How much weight would I be likely to lose after a tummy tuck?

The real issue is not what the scale says after surgery, but how you will look and feel. Most tummy tucks remove only a few pounds of skin and fat, rarely up to 6-8 pounds with heavier patients. However, the shape or contour of the abdomen is usually improved so dramatically that patients may LOOK like they've lost 20-30 pounds or more. The bottom line is that a tummy tuck is designed to improve your shape and appearance, and it's perhaps the most powerful surgical procedure we have to accomplish that, but is not designed as a weight loss tool. That being said, I do have many patients who have lost significant weight AFTER undergoing a tummy tuck, even though they had never been able to lose much weight previously despite years of diets. On my website, listed below, are some photos of such women, as described in the photo captions. They experienced a tremendous improvement in shape and appearance immediately from the surgery, then lost 60-80 pounds over the next year, producing a miraculous change that could not be obtained with surgery alone or with weight loss alone. Their skin remained tight, and they look half the size they were before. Eliminating hanging rolls of skin and fat can make exercise (running, aerobics, etc.) much easier. It also becomes easier to maintain a diet, since a 5-10 pound weight loss with dieting is more easily seen and appreciated by the patient, since it's not hidden by the hanging rolls of skin and fat.

The amount of weight removed varies from patient to patient depending on the amount if skin to be removed and the thickness of the fat layer.  Usually it is five pounds or less,  so don't expect to lose much weight from the procedure even though you will look like you lost more than just five pounds.

A tummy tuck abdominoplasty is done to remove excess skin from either prior pregnancy or significant weight loss. It may include some local fat reduction for contouring but not weight loss. The risk of complications from this type of surgery increases with a Body Mass Index (BMI) of greater than 30, so your best results and the safest approach is to do the weight loss first if you are in that category.

Tummy tuck should not be viewed as a weight loss procedure.  Most specimens removed weigh less than 5 pounds.  I
would search for the board certified plastic surgeon who you feel is
most likely to give you the best results and who performs hundreds of
these procedures each year. I would look at patient reviews as well as
before and after photos on that surgeon's website.Kenneth Hughes, MDLos Angeles, CA

The “weight loss” depends on how much skin and fat there is to remove.  Otherwise don’t expect the scale to go down dramatically as a tummy tuck is not a weight loss procedure but a body contouring one.

A tummy tuck is performed to tighten stretched out abdominal muscles, remove excess loose skin and tissue, and contour the abdomen shape. While the removed tissue may weigh 2-6 pounds, depending on your personal anatomy,  an abdominoplasty is not a weight loss procedure. That is accomplished with diet and exercise.The best long term cosmetic results with the least likelihood of potential
complications are achieved in patients who weigh within 10 pounds of their
ideal weight.I
would suggest you find a plastic surgeon with extensive body contouring surgery
experience who is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and
ideally a member of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS)
that you trust and are comfortable with. You should discuss your concerns
with that surgeon in person.

Robert Singer, MD FACS

La Jolla, California

Thank you for the question. Weight loss after tummy tuck surgery, depending on the specific patient's anatomy, typically ranges between 2 to 5 pounds. As you know, it is an  abdominal wall contouring (not a weight loss) procedure.  You may find the attached link, dedicated to tummy tuck surgery concerns, helpful to you as you learn more. Best wishes.

Without seeing a photo, and having an idea of height and weight, I would not want to guess. This is not a weight loss operation.  Unless you have a huge overhanging apron of skin, it would be unusual to lose more than five pounds of tissue. All the best. 

Hello,Technically, a tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) is a body contouring procedure and not intended for weight loss.  Since skin and fat are removed with a tummy tuck there is some amount of weight removed during a tummy tuck but it is often not that much.  The amount of weight removed depends on how much loose skin and fat are present for the tummy tuck.  I've done large extended tummy tuck procedures where 10-15 lbs have been removed but often it is really closer to 5 lbs for most patients.All the best,Dr. Remus Repta

Hi and thanks for the question. That's a difficult question to answer, especially without photos. The amount of weight patients loose really depends upon how they are built. In a very thin patient the issue is one of skin excess. Removing skin doesn't have much of an impact on weight. On the other hand, a patient who has a thick pad of fat on their abdomen might loose several pounds from the surgery. These patients typically have liposuction performed at the same time to the lower back, hips and flanks, and this can also contribute to some weight loss. In my opinion I think it's best to think of a tummy tuck as a body contouring surgery, not a weight loss surgery. The goal is to give you an improved shape. Schedule a consultation with a board certified plastic surgeon. You can use that time to share your goals, and learn about how the procedure can help you achieve those goals. Good luck.Dr J