(503) 488-2344
Can You Gain Weight After a Tummy Tuck?
If you want a slimmer, more toned midsection, a tummy tuck might be the right option for you. This is a plastic surgery procedure that doesn’t help you lose weight, but rather addresses excess skin and muscles to give you a toned, sleeker figure. Most people who have tummy tucks are those who lost a lot of weight or had a baby and want to correct stubborn concern areas afterward.
It’s normal to wonder if it’s possible to still gain weight after having a tummy tuck. There are a few facts to know so you can continue to maintain your results for the long term.
Maintain a Stable Weight Before Your Tummy Tuck
Before you decide to have a tummy tuck, it’s essential that you maintain a healthy weight. You should be as close to your goal weight as possible to prevent potential complications during surgery. Tummy tucks are meant to help patients shed excess skin around their abdomens. Although liposuction can be be performed to eliminate stubborn fat, you shouldn’t rely on it as a weight loss method.
What Causes Weight Gain After a Tummy Tuck?
Minimal fluctuations in weight are normal for everyone. If you decide to have a tummy tuck, a weight change ranging from five to 10 pounds shouldn’t negatively affect your results. At the same time, it’s still important to understand why weight gain might occur. Being aware of this can help prevent possible complications from the surgery and can also help avoid serious medical conditions that arise or worsen with weight gain. The following are the most common reasons for weight gain after a tummy tuck:
- Lifestyle choices: Many people gain weight because of poor lifestyle choices such as not eating healthy foods or exercising. After you’ve had tummy tuck surgery, make sure to eat a healthy diet and get plenty of regular physical activity daily.
- Hormones: Hormone changes can impact your weight as well. If your hormones are imbalanced, it can cause you to gain weight. Consult your doctor about treatment options to properly balance your hormone levels.
- Stress: Stress in everyday life can lead to overeating and weight gain. You should find the right ways to manage your stress so you can maintain a healthy weight.
What Happens if You Gain Weight After a Tummy Tuck?
If you gain weight after having had a tummy tuck, your abdominal skin will stretch. Depending on how much you gain, the skin of your stomach can hang when you eventually lose the weight. You may also have new stretch marks. If you become pregnant after your surgery, it can lead to the separation of the abdominal muscles. Many patients who seek tummy tuck procedures express concern about gaining a significant amount of weight after their surgery. As a result, it’s absolutely essential that only people who are good candidates for the procedure have the surgery.
One of the biggest factors in losing weight or maintaining your desired weight is exercise. Of course, for the first few weeks following your tummy tuck, you should avoid strenuous exercise, but you should be able to resume your regular daily routine and activities after your plastic surgeon tells you it’s safe. If you practice a healthy lifestyle and consume healthy foods after your surgery, you can avoid gaining weight after a tummy tuck.
Schedule a Consultation
The tummy tuck can help transform your body after weight loss or pregnancy. Dr. Fichadia is a double-board certified plastic surgeon located in Portland, OR. To meet with Dr. Fichadia and learn more about your options, contact our office by calling or filling out our online form.
Dr. Fichadia is a double board-certified, comprehensively trained plastic and reconstructive surgeon. She completed general surgical training at St Elizabeth’s Medical Center, an affiliate of Tufts University School of Medicine in Boston, MA, and subsequently completed a highly competitive plastic surgery program at Oregon Health and Science University in Portland, OR. She has presented research from her time in Boston and Portland at national and international surgical meetings such as Clinical Congress of the American College of Surgeons and annual meeting of American Society of Plastic Surgery.
