Despite endless workout regimens and diet programs, it can often be difficult to drop weight, slim down, and tone up. Not to mention, after losing weight, many people are still not happy with their figure, especially if they struggle with excess skin and toning their abdomen. This sometimes prompts people to search for alternative solutions, like a tummy tuck, that’ll help them look and feel slimmer.
A tummy tuck, also known as an abdominoplasty, is one of the most popular plastic surgery procedures for individuals looking to achieve a tighter, more contoured figure, but many have concerns about what will happen to their results if they lose or gain weight. And rightfully so, as this procedure requires a significant investment – both in terms of time and money.
If you have questions about what will happen to your tummy tuck results if you gain or lose weight after the procedure, Dr. Sanders is here with answers, as well as helpful advice on what you can do to maintain your beautiful figure after a tummy tuck.
What is a Tummy Tuck?
An abdominoplasty, better known as a tummy tuck, is a unique plastic surgery procedure designed to help reshape and slim down the abdominal region and flanks.
While there are several different types of tummy tucks, the procedure generally involves tightening and repairing the abdominal wall muscles, eliminating unwanted fat, and removing excess skin to seamlessly slim down and contour an individual’s figure.
Gaining Weight After a Tummy Tuck
Though the results of a tummy tuck are natural-looking and long-lasting, they can be compromised with weight gain. As mentioned above, when undergoing a tummy tuck, your plastic surgeon removes excess skin and fat from the abdominal area. They may also tighten the abdominal muscles if necessary by pulling them together and stitching them into position for a more tight and toned appearance.
If you gain a large amount of weight after a tummy tuck, the abdominal skin will stretch out, and the underlying muscles may become separated again, detracting from the results you may have achieved with the procedure.
It is also worth considering that, since you have previously had a contouring procedure, you may not gain weight the same way you used to. For instance, your body might distribute more fat on the upper body, such as the chest, arms, shoulders, and neck, rather than in the abdominal area.
Furthermore, it is highly possible that you may see an increase in stretch marks. If rapid weight gain is experienced after a tummy tuck, the elastic fibers in your skin suffer from extreme wear and tear, which contributes to the development of stretch marks.
Weight Loss After a Tummy Tuck
While it may sound as though continuing to lose weight after a tummy tuck is a good idea, this may jeopardize the remarkable results of your procedure. However, this is unique to each individual, as genetics plays a large role in how your body accommodates extra fat and skin.
For example, if someone who has had a tummy tuck loses ten, twenty, or even thirty pounds after their procedure, their skin may shrink nicely enough to maintain their tummy tuck results. If this same situation happens to another individual, they may experience a recurrence of loose, sagging skin, altering their tight and contoured figure.
Ultimately, how weight loss affects a patient’s tummy tuck results heavily depends on the quality of their skin in the abdominal area and how their body accommodates the reduced weight.
To optimally maintain beautiful tummy tuck results, Dr. Sanders recommends that individuals interested in undergoing this procedure get as close to their desired and realistic weight goal as possible beforehand.
This is because a tummy tuck is not meant to be a weight loss method. Instead, it is a way for individuals who struggle with excess skin and weak abdominal muscles after having a baby or losing a significant amount of weight to achieve a more contoured, hourglass figure.
How to Maintain Your Tummy Tuck Results
After your tummy tuck, you will likely be incredibly pleased with the results. With a tighter, more contoured abdomen and midsection, you are going to feel more confident and self-assured in your everyday life.
However, while you may be overjoyed with your tummy tuck results shortly after the procedure, it is important to take the necessary steps in the months and years afterward to maintain your new figure.
Here are Dr. Sanders’s top tips on how to maintain your tummy tuck results.
- Exercise regularly. While you will need to avoid any vigorous or strenuous exercises in the couple of months following your procedure, regular exercise is an important part of maintaining your results. Dr. Sanders recommends finding an activity that not only raises your heart rate and works up a sweat, but one that you also enjoy.
- Plan your pregnancy. If you are planning on having children, it is best to do so before you have tummy tuck surgery. As mentioned above, significant weight gain after a tummy tuck can often undo any of the procedure results, which is not ideal for many patients.
- Visit an experienced, board-certified plastic surgeon. If you want to look and feel slimmer and more confident with a tummy tuck, it is best to visit an experienced plastic surgeon. Additionally, a board-certified plastic surgeon with years of experience can provide you with a personalized aftercare plan to help you maintain your tummy tuck results.
