How Much Weight Can You Lose With a Tummy Tuck?

Unwanted fat around the midsection can be difficult to deal with. For most people, the first option to reduce unwanted belly fat is with diet and exercise, but no amount of crunches or high fiber in your diet can get rid of some stubborn pockets of fat. Instead of being discouraged about the inability to achieve a smooth, flat tummy by yourself, it may be time to consider surgical options. At eSSe Plastic Surgery in Fort Lauderdale, FL we know that a tummy tuck can be helpful to reduce the size of your waistline.

How Much Weight Can You Lose With a Tummy Tuck?

To be clear, a tummy tuck is not a weight-loss procedure. Although you may be able to shed a few pounds of fat with this procedure, a true weight-loss procedure can help you reduce weight over time through different surgical techniques on the stomach itself, while a tummy tuck focuses mostly on reducing the overall size of your waist.

For most people, the removal of unwanted fat from around the abdomen can result in weight loss between five and 10 pounds depending on how much fat is removed. While five to 10 pounds sounds like a lot, it’s actually the equivalent of what some women store in water weight during a menstruation cycle. Even if losing these pounds because of this procedure helps you reach your goal weight, please remember that this procedure will not replace weight loss through diet and exercise.

What About Pant Size?

So, what does losing five to 10 pounds around the waist look like for your clothing? When you lose weight through diet and exercise, you tend to lose weight all over the body, so it may actually take the loss of 20 pounds or more to drop a pant size. However, because this procedure focuses on unwanted fat on the belly, you can usually expect to drop one to three pant sizes when you are fully recovered.

Naturally, the number of pants or clothing sizes you will downsize will depend on the type of clothing, the amount of fat removed with this procedure, and your other fitness goals. People who only remove a small amount of fat may only drop one pant size, while others who have this procedure and continue on their weight loss journey may drop several sizes.

What Will Your Results Be Like?

To a certain extent, your results depend on your body and how well you respond to the procedure. For most people, after the recovery period, the results of this treatment will be a flatter stomach for a smoother silhouette. Based on your body type and your goals for this procedure, your results can also include a smoother shape to your hips or a smaller waistline. But overall, this treatment focuses on your abdomen so the most noticeable results will be there.

How Soon Will You See the Results?

Like many other plastic surgery procedures, it may take some time for the results of your tummy tuck to be visible. You will need to complete your recovery period of six to eight weeks before your results will be noticeable. Your road to healing and seeing your results may be different than someone else’s, so you may be able to notice your results sooner. Closely following your aftercare instructions will ensure your results develop as desired.

How Long Will Results Last?

The results of this procedure should last for several years or even a lifetime if you can maintain your results. This is because fat cells that are removed during this treatment will not be able to grow back. However, your results are reliant on your actions after your recovery. If you gain a significant amount of weight or become pregnant, your results will be undone.

Best Ways To Maintain Your Results

So, if your results depend on your actions, what are the best ways you can maintain your desired results? First and foremost, you should focus on maintaining a healthy weight to prevent any fat gain in the abdomen. Eating a diet high in vitamins and fiber, exercising at least three hours a week, and staying hydrated are all key components of healthy weight management. Some other ways to maintain your results include:

Lifestyle Changes

If you’re the type of person who has scattered sleep patterns or easily becomes stressed, then these will eventually show on your waistline. Both sleep irregularity and high-stress lifestyles are associated with easier weight gain. Drinking high amounts of alcohol is also known to contribute to weight gain. Quitting smoking may also make it easier to manage your weight.

Medication Changes

Many medications, particularly antidepressants, make it much easier to gain weight. If you are on a medication that has a weight gain side effect, you may want to consider speaking with your doctor about alternative medications so you can more easily maintain your weight and your aesthetic goals.

Pregnancy Planning

Finally, the weight gain associated with pregnancy will undo the results of your procedure. During and after pregnancy, hormonal shifts can make it easier to gain weight around the midsection of the body. Additionally, pregnancy will stretch the abdominal muscles and the skin, which may be difficult to shrink back with regular exercise. It may be a good idea to wait until you’re done having children before you schedule this procedure.

Other Frequently Asked Questions

1. What Does This Procedure Do?

This procedure is typically performed with methods that are as minimally invasive as possible. A tummy tuck will focus on three areas of the abdomen, including unwanted fat, loose skin, and weak abdominal muscles. The surgical techniques used for this procedure will remove unwanted pockets of fat and tighten both loose skin and muscles to produce a flatter tummy shape.

Most of the time, this procedure will take several hours to complete. General anesthesia is used to sedate you during your procedure, so you will need to arrange for transportation after your treatment to get home. Some patients like to stay overnight at the hospital, but in general, most people go back home.

2. What Should You Do During Recovery?

During your recovery period, you will need to follow several aftercare instructions. For example, you will not be allowed to engage in strenuous activity for at least four to six weeks; light exercise, such as walking, is encouraged about two weeks after surgery you may also be required to wear a compression garment for most of the day for several weeks to encourage better results.

Because general anesthesia will slow down certain processes in your body, it may be a good idea to change your diet in the weeks during your recovery. Some patients will be recommended to take stool softeners for several days after using general anesthesia so the digestive tract isn’t backed up. You may have other specific recovery instructions, such as how soon you can go back to work based on your occupation.

3. Does the Timing Matter for This Procedure?

Depending on your goals, the timing of your procedure may matter. For example, if you are using this procedure to prepare for swimsuit season or a special event in your life, then you will want to schedule your procedure at least six months ahead of your event. This will ensure you have enough recovery time and that your results are fully settled in time.

4. Who Are Good Candidates?

Adults who are interested in removing unwanted fat around the abdomen, strengthening the abdominal muscles, and reducing loose skin on the stomach tend to be the best candidates for this procedure. To be eligible, you will need to be in good general health and within about 20 pounds of your target weight range. People who have a BMI less than 30 are usually the most ideal patients for this procedure.

A consultation is the best way to determine your eligibility for this procedure. During your consultation, we will gather relevant medical information, including your pregnancy status and any medications you may be taking, We will also discuss your aesthetic goals and reasonable expectations you should have for this procedure.

Get Rid of Those Final Pounds

A tummy tuck is a common body contouring procedure that helps you achieve a flatter stomach and a smaller waistline. With this procedure, you can expect to lose at least five to 10 pounds after your recovery. Contact us at eSSe Plastic Surgery in Fort Lauderdale, FL to schedule your consultation so you can get rid of those final unwanted pounds.