If I lose weight after a tummy tuck, will I have more loose skin and need another tummy tuck?

Question

I'm wanting to get a tummy tuck this December and have been struggling to lose weight. I'm concerned if I can't get down to the weight I want to be at before the procedure, will losing weight after the procedure cause more loose skin?

Dallas Buchanan, MD · Answer

Thank you for this great question! This is something I am often discussing with patients during consultations. Patients who are working hard to lose weight and hit a plateau often think that they should just have surgery and then just lose the rest of the weight afterwards. This is flawed thinking because just as you stated, if you get great results after surgery and then continue to deflate the remaining skin with ongoing weight loss, the skin laxity will return to some degree and may compromise the previous results. It is always best to achieve a healthy goal weight prior to proceeding with surgery.Best of luck!

Austin Hayes, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question. It's a great question, and you are correct that you should be near your goal weight prior to undergoing a tummy tuck procedure. Losing weight after a tummy tuck, can cause excess skin to develop. This could leave you desiring a revision procedure.

Diana Breister-Ghosh, MD · Answer

?  I advise my patients that if they are planning to lose weight that they lose the weight before a tummy tuck.  After a large amount of weight loss, for example 20-40 pounds, the tissues can get lax and loose again and you have recurrent skin ptosis or hang.  Therefore, if the amount of weight you are planning to lose is 20-25 pounds or greater then I would recommend you lose the weight before embarking on the abdominoplasty.

Scot Martin, MD · Answer

Unfortunately, significant weight loss following your tummy tuck can negatively impact your results and may require a revision surgery to address additional loose or excess skin. Because a tummy tuck won’t address excess fat, you are going to get the best results if you wait until you’ve come as close as possible to your ideal weight. If you’re struggling to lose small pockets of exercise-resistant fat, however, liposuction combined with your tummy tuck could help to give you smooth results.

C. Bob Basu, MD, MPH, FACS · Answer

Dear crystalross74: You will get the best results if you are close to your goal/ideal weight. Losing a significant amount of weight after a tummy tuck could create laxity in your abdominal area. That said, to give you any meaningful advice and to determine if you are a good candidate requires more information and a physical exam.   Its best to visit with a board certified plastic surgeon to learn more about your options.  Best wishes,Dr. Basu - Houston,TX

Ralph M. Rosato, MD · Answer

Most  patients look better if they loose weight after tummy tuck. However if you lost a lot of weight it is possible that you will need more skin removed. If you are planning on loosing  weight do it before surgery.. The more fat you lose the better the abdominoplasty result.

Nick Masri, MD, FACS · Answer

Hello, crystalross74. As a rule, you have to reach a stable weight prior to your tummy tuck surgery. A BMI of 25 or less is a good number - that’s around 10-15 pounds of your ideal body weight. Most plastic surgeons will not accept tummy tuck patients who don’t fulfill the weight loss criteria.
If you lose a lot of weight after your tummy tuck surgery, you might get more loose skin. Pregnancy and weight loss should be done before the surgery, not after.
If you have more concerns, consult a board-certified and reputable plastic surgeon so that he can give you more personalized answers. You can schedule a free consultation with me anytime.
Good luck!

Tom J. Pousti, MD · Answer

Yes, significant weight loss after tummy tuck surgery can negatively affect your outcome.  Although there is no "magic number" I recommend my patients be within 10 pounds of their long-term stable weight prior to proceeding with body contouring or breast surgery.Generally speaking, the “ideal” patient for tummy tuck surgery is one who has completed pregnancies, is psycho socially/emotionally/financially stable, has an excellent social support system surrounding him/her, is capable of arranging enough recovery time, does not smoke and who has reached a long-term stable weight.  I hope this, and the attached link and video, help.

Ronald V. DeMars, MD (Retired) · Answer

Yes, that is always a consideration but the changes are of little consequence in the +/- 10-20 pounds the average person ranges through in their life. But for massive weight loss patient, the 75-200 pounds that we all see in this specific category of patient, the difference in abdominal aesthetics would be dramatic. And a large part of the answer to your question will depend on the elastic properties of your particular skin. For an answer tailored to you situation you will need to see your surgeon and discuss it.

If I lose weight after a tummy tuck, will I have more loose skin and need another tummy tuck?

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