No one wants to reverse the effects of a cosmetic procedure, but gaining weight after a tummy tuck can do just that. This blog discusses why weight gain can affect your tummy tuck results, why a healthy lifestyle can help prevent this from happening, and tips for how to maintain and improve tummy tuck results after surgery.
4 Min Read:
How Does Weight Gain Affect Tummy Tuck Results?
Everyone fluctuates in their weight; it’s natural and, in many cases, out of our control. But the fact remains that excessive weight gain can adversely affect your tummy tuck results, sometimes necessitating a secondary procedure.
While 10 or 15 pounds likely won’t make much of a difference, more than that can stretch the abdominal muscles and skin again, making it difficult to repair without surgery.
Can another tummy tuck help me lose weight?
No, because tummy tucks are not weight loss procedures. A tummy tuck, or abdominoplasty, is a cosmetic procedure that addresses excess skin, loose tissue, and separated abdominal muscles resulting from weight fluctuations, hormonal changes, or pregnancy. What it doesn’t treat is fat, and even liposuction is best for a targeted area rather than for major weight loss.
In fact, your plastic surgeon will likely require you to be as close to your goal weight as possible prior to your tummy tuck. That’s because it’s not safe to remove too much fat from the body during surgery, and it detracts from the main objective of the procedure, which is skin removal and abdominal wall repair.
How to Prevent Post-Tummy Tuck Weight Gain
If you’re considering a tummy tuck, it can be useful to begin preparing your body by making healthy lifestyle choices. While this procedure is intended for people who don’t have perfectly trim midsections, you’ll get so much more out of it if you can commit to a healthy lifestyle before surgery, and also prepare for maintaining your results after surgery.
Healthy patients typically have safer surgeries, easier recovery periods, and improved healing. Your surgeon will likely recommend that you begin taking steps toward eating better and have a good exercise routine ready to go before surgery, if you haven’t done so already. Establishing good habits now sets you up for future success.
How to Maintain Your Tummy Tuck Results
After your tummy tuck, you’ll need to maintain your healthy habits as best you can while also allowing your body to rest adequately during recovery. This means eating healthy and exercising regularly.
Eat Nutritious Meals
It’s important to consume healthy foods during your recovery. Stock up on homemade freezer meals and do some meal prepping before your surgery so it’s easier to avoid takeout. It’s difficult to get up and move around in early tummy tuck recovery, so you’ll need someone to assist you with daily tasks like cooking.
Incorporate Movement
Additionally, as you recover, you should begin incorporating light movement as soon as possible. Not only does this help reduce the risk of blood clots, but good circulation can also help speed recovery by getting oxygen to your healing body.
Now the tricky part. You’ll want to exercise, but it’s important to follow your surgeon’s instructions as closely as possible, which will likely restrict your physical activity. Brief walks around the house can be built up over time, but it’s equally important to allow your body to rest as you heal. Pushing yourself too hard can inhibit your recovery and healing, and even adversely affect your results, including causing dark, raised scars.
You’ll likely be cleared to resume moderate exercise 6–8 weeks after your procedure, but you’ll need to avoid core exercises until around 12 weeks. However, once you’re cleared, it’s game on!
Strengthened Abdominal Muscles
Abdominoplasty can actually improve your ability to better engage your abdominal muscles than before surgery, as your surgeon has repaired the muscles that were once separated.
One of the reasons many patients undergo tummy tuck surgery is to repair separated abdominal muscles (diastasis recti), caused by weight gain and pregnancy. Diastasis recti makes it nearly impossible to fully engage your abdominal muscles, which in turn makes it difficult to effectively work your core. After abdominoplasty, you’ll be able to fully engage your muscles for a stronger core.
In fact, many tummy tuck patients note that surgery is just the start of their exercise journey, as they can improve their results by refining exercises that engage the obliques and lower abdominal muscles to achieve the hourglass result they’ve always wanted. Abdominoplasty gives patients the opportunity and motivation to lead a healthier, happier life.
Want to Learn More About Tummy Tucks in Sacramento, CA?
Call Dr. Mabourakh today and begin your journey to a toned, slimmed physique and dazzling confidence. Call Folsom Plastic Surgery today at (916) 984-8585 or complete the contact form to request a tummy tuck consultation.
