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.