Although a tummy tuck is often mistakenly thought to be a weight loss surgery, the truth is that the effects of an abdominoplasty are primarily aesthetic. At the same time, a recent study from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) indicates that tummy tucks in men and women who were previously obese may help keep the weight off for longer following an abdominoplasty.*
How Tummy Tucks Work
Although there are specific procedures to help achieve dramatic weight loss, like gastric bypass surgery, abdominoplasty is not one of them. In fact, the ideal candidate for a tummy tuck should already be within a few pounds of their target weight.
However, patients who experience rapid weight loss often end up with loose folds of skin that don’t form to the new contours of their slimmer body; changes in skin elasticity make the skin physically unable to change shape after being stretched out over excess fat deposits for so long. As a result, even though these patients have finally reached their target weight, they still may be unhappy with the way their body looks.
A C.L.A.S.S. tummy tuck from my Denver practice incorporates a drain-free abdominoplasty surgery along with liposuction. This cosmetic surgery can help patients who were formerly overweight, or who have excess skin and lax muscles due to other circumstances like pregnancy, finally achieve a more streamlined figure.*
The study from the ASPS indicates that men and women who were obese prior to abdominoplasty are more likely to continue maintaining their target weight following their cosmetic surgery. So, although a tummy tuck may not remove excess weight, it can provide a great incentive to keep it off.*
*This information is for education only, and is not meant as a guarantee of results. Your results may vary.
Related Posts
- Ditching the Drains for a Better Tummy Tuck
- 3 Benefits of a Tummy Tuck after Weight Loss
- Modifying Existing Abdominoplasty Techniques for Natural-Looking Results
Author: Dr. Francesco Campanile
Board-certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, Dr. Francesco Campanile is a cosmetic surgeon in Denver who is focused on body contouring and breast enhancement. Time and time again, the women and men who choose Dr. Campanile say that they’ve found “the whole package” – a doctor who cares deeply about the quality of their results and has the skill to achieve excellence.
