The Tummy Tuck (a.k.a. abdominoplasty) is one of the nation’s most popular cosmetic surgery procedures for a reason. By targeting excess skin and fat, it produces a flatter and more flattering mid-section.
People who are considering Tummy Tucks wonder what they can do to make their procedure as effective as possible. What makes somebody a good candidate, and more specifically, how much should they weigh?
Tummy Tucks do take some weight off, however this is limited to about ten pounds or less. For the best results possible, a patient should not consider abdominoplasty to be a weight-loss method, rather a way to eliminate excess skin.
Diet and exercise are always the best ways to lose weight for good, and we’ve written a few posts detailing strategies to shed pounds before and after your procedure. Those strategies generally boil down to making a plan and sticking to it, ideally by creating a support network for yourself.
Even with diet and exercise, dramatic weight loss of any kind (including post-pregnancy) leaves us with saggy, hanging skin. By cutting off the excess skin that hangs from the abdomen, and closing her incisions along one line that can be easily hidden below underwear or a swimsuit, Dr. Wooten is able to contour a patient’s body into a slimmer, tighter-appearing physique. Many who choose to undergo the Tummy Tuck procedure may also have loose stomach muscles as a result of multiple pregnancies or any other reason. These patients may have protruding stomachs due to muscle looseness – not fat. In surgery, Dr. Wooten can correct for this by surgically tightening the abdominal muscles. This results in a longer recovery period, but can greatly enhance patient satisfaction.
Even more good news: tummy tucks have been shown to lead to lasting weight loss after the procedure as well. According to a study in the February issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, the official medical journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, a cohort of tummy tuck patients showed lasting weight loss as much as a year after their procedure.
The researchers found that Tummy Tucks may be related to “increased satiety,” or the feeling of being full after eating. Patients often felt more full after eating less than they did before the surgery, which led to less overeating, and in turn, weight loss.
So while tummy tucks should not be considered weight loss procedures, they can help you shed pounds in the long run. This effect, combined with the tightening and toning of your midsection, could lead to the stomach you’ve always wanted. And it’s a result that could last for years to come.