If you are considering getting a tummy tuck, it is understandable that you want to know how long tummy tuck results last, and whether or not you will need to have follow-up procedures to maintain your trimmer, sleeker appearance. After all, it is always important to be well-educated about any medical procedure you are considering.
You may have heard that tummy tuck results are “technically permanent?” So, what is the hitch? Some patients can have future weight fluctuations after their surgeries, which then negates the amazing results they received from their procedure. That is why it is important for tummy tuck patients to have a proper diet and nutritional plan before seeking out cosmetic surgery. It is also crucial that women of childbearing age are certain they are done having kids before getting a tummy tuck.
What Makes Tummy Tuck Results Permanent?
To understand what makes tummy tuck results last a long time, you need to understand the elements of a tummy tuck, and how they work together to keep your abdomen tighter and sleeker.
- Tummy tucks remove excess fat that cannot grow back.
While tummy tucks are not weight-loss surgery, it is inevitable that the procedure will remove fat cells. This is great news because while fat cells can enlarge if you gain weight in the future, fat cells that have been surgically excised can never grow back.
- This surgery removes loose or sagging abdominal skin.
One of the chief complaints that plastic surgeons hear from patients is that they have loose abdominal skin that sags. This elective cosmetic surgery removes this sagging skin, giving a smoother appearance to your stomach.
- Your plastic surgeon can tighten up loose abdominal muscles to get rid of stomach bulges.
Nearly 100,000 American women had a tummy tuck in 2020. One of the main reasons that women who are mothers seek out this surgery is that they have a bulge in their belly that just will not go away, no matter how much they diet or exercise. This bulge is the result of separated abdominal muscles, medically known as diastasis recti, which is a common pregnancy complication, especially for moms who have had multiple pregnancies. A tummy tuck is a surgical way of stitching together and tightening up these loose abdominal muscles for good.
- A repositioned belly button can balance out your abdomen and make your stomach look great in swimwear.
After excising loose and sagging abdominal skin, your natural belly button placement may not look so natural anymore. For this reason, it is common to have your belly button position replaced during the surgery, adding to the overall aesthetic results of your procedure.
What Circumstance Might Make You Lose Your Tummy Tuck Results?
As we mentioned above, there are a few things that may negate the once positive and long-lasting results of your procedure, including:
- Not maintaining your healthy diet and exercise plan.
A tummy tuck surgery should enhance your already healthy lifestyle. It is important to maintain a healthy diet and begin exercising again after you have been released by your plastic surgeon to resume exercise.
- Future weight fluctuations – especially those that cause you to gain weight
Yo-yo dieting, certain medications, and stress are all things that can cause your weight to fluctuate. Unfortunately, significant or frequent weight fluctuations may negate your surgical results.
- Getting pregnant after tummy tuck surgery
Having a tummy tuck does not complicate your pregnancy or your baby’s development at all. But it will make you gain weight and cause your belly to swell, and perhaps lead to another case of diastasis recti. All of these factors may require you to have follow-up surgery to reclaim your previous tummy tuck results.
Visit William Bruno Plastic Surgery for More Advice on Tummy Tuck Surgery
If you are considering tummy tuck surgery at our practice or someone where else, make sure to follow these pieces of advice from Dr. Bruno:
- Make sure you are at or very near your goal weight before you have the procedure.
- If you are a woman, be certain you are done having children before getting a tummy tuck.
- Have a plan to stay healthy and fit through proper diet and exercise.
- If you are uncertain you can follow these recommendations, discuss your concerns with your plastic surgeon.
As a board-certified plastic surgeon who has performed thousands of tummy tucks, Dr. Bruno of William Bruno Plastic Surgery would love to see you at our practice in Beverly Hills and West Hollywood. If you live elsewhere, make sure to find a plastic surgeon with the proper certifications, training, and experience to perform your surgery.
