How Much Weight Can I Lose from Tummy Tuck Surgery?

The tummy tuck operation addresses loose (droopy) skin, extra fat, and rectus muscles that have been pulled apart, (usually with pregnancy). We take off a substanital amount of tissue, but it does not weigh that much when placed on the scale. Remember bone and muscle weigh more than fat and skin. It will look like more "weight" was dropped by the patient as they will get into their clothes better and have a trimmer shape.

Tummy tuck is not a weight loss operation.  The weight of the skin and fat that is typically removed in a tummy tuck is usually around 5 to 8 lbs, although it can be as much as 14 lbs.   The goal of the surgery is re-contouring of the abdomen, tightening the muscles, removing the excess skin, and revising the belly button.

Everyone is different. Most commonly, only a few pounds is removed after a tummy tuck. Occasionally, larger amounts of tissue can be removed in select circumstances. I hope this helps.- Dr. Bryson Richards

Abdominoplasty is not a weight loss procedure. The amount of actual fat/skin that is removed varies from patient to patient but the average is probably around 5 lbs. There is typically a significant improvement in abdominal contour and waist size. And many patients that have a severe diastasis are able to be more active afterwards and can improve their ability to lose additional weight if desired. 

A tummy tuck is not designed for weight loss. While loose skin and fat are removed, the amount may not make a significant impact on your weight but will make a significant impact on your appearance since your mid-section will be smoother and more contoured.

A tummy tuck procedure should give a good reduction in waist , it also gives reduction in weight from excision of skin and subcutaneous fat, i do some liposuction to flanks adding to weight loss. Most patients lose between 0.5 to 1.5 kg in weight of excised tissue but this depends on patient excess skin. Generally excess skin from belly button to lower abdomen crease is taken out in the surgery. A consultation with consultant plastic surgeon will give you an idea of skin that can be excised during the procedure.

Tummy tuck surgery is not a surgery for weight loss although patients will experience some weight lose with the removal of excess skin however it is a surgery for contouring and reshaping. This will lead to losing inches off your waist and reshaping the area but not shedding kilograms.
My patients often have a goal they want to achieve and this may include losing weight prior to undergoing tummy tuck surgery to achieve their best and most defined result.

Thank you for your question. It is hard to provided with a valid medical opinion without photos.  I would suggest to be treated by board certificated plastic surgeon with experience in this procedure, to get the best desired results.
Kind Regards,Dr. Emmanuel Mallol Cotes.-

Thank you for the question. In general, patients often lose many inches and go down several sizes, but typically do not lose much weight as a result of a tummy tuck. Most of my patients report a weight loss of less than five pounds, but the real difference is in their size and contour. It is advisable to perform a tummy tuck when you have reached a more ideal weight.  The reason for this several.  First, sometimes performing a tummy tuck and liposuction will have suboptimal result if the abdominal girth is wide.  Second, if you do lose more weight in the future, the result of the tummy tuck will be inadequate since more skin will sag. Have an experienced plastic surgeon assess you since everyone is different and give you a recommendation. If weight loss is an issue, there are many medically guided weight loss programs.

Depending on the size of the tissue taken off it can range from 2 to 10 lbs. The contour of the belly is what changes the most, not the weight. If significant weight loss is what the goal is then seeing a bariatric surgeon and intensive changes to exercise and diet may be the first option. Patients should try to get as close to their ideal body weight (the weight they want to be) prior to surgery. This allows the plastic surgeon to give you the best result! Good luck!

hello. What we tell our patients is the most change will be in the amount of inches lost in the waist and the contour and before and after photos.  It is not really a weight loss procedure. Good luck