How to lose weight after tummy tuck

You will probably lose two to five pounds, which is between two to three pants size, after your tummy tuck surgery. These are only approximate values and may be different for different patients. It is absolutely possible to lose more pounds after your abdominoplasty. What amount of weight you will lose depends on many factors such as the amount of excess skin and excess fat in your midsection as well as the type of tummy tuck surgery

However, it is essential to understand that tummy tucks procedure do not solve the problem of overweight. Its task is to correct the shape of the abdomen and make the abdominal wall firmer and stronger. Indications for tummy tucks are excess fat and loose skin after birth or significant weight loss.

Is it easier to lose weight after a tummy tuck?

Through a tummy tuck procedure, you will lose a certain amount of excess skin from your midsection, leading to weight loss. This, in turns, will make training more comfortable, and in addition, this will stimulate your body to lose weight easily. Also, for many people, it is a great motivating factor that they have got the tummy that looks the way they want. Due to that, they are more active in keeping themselves fit and in shape.

According to Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (official medical journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons), it is possible to have a permanent sustained weight loss after a tummy tuck. Studies have found that people have a long-term weight loss after their tummy tuck surgery. The reasons for this weight loss are not totally clear. Many of the women who participated in this study reported that they got fuller sooner when they were eating. The researchers hypothesize that the reason for that is related to changes in the neuroendocrine system.

Diet and exercise: the best ways to a slimmer figure after tummy tuck

If you want to lose weight after your tummy tuck surgery, you will have to increase your physical activities and make healthy food choices. A personal trainer and nutrition coach might be really helpful if you want to achieve your weight loss goals.

To become thinner, you don’t need to follow restricted diets or exclude certain food groups such as carbs or fats. First of all, it’s not healthy for you – your body needs all nutrients to function well. Second, this is usually not effective because it’s rather hard to follow such a regimen for a long period of time.

To lose weight, you need to burn more calories than you eat. But here’s a piece of very important information, you need to reduce your calories intake very carefully. If you cut down your calories drastically, you may be given unpleasant side effects such as excessive fatigue or deficiency of some vitamins and minerals and many other. Therefore, it is best to consult a specialist who will determine how much calories you need a day and how much you can reduce them to reach your goal weight without having subsequent health problems.

Track your calories

To become thinner, you don’t need to follow restricted diets or exclude certain food groups such as carbs or fats. First of all, it’s not healthy for you – your body needs all nutrients to function well. Second, this is usually not effective because it’s rather hard to follow such a regimen for a long period of time.

To lose weight, you need to burn more calories than you eat. But here’s a piece of very important information, you need to reduce your calories intake very carefully. If you cut down your calories drastically, you may be given unpleasant side effects such as excessive fatigue or deficiency of some vitamins and minerals and many other. Therefore, it is best to consult a specialist who will determine how much calories you need a day and how much you can reduce them to reach your goal weight without having subsequent health problems.

If you feel overwhelmed counting your calories...

Don’t worry! In fact, you can lose a significant amount of weight even if you are not tracking everything you eat.

Just follow these simple tips:

• Increase your protein intake. It will make you feel fuller for a longer time.
• Stop drinking your calories. You just don’t realize how much calories you take with your latte macchiato combined with a fizzy drink! Just try to avoid drinking soda, fizzy drinks and other sugary drinks every day. 
• Add a side salad to any main dish. Eating a salad is a great way to feel fuller without eating too much of the main dish.
• Make healthy food choices. For example, you may replace white bread with wholemeal, white rice with brown rice, sweets and candies with fresh fruit, and fizzy drinks with freshly squeezed juices.
• Reduce the amount of sugar you eat during the day. If you are craving sweets, limit yourself to a piece of dark chocolate.

Regular exercise

Of course, you shouldn’t run to the gym a few days after your tummy tuck (we doubt if you can anyway). But you can think about starting some exercises maybe a few months after your tummy tuck when you get clearance from your doctor.

Working out has many known benefits for patients that are looking for a tummy tuck – obviously, it removes loose skin, fat, and that’s done after extreme weight loss or pregnancy.

If you don’t like going to the gym you can do running, walking, weights at home – there are many ways of doing exercise.

Make sure you see your doctor before starting any new workout program to make sure that you haven’t got any health issues that are going to prevent you from doing the exercises.

Can I gain weight after a tummy tuck?

Unfortunately, you can still gain weight after tummy tuck procedure if you did not maintain a healthy diet, as well as an active lifestyle.

If you maintain your weight in a healthy range after having had a tummy tuck, then you will be able to maintain your results. However, if you do gain a lot of weight after the surgery, you risk stretching your skin out again and having a recurrence of the problem.

How do you maintain tummy tuck results?

If you are satisfied with your weight after tummy tuck and you just want to keep it stable and enjoy the long term result, you will need to make some efforts such as having a healthy diet and physical activity after your healing.

The good results also depend a lot on the surgeon who performed the operation as well as how well you have taken care of your body after during the recovery and after that.

Tummy tucks procedure must be done precisely- there are some specific methods that are used in order to have best results. That’s why it is good to make some researchers before scheduling your tummy tuck consultation. Make sure you choose an experienced and board-certified plastic surgeon. Also, you may want to see before and after photos of other tummy tuck patients.

Common tummy tuck myths that you should know

Myth 1: A tummy tuck will help me deal with obesity. Although it will remove a certain amount of fat cells and tighten your abdominal muscles, this cosmetic procedure will not reduce your weight.

Myth 2: I can’t get both operations liposuction and a tummy tuck. Doctors often perform liposuction with tummy tucks on patients with a larger amount of fat in the stomach. Abdominoplasty can also be combined with breast augmentation.

Myth 3: Abdominoplasty procedures are only for women. Although this cosmetic surgery is most commonly performed in women, men also can benefit from it.

Myth 4: I won’t be able to have any more children after a tummy tuck. While plastic surgeons recommend women to wait until they are finished having children before they have abdominoplasty a tummy tuck will not prevent you from having more children.

We have a full article dedicating on busting liposuction myths which may interest you.

To conclude

Abdominoplasty is a procedure that can make many benefits – you get rid of excess skin, removes stretch marks (due to the fact that the excess skin would be removed), you eliminate unwanted belly fat. If you are fit and look after your body before and after your plastic surgery, then you will be able to achieve really good tummy tuck results. Taking care of your health, developing good exercise and eating habits is one of the best ways to maintain your new body shape or reach your goal weight.