What happens if you lose weight after having a tummy tuck?

Question

Everyone always asks about weight gain after tummy tuck. I am interested to know what happens with weight loss after tummy tuck.

Ryan Marshall, DO · Answer

Hi and thank you for your question. I think that weight loss after tummy tuck can affect your results, but it depends on how much weight you lose.  In addition, men and women gain and lose weight in different places.  For instance, I have some female patients who gain and lose all their weight in their breast tissue.  Other patients see significant weight changes in their thighs or bellies.  If weight fluctuations effect your abdominal area, you may see more redundant skin hanging over your abdominoplasty incision after weight loss of over 15-20 lbs.  Any weight loss under 15lbs shouldn't negatively affect your outcome.  Good luck!

Austin Hayes, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question. Large amounts of weight loss could cause excess skin to develop. When considering anybody contouring procedure, it's best to be at your goal weight prior to surgery. This gives you the best chance of having long-lasting results.

Brent Moelleken, MD · Answer

Weight loss or weight gain can compromise the results of surgery, sometimes quite significantly.Patients should be at a stable weight before having surgery.However in patients who do lose weight after a procedure, the surgery can often be revised if necessary too achieve a better result.

Kenneth Hughes, MD · Answer

Losing weight after a tummy tuck is not necessarily an issue unless you are losing so much as to require another tummy tuck.

Daniel B. Kim, MD · Answer

Thank you for reaching out! Most surgeons will ask their patients to be within 10 pounds of their "goal weight" because a large weight loss after a tummy tuck can possibly alter the results. It is best to be at a stable weight so you can enjoy your post op results! Best of luck. Dr. Kim

Curtis Wong, MD · Answer

to your appearances but if the weight is considerable, then you run some risk for lax skin on your tummy and elsewhere that you may need to have excised if you don't want it.

Donald W. Hause, MD · Answer

That is a good question with a complicated answer. Every patient is unique in this regard. It depends upon how much weight you lose and how resilient your skin is to re-contour/ shrink. We like patients to be near their stable healthy weight because with large weight changes after surgery some additional skin stretch and/or excess can occur. However, I have had patients get pregnant after a tummy tuck (Surprise Baby!) and did great and didn't need any revision. I have had patients that lost  20 lbs and developed loose skin. A person's genetics are the biggest factor. However, ideally a person has a BMI below 30, is healthy and fit and dedicated to leading a healthy lifestyle after surgery. Being and american (a little pudgy)  myself, I can't say I even meet those criteria all the time. Best of luck.

Terrence Murphy, MD · Answer

Losing  A small amount of weight like five or 10 pounds after a tummy tuck will not have a significant effect on the results. If you think you might lose 30 or 40 pounds then likely the best idea is to lose the weight before the surgical procedure.

Ronald V. DeMars, MD (Retired) · Answer

What a good question. In fact we see that happen quite often as the improved look of a TT spurs the patient on to get more healthy and the weight loss, unless it is excessive, just makes things look that much better. If you have a large amount to lose after the TT you probably should have been informed you need to lose it BEFORE the TT.

What happens if you lose weight after having a tummy tuck?

Answers (9)

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