What are the long term effects of a tummy tuck?

Question

What happens to your tummy tuck when you become and old woman? Does the corset one day snap and your stomach wall comes ballooning out? like when your 90 years old and you had one in your 30's what can one expect?

Young R. Cho, MD, PhD · Answer

Thank you for your question.  Your tummy tuck will be a long lasting procedure.  It won't stop you from aging or developing laxity over time, however, it will allow you to regain some of the firmness and shape that you may have had when you were younger.  I would visit with a board certified plastic surgeon to discuss your options and long term results in more detail.

William Andrade, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question.  When your tummy muscles are repaired, your own tissue heals and makes the result long-lasting.  The surgical repair will not suddenly snap and give way years later.  However, natural aging will still occur after any cosmetic surgery procedure so your abdominal appearance could change gradually over time.

Jeff Angobaldo, MD · Answer

Thank you for sending your photo and question. The
tummy tuck result will last a long time unless you have fluctuations in
weight or have another child. The corset sutures will not snap and your stomach will not balloon out.  I encourage you to make an appointment with
a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon to further discuss.  Best Wishes.

Martin Jugenburg, MD · Answer

If you have visited a board certified plastic surgeon who performed your procedure you can expect long lasting effects. You do not need to be concerned that your tummy tuck have an expiry date that will all of the sudden revert back to it's old state. If you take the time to have an in person consultation with your surgeon they will be able to let you know what you can expect fro the surgery and recovery time. All the best

Patrick C. Wilson, MD · Answer

A tummy tuck is a procedure that can be done with the patient expectation of having long term results.  There are 2 situations that would be detrimental to your tummy tuck results:1) Pregnancy- Can result in stretching back out you skin and re-separating your six pack muscles resulting in a lax abdominal wall.2) Weight Changes-  Loosing or gaining 30lbs plus can result in residual laxity.  I do not think 10-20lbs of weight changes is damaging, but 30 lbs or more certainly be detrimental to your tummy tuck results.  Good luck with your cosmetic journey!

C. Bob Basu, MD, MPH, FACS · Answer

Your muscle repair from a tummy tuck is long lasting.  What can undo the benefits of your tummy tuck or signficant fluctuations in weight (i.e. weight gain) or a pregnancy.   However, a tummy tuck is not an anti-aging procedure.  Your skin and soft tissue will age gracefully with time.  Best wishes.

Vasdev Rai, MD · Answer

Nothing happens with aging other than normal aging after a tummy tuck.  Corset stitches result in permanent healing of abdomen in its new shape within 6 months after surgery.  Sutures outlive their role at that time and are not needed to anything.

Sugene Kim, MD, FACS · Answer

Hi, there.  As long as you maintain your weight, the outcome of tummy tuck will last for a long time.  Once your muscle is brought together and healed, it will not "snap" and balloon out.  Keeping a good diet and exercise and maintaining your weight will lead to healthy and good-looking life.  Best regards.

Ronald J. Johnson, MD, FACS (retired) · Answer

The key to maintaining a tummy tuck results is maintaining stable weight and physical condition. While the skin loses some of its tone in the elderly years, it should not "sag." With regard to the muscle repair, except for a patient who got pregnant again after a tummy tuck (something I strongly advise against) I have had no one lose the results of the muscle repair.

What are the long term effects of a tummy tuck?

Answers (9)

More Tummy Tuck Questions

WE SEND PRETTY
EMAILS

Answers (9)

More Tummy Tuck Questions

Which is better, arnica or bromelain?

Is pseudo-bursa a risk with tummy tucks?

Why must we have a button down the front shirt after a tummy tuck?

10 weeks post tummy tuck, is this just swelling? (Photo)

I had a TT 11 days ago. Should I be removing the packing from my belly button? (Photo)

Can I use a topical creme such as aspercreme to help with burning pain sensation 8 weeks after tummy tuck?

WE SEND PRETTY EMAILS

WE SEND PRETTY
EMAILS