What is the average weight loss after a mommy makeover?

Question

I'm getting a tummy tuck, breast reduction and lipo on my back and waist . What is the average weight loss after the swelling has gone down?

Jed H. Horowitz, MD, FACS · Answer

Considering the fact that the mommy makeover is more for reshaping of the body than weight loss, there cannot be a great deal of weight loss expected after the surgery. You would be best to get as close as possible to your goal weight and then visit a local certified surgeon for consultation on which procedures will best meet your desired results. The mommy makeover is a
combination of procedures to bring a woman’s body back to the way she looked
prior to pregnancy. Most commonly some variation of a #TummyTuck and
#BeastSurgery are performed. Additional procedures can include liposuction,
umbilical hernia repair.  The most common
#breastprocedures include #mastopexy or #breastlift, #breastaugmentation,
#breastreduction.

Elisa A. Burgess, MD · Answer

Abdominal and breast tissue with some body liposuction will not dramatically reduce your weight on the scale after the swelling has gone down.  It turns out that fatty tissue doesn't weigh very much.  (Bone and muscle weigh more but are not removed during this surgery.) In fact, right after surgery, some of my patients may weigh more with the water retention. We typically tell patients to ignore the scale right after surgery.  Long term it is best to be healthy and active but not focus on the scale.  Most patients will feel better in their clothing but may not go down in size after a surgery like this. It is nice for my patients to imagine how lovely this will be long term.Best to you.

Dallas Buchanan, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question. This is a very common question that people have with body contouring surgery. They have the impression that changing the contour of the body and removing skin and fat will lead to dramatic weight loss and unfortunately it does not. None of these procedures are weight loss surgery, they are contouring surgery. Many of my patients, after they see the dramatic change in shape and contour, are amazed to find out that we removed less than 5 pounds of tissue. Furthermore, after reviewing your posting history, let me make another suggestion that you may or may not want to hear. I would seriously think about avoiding medical tourism. There are plenty of qualified, board-certified plastic surgeons in the Portland area that you could see for a consultation and possible surgery. Please see the link I have provided for people in your area that are board certified. All you need to do is look around this website to find story after story of people who have traveled for surgery, both domestic and abroad, and then come back and have problems one way or another and then get into trouble. When they have something as simple as a question or something as serious as a complication, they have no way to contact their surgeon and no on to see them to evaluate their problem. And they often cannot afford to travel again. In the long run, you will be much better served by staying close to home. I know sometimes the cost savings can seem like a great deal, but this is serious surgery and something you should not bargain shop for. Just my two cents.....Good luck and above all.......be safe!

Austin Hayes, MD · Answer

That is a common question. Weight loss after body contouring surgery, such as tummy tuck or breast lift/reduction, is actually not that much. People may lose less than 5-10 pounds. Although the weight loss is minimal, the change in the appearance of the body is still dramatic. Since these procedures are meant to improve shape, and not for weight loss, I recommend that patients be at, or near, their goal weight prior to moving forward with surgery.Congratulations on your upcoming procedure!

Steven J. Rottman, MD, FACS · Answer

Thank you for your question. Mommy Makeover surgery is a body contouring procedure, not a weight loss surgery. However, a significant amount of excess skin and fat can be excised with a tummy tuck, liposuction, and breast reduction. It is best to be within 15 pounds of your ideal body weight prior to your surgery for optimal results. Please consult with a board certified plastic surgeon for an in-person examination and to discuss specific details of the procedures. Hope this helps and good luck.

Bhupesh Vasisht, MD · Answer

The short answer...it depends.  The long answer...it depends.  At the end of the day, it depends on your BMI before the surgery to remove all excess tissue.  Last week I removed total of 14 lbs one day and 7.5 lbs from another patient on the next day. Most importantly do not look at this surgery as some sort of weight loss..it is meant to contour and re shape your anatomy.Dr Vasisht

Camille Cash, MD · Answer

A Mommy Makeover is not a weight loss surgery and you will likely lose less than you think.  Depending on the amount of excess skin and fat that you have you may lose 3 to 8 pounds once all swelling has resolved. However you will have the benefits of restoring your figure! Immediately after surgery you may actually weigh more than before surgery due to swelling.

David Whiteman, MD · Answer

The Mommy Makeover is more about body contouring than weight loss, so patients should not expect a great deal of weight loss following their procedure. During the procedure, excess skin and fatty tissue is removed and, in some cases, muscle is repaired if the patient has experienced muscle separation. Unfortunately, skin and fatty tissue does not weigh that much. I recommend patients get as close as they can to their goal weight before undergoing their Mommy Makeover.

George John Alexander, MD, FACS · Answer

Congratulations
on your upcoming Mommy Makeover surgery. 
While these procedures do remove excess skin and tissue, they are not
considered weight loss procedures.  I
recommend patients focus on their new body contour and the healthy diet and
exercise lifestyle they will follow to maintain and enhance their surgery
results.

Semira Bayati, MD, FACS · Answer

Every patient is different and some photos might be helpful to see the degree of reduction that you might need.  However, patients are generally surprised that skin and breast tissue doesn't weigh as much as you might think.  The size reduction in the waist and bra cup is impressive, but the weight reduction ranges from 3-5 lbs in a thinner girl, to 10-12 lbs in a larger individual.  Hope this helps in making your decision!

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