Tummy Tuck to Reduce Waist 5-10 Inches - Is This Possible?

Mommy makeover is the term for tummy tuck with liposuction about the hips which can significantly rejuvenate the abdomen after changes from pregnancy.  I am a board certified plastic surgeon and I have never known any board certified plastic surgeon to "quote" exact inch changes involved in a procedure.  There are way too many variables to predict this.  If someone led you to believe that 10 inches could be changed in a procedure, I think you need to see another doctor because this is not a realistic or even safe goal to be aiming for.  Pulling the abdomen too tight and trying to aggressively liposuction the waist will significantly increase your risk for skin necrosis (loss of abdominal skin) which can lead to more revision and even reconstructive surgery.  Sometimes the abdomen and torso needs to be handled in two stages whereby the abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) and liposuction of the hips can be done in one surgery, followed by addition liposuction targeting the upper abdomen in a second smaller procedure several months later.  We have found this approach to be very safe and effective with our patients.  Finally, almost certainly some of the fullness can also be caused by "intra-abdominal fat" which is the fat that is inside of the abdomen with the intestines.  This fullness is only "decreased" with weight loss and cannot be surgically altered with tummy tuck and liposuction alone.  I hope this helps and I would encourage you to not concentrate so much on exact measurements so as not to be disappointed.

Sincerely,

 

James F. Boynton, M.D., F.A.C.S.

Depending on whether circumferential liposuction is performed and how much your rectus muscle diastasic is reduced, you can certainly loose a substantial number of inches from your waist.    But, that should not be how you measure the success of your tummy tuck.    To loose more than 5 inches in the waist would be highly unusual, and surgeons will not guarantee a particular number of inches.       If maximal waist narrowing is your goal, you certainly want to look at not only the tummy tuck, but also removing as much fat as possible with liposuction as well. 

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.  Hard to say exactly how many inches.  Best to talk to a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon.  Together you will come up with a plan.

Despite dramatic differences in the appearance of an abdomen, little if any change can occur in the measurements becuase these may be more reflective of the bony dimensions rather than the skin and fatty dimensons. IF this is to be achieved it may require a circumferential belt lipectomy and more than one surgery. To ensure an optimal result you should be closer to your ideal body weight of 115 lbs.

Your question is difficult to answer without a picture. In general 5- 10 inches is not achievable - unless you have a massive diastasis rectus.
Mommy makeovers are great and we do them frequently. As long as you are healthy it should be no problem to combine a tummy tuck and a breast augmentation.

There is no universal answer for each patient.  I have certainly had patients with dramatic results like you are describing.  Other patients have more modest results.  It all depends on your anatomy and how extensive of surgery can be performed.  It is best to see you in personal to determine which surgery is best for you.  Good luck.

The procedure you are describing is the "Mommy Makeover". It has become very popular to do both procedures together. This does depend on your health though. Your Board Certified Plastic Surgeon can tell you if you are a good candidate. I would talk to them and see what their perspective is on inches lost. You will most likely have some swelling after the procedure so try not to focus too much on the pounds right away. As far as a lift with implants goes the measurement around your rib cage is not likely to change. This measurement is the beginning number in the cup size.

Without photos, it is pretty difficult to say exactly how many inches you can lose with a tummy tuck.  In terms of actual weight loss, a tummy tuck doesn't normally have a big impact on your weight unless you are having a significant amount of skin removed.  If you are focusing more on fat loss, then  you will lose very little weight since fat doesn't weight much to begin with.

My recommendation would be to consult with a local Board Certified Plastic Surgeon and review your expectations with them to see what they think you can actually achieve.

I hope that helps!

Thank you for the question. As you can imagine, there is no "standard" number of inches lost after surgery given that every patient who undergoes tummy tuck surgery is different. Factors that come into play when it comes to answering your question include: overall body type, degree of muscle separation and adequacy of repair (plication), type of tummy tuck surgery performed, amount of adipose tissue present, quantity/quality of life is such an surgery performed, post operative maintenance of diet/exercise program… My best suggestion: select your plastic surgeon carefully. Ask to see lots of examples of similar patients and evaluate their outcomes. Doing so you may be able to achieve a level of expectation that is realistic.Best wishes.

It would be impossible to tell you exactly how much reduction you can experience from a tummy tuck, because the amount of fat and skin removed would have to be appropriate and safe for you. A better estimate of how you may look after surgery can be obtained from an inperson consultation with your surgeon.