The Truth about Tummy Tucks and Your Weight

It seems like there has always been a little bit of confusion between the relationship of tummy tucks and your weight.  This is partially due to misinformation, however, it is primarily because tummy tucks focus on a specific section of the body and weight loss/gain affects the entire body.

Establishing a specific relationship or link between a surgery focused on one part of the body and a full body issue can be a little blurry at times.  Fortunately, there are a number of proven facts surrounding tummy tucks which can help you better understand how these two issues are tied together.

Weight Loss After Tummy Tuck

The most important thing to understand is that a tummy tuck surgery (abdominoplasty) is not specifically designed to help you lose weight. After years of offering tummy tuck procedures, Houston patients report a minimal amount of weight loss as a direct result of the procedure.  Instead, a tummy tuck is designed to improve your overall abdominal contour with an emphasis on regaining an hourglass silhouette.

Another common misperception is that tummy tucks will make it easier for you to lose weight following the surgery.  The truth is that in order to lose weight you will still need to follow a weight loss routine which includes healthy eating and regular exercise.  At the same time, many women find the entire process of losing weight easier after a tummy tuck because they gain an initial boost in self-confidence which makes it easier and more fulfilling to spend a little time at the gym.

There are cases where tummy tucks have led to a smaller appetite for a period of several months following the procedure.  This is because when the abdominal wall is tightened, your body will sometimes feel full sooner than it used to, which makes it easier to eat less.  Keep in mind this is only a short-term effects of the surgery.

A final thought to keep in mind is that many women get some form of liposuction in Houston when they get a tummy tuck.  This is because there is often additional fat surrounding the abdominal area and getting a tummy tuck alone would not appear as natural.  To remedy this, during the tummy tuck procedure, liposuction is done to some of the surrounding areas such as the waistline, hips, thighs, and pubic area.  While this does technically create weight loss, tummy tucks alone should not be considered a weight loss procedure.

Weight Gain After Tummy Tuck

On the other side of the coin, there are also concerns regarding gaining weights after a tummy tuck.  One of the biggest issues is the fear of fat redistribution.  Essentially, some people believe that after a tummy tuck fat cells from other parts of the body will be redistributed to the stomach area.  While there may be an extremely small amount of redistribution, it is generally not an issue to be concerned about.  In general, redistribution will not be an issue unless you gain more than 20% – 30% of your post-procedure body weight.

If there is any weight gain after liposuction for a tummy tuck, it will normally happen in other areas of the body.  Regardless of what type of surgeries you have had, weight gain is caused by the same thing.  It comes from eating more calories than your body burns.  Keep in mind that fat cells do not reproduce the same way the rest of the cells in your body do.  Instead of replicating, they simply get larger.  By removing those fat cells during the tummy tuck and liposuction surgeries, they are gone forever.

With a better understanding of the relationship between tummy tucks and weight, it should be easier for you to decide what your best option is.  As with all Houston cosmetic surgery, make sure that you discuss any concerns or hesitations with a high quality, board-certified surgeon.  They will not only be able to answer all of your questions but will also be able to recommend the most effective procedure to achieve the results you crave.

If you have questions about tummy tucks or aftercare, contact Texas Center for Breast and Body in Houston at 713-794-0368.