Abdominoplasty, sometimes referred to as a tummy tuck, is one of the most popular body contouring procedures in the world. At Finesse Cosmetic Surgery in Waltham, MA, this procedure is commonly sought to help mothers restore their prenatal bodies. It generally involves removing any present excess skin, tightening loose skin and muscle tissue, and excising a small amount of local fat. If you think this could benefit you, read on to learn more.
How Much Weight Can You Lose From an Abdominoplasty?
You can expect to lose between three and five pounds following abdominoplasty. The scope of the procedure is one of the most significant factors affecting how much weight loss you can expect after surgery. If you get a mini tuck, only the lower abdomen is affected. In such cases, you can generally expect to lose three pounds of skin and fat.
A full tummy tuck, though, removes excess skin and fat from the lower and upper abdomen. In such cases, it is reasonable to expect to lose four pounds of skin and fat. You can generally expect to lose five pounds of skin and fat if you get an extended tuck. Like a full tuck, this procedure removes excess tissue from the upper and lower abdomen. However, the scope of this procedure also involves removing excess tissue from the lower back and hips.
What If I Have a Lot of Fat to Lose?
To reiterate, abdominoplasty only involves excising a little bit of fat from the abdominal region. It is not a fat removal procedure, and it is not effective for the removal of a lot of fat. Liposuction, on the other hand, is a fat-removal procedure. Otherwise known as lipo, this procedure is approved by the FDA for the removal of up to 11 pounds of fat in a single session. It can reasonably be expected that you can lose around five extra pounds of fat if you get a tuck and lipo.
That said, depending on how much excess abdominal fat you have, you may only lose roughly five additional pounds from liposuction on your stomach. Liposuction can only remove roughly a quarter of subcutaneous abdominal fat. Furthermore, you should be aware that if you have a very large amount of excess abdominal fat, a single lipo session may not be effective for you. Losing weight through diet and exercise prior to surgery may be necessary.
Can I Lose Weight After a Tummy Tuck?
Yes, you can absolutely lose weight after a tummy tuck! In fact, having excess abdominal skin removed can make your exercise routine a lot easier. For instance, excess abdominal skin can keep people from getting in the pool for a water aerobics class or a long swim. As another example, it can get in the way of cycling or running comfortably. This discourages aerobic exercise, an important component of health and safe, fast weight loss.
A tummy tuck can also make weight loss easier by easing back pain caused by poor posture. There are many potential causes of poor posture, and one of them is weak abdominal muscles. In addition to tightening loose skin tissue, a full tummy tuck can tighten loose abdominal muscles and repair damage to the abdominal muscles caused by ventral hernias, pregnancy, or childbirth.
How Soon After Surgery Can I Start Losing Weight?
If you are currently on a weight loss journey, you may want to put it on hold for a month or two while you recover from your tummy tuck. During the first six to eight weeks post-op, don’t bend over at your waist, lift anything weighing more than roughly 10 pounds, or exert yourself too much. If you lose weight during the first couple of months post-op, your caloric deficit will need to be accomplished through eating less and exercising gently.
Once your skin is sufficiently healed from surgery, it will be safe for you to resume lifting weights and getting in vigorous cardio sessions. Be advised that if you choose to cut calories from your diet during your recovery, it is essential that you get enough vitamins, minerals, water, and protein. These are key ingredients that your skin needs an abundant supply of to produce and fuel collagen. Collagen is an essential protein that facilitates healing.
What Can I Expect During My Abdominoplasty Recovery?
Immediately After Surgery
Once your tummy tuck is over, we will put drainage tubes in your incisions to protect against fluid building up and wrap your abdomen in a surgical dressing. We will advise you on how to remove the dressing and when. For the most part, it should be kept in place to keep your incisions dry and clean. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask. The better you care for yourself after surgery, the shorter your recovery period will be.
Shortly After Surgery
In addition to advising you on how to care for your incisions, we will advise you on everything else you will need to do to care for yourself after surgery. Again, you will have an opportunity to ask for clarification if necessary. Then, you will be sent home to recover. This is an outpatient procedure, meaning you will not need to stay overnight in a hospital.
Note that you will not be able to drive yourself home after your procedure. Regardless of whether you receive local or general anesthesia, it will not be safe for you to operate such heavy machinery as automobiles for 24 hours. Make sure you arrange for someone to drive you home following your procedure. Once you’re home, you should be prepared to dedicate at least two weeks to rest. Don’t clean, cook, wake up early to dress your kids for school, or run errands.
Six Weeks After Surgery
Six weeks after surgery, it will be okay for you to bathe. During the first 48 hours following surgery, you will not be able to shower or bathe. Two days after surgery, it will be safe for you to take a lukewarm or cool shower on the softest possible showerhead setting. From two to 42 days post-op, you should use a fragrance-free body wash and air dry or pat yourself dry very gently after your shower. Also, it is a good idea to shower as quickly as possible.
Eight Weeks After Surgery
Two months following your tummy tuck, you will be able to resume your usual routine. Sometimes, people are sufficiently healed after six weeks. Other times, people are sufficiently healed after eight weeks. You can generally expect follow-up appointments to occur one, two, and six weeks following surgery. We will advise you on whether you can safely resume vigorous exercise at your six-week appointment.
How Can I Shorten My Recovery Period?
Get More Quality Sleep
Getting more quality sleep can go a long way in helping you recover from your tummy tuck. Your skin will work around the clock to heal the incision or incisions made during surgery. However, its work is most efficient when you are in the rapid eye movement stage of the sleep cycle. To reach this stage, you first need to pass through the stages preceding it. If you wake up and subsequently fall back asleep, you will start over in the first sleep cycle stage.
Exercise Gently
In addition to getting lots of quality sleep, you can help speed up your recovery process by getting 30 minutes of gentle aerobic exercise daily. Just make sure that you listen very carefully to your body. Don’t push yourself too hard. If you feel lightheaded, dizzy, or fatigued, sit down and sip on a cool glass of water.
Don’t Smoke
Avoiding tobacco consumption, including secondhand smoke, will also help you heal faster after surgery. Nicotine consumption impedes the flow of oxygen and nutrients throughout your body.
Discover How to Achieve Your Ideal Figure Today
After a tummy tuck, you can expect to see a reduction on the scale of three to five pounds. Individual experiences vary based on the amount of excess skin present and the scope of the procedure. If you have quite a bit of excess abdominal fat, you may be able to lose up to 11 additional pounds by getting liposuction at the same time as your tummy tuck. Contact us today at Finesse Cosmetic Surgery in Waltham, MA to find out how you can achieve your goals.
