRAS, FRCS (Plast) Abdominoplasty, commonly known as a tummy tuck, is a surgical procedure that aims to flatten the stomach area by removing excess skin and fat and may include tightening the abdominal muscles. However, many people are confused about how weight loss can affect their tummy tuck results.
In this article, we will discuss whether you can lose weight after tummy tuck and how to get the most out of your newly contoured tummy.
Can You Lose Weight After Tummy Tuck?
It is important to note that a tummy tuck is not a weight loss surgery, so you may still want to lose weight after. You may be wary of if you can still lose weight after the procedure, and the simple answer is yes. However, there may be some factors contributing to how much weight you can lose post-abdominoplasty.
Excess Skin
One of the key components of a tummy tuck is the removal of excess skin. Loose skin can be natural to aging, as well as an after-effect of pregnancy and extreme weight loss. Whilst the removal of this can result in some loss of body mass, a tummy tuck is not a weight loss solution.
In fact, removing excess skin can make it easier for patients to shed pounds and contour their bodies post-surgery. Exercise will generally be easier without the obstacle of heavy excess skin, allowing for higher impact and more vigorous routines.
Excess Abdominal Fat
Even after abdominoplasty, patients may still be left with excess abdominal fat. During the procedure, only a couple of pounds of excess fat is removed to aid the tightening of the skin.
Patients who undergo tummy tuck with a higher BMI will be left with abdominal fat that can be excised with a complementary procedure such as liposuction. This combination is referred to as lipoabdominoplasty, and combines excess fat removal with a tummy tuck, resulting in an even flatter and more toned stomach post-surgery.
What Happens to Tummy Tuck Results if You Lose Weight
Losing 5-10kg after a tummy tuck will not drastically affect your results. In fact, it may help the skin shrink comfortably around the abdominal area and enhance your new contours.
However, losing more than this may result in loose and excess skin again after the surgery. This can affect the longevity of your abdominoplasty. Some patients may require another tummy tuck procedure and skin-tightening treatment to restore their results.
Sustained Weight Loss After Tummy Tuck
Many patients find that they are able to engage in a more active lifestyle after excess skin has been removed from the abdomen. This may be because they feel more confident in form-fitting clothing or that they no longer suffer discomfort from skin folds chafing during exercise.
As a result, many patients report sustained weight loss after their procedure.
How to Lose Weight After a Tummy Tuck
Diet
Maintaining a healthy diet after a tummy tuck is essential for achieving optimal results from your surgery. You should continue eating the recommended amount of proteins and vegetables, as well as leafy greens, to avoid inflammation whilst avoiding dangerous crash diets.
Furthermore, seeking help from a nutritionist can be ideal for finding the best diet for your specific dietary needs.
Exercise
Patients should avoid trying to achieve drastic weight-loss results with high-impact exercise, especially right after the surgery, to ensure the best recovery. Instead, engaging in consistent, low-impact exercise is a stable and reliable way to keep the unwanted pounds off. When you are further into your tummy tuck recovery, you can resume higher-impact exercise and weight training to build your strength.
Is a Tummy Tuck Worth It?
If you are at your ideal body weight, a tummy tuck can be a life-changing surgery.
A tummy tuck can be worth it if you have struggled with loose excess skin that compromises functional and aesthetic comfort.
More so, the surgery also has significant medical benefits if combined with muscle repair, which can be a solution for patients struggling with their physical health due to excess skin in the abdominal area.
Schedule a Consultation with CREO Clinic Today
Dr. Omar Tillo, Medical Director at the CREO Clinic, is a body contouring specialist with significant experience designing and conducting bespoke tummy tuck treatments.
Schedule a consultation with CREO Clinic today, or request a callback and get on track to your tauter tummy.