Can you lose weight after a tummy tuck?

Ideal weight for Tummy Tuck

In a perfect world, it is best to be at your ideal weight for any cosmetic abdominal surgery.

However, in my experience, 10 pounds is not going to make a huge difference in your result.

If your abdominal skin has little fat under it and can be moved easily, a 10 pound weight loss will not make a huge difference.

I think it is more important not to gain weight AFTER your surgery! (Michael A. Jazayeri, MD, Santa Ana Plastic Surgeon)

Putting off a Tummy Tuck to Lose 10 pounds

Can you lose weight after a tummy tuck question

Obviously, as Plastic surgeons we would love it if all our patients were at ideal weight. Realistically speaking, while this MAY be true in certain American zip codes, that is far from the average case in most Plastic surgeons’ offices.

Personally, if you think you can realistically lose 10 pounds AND keep it off – by all means do it. However, the vast majority of people cannot do it.

On the other hand, they DO get a major psychological boost from their new tighter figures and have an easier time reaching ideal weight AFTER a tummy tuck. If your tummy was stretched out by any process (Obesity, Pregnancy etc) your abdominal muscles were permanently stretched and you have a muscle separation – diastasis of variable size. The only way to fix it properly is with a muscle repair. To read everything you need to know on TUMMY TUCK surgery, follow the informative link below (Peter A. Aldea, MD, Memphis Plastic Surgeon)

Weight loss and surgery

Can you lose weight after a tummy tuck after 1 year

Ideally, you should be at the weight you plan to maintain at the time of your surgery. I say ideally because this may not be the practical reality of your situation. We all tend to fluctuate within a 5 lb range and I do not feel 10 lbs is enough weight to cause a significant loss of cosmetic benefit. 20 lbs is a different story. You still have 4 weeks to modify your diet and exercise. You must maintain appropriate nutrition during this time so that you heal well after the surgery. I personally would not delay your surgery but would encourage you to have this discussion with your surgeon. (Robert W. Kessler, MD, FACS, Corona Del Mar Plastic Surgeon)

Weight loss and tummy tuck

Can you lose weight after a tummy tuck operation

I would suggest waiting until you have lost the weight. Your results will be better. Muscle tightening is performed to address rectus diastasis, which is separation of the rectus muscles (six-pack muscles). This usually occurs after pregnancy, particularly after the second child. I have yet to see a tummy tuck patient who did not need this during surgery. (Nina S. Naidu, MD, FACS, New York Plastic Surgeon)

Try to achieve an optimal weight prior to tummy tuck surgery

If you think that additional weight loss is possible prior to your tummy tuck procedure, then go for it! As long as you are losing weight via healthy diet and consistent exercise, your condition and wound healing ability will be improved prior to surgery. During a tummy tuck, your surgeon will assess the degree of laxity that you have along your abdominal wall. If there is laxity (its usually evident on pre-op examination) then this laxity will be repaired using special suturing techniques.

Can you lose weight after a tummy tuck surgery

Fascial tightening during tummy tuck is one of the reasons why the procedure is such a powerful ‘rejuvenator’ of the abdominal wall. It can achieve far more than liposuction or so called ‘mini tummy tucks‘ which remove skin only. (Scott C. Sattler, MD, FACS, Seattle Plastic Surgeon)

Tummy tuck and weight loss

Usually a 10 lb. weight loss will not affect the result of a tummy tuck. If your muscles are separated from pregnancy, a muscle tightening is usually performed. However if they have not splayed out, they may not require tightening. (Ricardo Izquierdo, MD, Oak Brook Plastic Surgeon)

Muscle repair and body weight with tummy tuck surgery

Can you lose weight after a tummy tuck procedure

Generally muscle tightening is performed when the muscles are separated by pregnancy or the consequence of congenital development and is called a rectus abdominis diastasis. It can be present in males as well. It is typically repaired when present and usually only after completion of child birth.

Although it is preferred that you be at your stable body weight prior to surgery, losing 10 pounds should not dramatically effect the outcome of the surgery. (Otto Joseph Placik, MD, Chicago Plastic Surgeon)