Long-term Results of Tummy Tuck?

asked 2 years ago by imfrombuckeyest in Cincinnati
Latest answer by Victor Manuel Perez, MD
Question viewed 758 times
Tags: abdomen, results

What are the results of a tummy tuck after 10 years of "real living"? I've been on some different message boards to only hear horror stories of patients having upper abdominal protrusion. What is the reason for this? Do you need to have an unrealistic diet to maintain the results of a tummy tuck? PLEASE help us all who are looking for real answers. Thank you.

9 answers to Long-term Results of Tummy Tuck?

Tummy Tuck Long-Term Results

The foundation of a full tummy tuck (Abdominoplasty) is a well-performed muscle repair. Consider for a second the amount of stretch each pregnancy puts on the average woman and ask yourself how could such a stretch rebound to a pre-pregnancy body. The truth - it does not. Women become more skillful at "sucking it in" but the muscles remain loose until they are tightened surgically. The reason some women have an "upper abdominal protrusion" is that instead of having a... more

Peter A. Aldea, MD
Memphis Plastic Surgeon

Long term results from tummy tuck

A well planned abdominoplasty will last for a long time, again a normal diet is needed, if the patient gains excessive weight, fat will grow in the body, including the fat left in the abdomen.

Victor Manuel Perez, MD
Kansas City Plastic Surgeon

A well-done tummy tuck should provide a long term improvement

Hi there- The only instances in which I have personal knowledge of a patient developing an upper abdominal bulge after a tummy tuck we cases in which the patient ruptured the muscle repair (thankfully, this has not happened in my own patients), or if the patient had a "mini" tummy tuck. As long as you follow your surgeon's postoperative instructions very carefully and maintain a healthy lifestyle after surgery, there is no reason to think that you should end up at any point less... more

Armando Soto, MD
Orlando Plastic Surgeon

www.DrArmandoSoto.com

Long term result after tummy tuck

A well performed tummy tuck can last decades as long as there was no drastic weight changes. The upper abdominal protrusion can be due to improper technique with failure to tighten (imbricate) the upper fascia layer high enough just below the breast bone, or due to rupture of those permanent sutures causing a recurrent bulge (diastasis). It can also be due to residual fatty tissue that should have been liposuctioned at the same time. It is difficult to tell without physical examination, but... more

Antoine A. Hallak, MD
San Diego Plastic Surgeon

Tummy Tuck results should be permanent

The long term results of tummy tuck depend somewhat on what procedure is done and on what you as the patient bring to the table. Every body is different, some have strong, resilient tissues and some are made of softer stuff. In general though, if you maintain a healthy active lifestyle and a good body weight, and do not have another pregnancy, you should never stretch out to the position you were in prior to the tummy tuck. But remember, surgery does not cast you in cement, the aging... more

Elizabeth Lee, MD
Bay Area Plastic Surgeon

artfulsurgery.com

Tummy tuck is a long term solution to a lax abdomen

There are some cosmetic procedures which address aging, which is a progression through life, and may need repeating. Tummy tuck however is a long term solution to abdominal laxity from weight loss and gain, or pregnancy. For those who maintain a healthy weight and have no further pregnancies, tummy tuck is a permanent repair which will not suffer over time. 'Real living' should not ruin your tummy tuck result. To avoid horror stories, stick with an experienced surgeon in your area certified... more

Peter E. Johnson, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Tummy Tuck results are long lasting

Tummy tuck, unlike breast and face lift, generally gives patients a long-term correction of excess skin and muscle laxity. Gravity and the natural aging process does not seem to detract from tummy tuck, compared to other procdures. But like ANY plastic surgery, tummy tuck is NOT a good substitute for weight loss, and your long term results will not be the best if you gain too much weight. Upper abdominal fullness that happens after TT has several causes, but excess fat from weight gain... more

John LoMonaco, MD
Houston Plastic Surgeon

www.DrLoMonaco.com

Tummy tuck results with time

As with any cosmetic surgery, you just need to be reasonable after surgery to maintain your results. You definitely do not need to starve yourself after surgery, and no surgeon on this message board would advocate that. We recommend eating right and exercising regularly. If you gain a large amount of weight after surgery, then the results of surgery will be lost. Upper muscle bulging should not occur with a regular tummy tuck unless the sutures used during surgery break. This is... more

Nina S. Naidu, MD
New York Plastic Surgeon

Longevity of Tummy Tuck

A well-performed tummy tuck should last a long time. This assumes that you maintain a reasonably healthy life style. You need not adhere to an unrealistic diet, but a significant weight gain will certainly undo some of the benefits which you would normally receive with your tummy tuck.