Will Losing Weight After a Tummy Tuck Lead to Flabby Skin?

Dear worrier,

    Well, I will try to make you feel better after the negative answers that you recieved in regard to weight loss after tummy tuck. My experience in over 1000 tummy tucks, is that the overwhelming  majority of the patients are doing fine after significant weight loss from tummy tuck.  The only ones who might have skin redundency after surgery are those with massive weight loss, like after bypass surgery, because their skin elasticity is impaired. As long as your  surgeon is an experienced board certified plastic surgeon and he tightens your muscles and skin adequately  , you should not have a flabby skin after surgery. I would also strongly recommend to you the book 'Sugar busters'. If you will follow the book recommendation and change your eating habbits, there is a very good chance that you will lose a lot of weight.

             Best of luck,

                                       Dr Widder

Great question! Losing an additional 30 pounds after a tummy tuck will most likely improve your appearance even more.  It is unlikely that you will need the surgery done all over again because of looseness of skin.  Even more importantly, make  sure you don't gain weight after the surgery which is a much more common problem we see.  Good luck! I'm sure your surgery will go great.

If you lose 30 pounds after a tummy tuck, you may be left with some loose skin and a contour which is not as nice as the day of surgery. You would need to lose the weight very gradually in order to minimize the amount of loose skin. You should discuss this in greater detail with your plastic surgeon before having your procedure done.

 

Best wishes,

Dr.Bruno

Body contouring should be done when you are at your goal weight or a stable plateau. Losing 30 lbs after a tummy tuck will lead to some laxity of the skin. You will certainly look better than if you never had the procedure but you will lose some of the aesthetic benefit. Also when you are overweight at the time of your procedure there is an increased risk of complications with your procedure.

Discuss these issues with your board certified plastic surgeon to determine your best coarse of action.

I hope this was helpful and good luck

My experience is that patients do not lose weight after tummy tuck.  You will be relatively anorexic from narcotics for a while, and surgical site pain will displace hunger.  Your scale weight will increase after surgery from retained fluid and swelling.  You will not exercise for at least 4-6 weeks.  As swelling, pain, and stiffness resolve, you become more active, and find yourself behind in all aspects of your life put on hold for surgery and recovery.  These affairs are urgently resumed, including care for family, career, loose ends, unfinished business, etc.  Having been absorbed in self care for weeks, you now care for others, and your disciplined diet and exercise regimen are forgotten.  Your body is now slimmer, so the need for weight loss seems mitigated.  Pounds insidiously accrue.  If you're serious about losing weight, do it BEFORE tummy tuck.  Your result will be better, and your life will be better.