Tummy tucks can remove loose, saggy skin and create a firm, flat midsection. It’s a great way to get rid of that stubborn “belly pooch” that exercise and diet won’t fix. But I often hear the same worried question from my tummy tuck patients here in Louisville, KY: “What happens with weight gain after a tummy tuck?”
A tummy tuck can tone the body and support your abdominal muscles, but it isn’t an instant, permanent fix. By understanding a tummy tuck’s relationship to weight gain and learning how to make healthy decisions, you can maintain your beautiful results for as long as possible.
How a Tummy Tuck Works
Tummy tuck surgery begins with your doctor making a hip-to-hip incision. Through this incision, they can remove excess fatty tissue and tighten weakened abdominal muscles. This process helps tone the midsection and creates a flatter, more contoured silhouette. Other procedures, such as liposuction, are commonly combined with the procedure.
Patients can return to work 2 weeks after surgery. The results are safe and long-lasting, although significant body changes can potentially re-stretch the skin.
Weight Gain After a Tummy Tuck
Although tummy tuck surgery is a body contouring procedure, it is important to remember that it’s not a replacement for weight loss. A tummy tuck is used to fix stomach bulges and loose skin that exercise and diet alone can’t solve. While the surgery can remove fatty tissue and excess skin, these results should be paired with an overall healthy lifestyle.
Excessive weight gain can cause the skin and abdominal muscles to stretch and reposition. If your body shape changes dramatically after surgery, your results may be compromised. Be sure to be at a stable, healthy weight before considering coming in for a tummy tuck.
How to Achieve and Maintain Your Best Results
- Eat healthily: Remaining at a steady weight will help maintain your surgery results. Eat a balanced diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables in order to stay at a stable body shape.
- Exercise regularly: In addition to helping with weight loss, regular exercise tones and strengthens your muscles. Having stronger abdominals can give your core the support it needs.
- Finish having children: A tummy tuck won’t negatively affect a future pregnancy. However, your surgery results may be modified as the body stretches to accommodate the baby. Wait to have tummy tuck surgery until you are finished growing your family.
Tummy tuck surgery can create transformational results that truly change your body shape. But it’s important to make good lifestyle choices, both before and after surgery, to keep your beautiful results for as long as possible.
Browse our tummy tuck before-and-after pictures to see real patient examples. If you have any other questions about body contouring or weight loss surgery, request a consultation online or by calling (502) 899-9979.
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