Tummy Tucks: Being Realistic

Like liposuction, a tummy tuck, also known as abdominoplasty surgery, is one of the most commonly sought-after procedures at a plastic surgeon’s office. In its most basic form, it involves removing excess skin and stretch marks from the abdominal area, tightening the abdominal muscles, and perhaps, utilizing some liposuction to complement the results. The majority of people who seek out this procedure do it after they’ve given birth or after having lost a significant amount of weight, either naturally or through bariatric surgery.

I need to frequently remind individuals tummy tucks are not weight-loss surgeries. Generally, we only take off about two to four pounds of skin. We’re not taking off so much that you’re going to see a huge difference on the scale. And initially, because of the swelling, you might even weigh more than you did before surgery. You will not lose twenty pounds with a tummy tuck, and it’s going to take a while before you see a reduction on the scale.

After about a month of recovery and your doctor’s clearance, it is extremely important that you start exercising and watching your diet. I recommend getting on the scale once a week to see how your weight is trending. Many patients tend to gain weight after these surgeries because they are stuck in “recovery mode” and convince themselves that it is somehow okay to eat as much as they want because of the surgery. Nothing could be further than the truth.

You’re going to have the same abdomen after surgery, only with less skin and a tighter core. A tummy tuck doesn’t make someone who is five feet five inches tall and weighs 180 pounds look like a tall and thin model. You can’t give yourself the look of six-pack abs with a tummy tuck. The surgery will make your abdomen look nice and flat, but there’s a big difference between that and looking as if you have 5 percent body fat. Do not expect a six-pack or a reduction in body fat with a tummy tuck. When you know what you can realistically expect, this is one of the greatest procedures for individuals available.

Learn more about this and other procedures by getting your copy of, “Making the Cut” available for purchase on Amazon.

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