How to Keep the Fat Away After Tummy Tuck Surgery

A tummy tuck, or abdominoplasty, is a contouring procedure that tightens skin and improves the appearance of your abdomen. If you’re eating right and exercising and can’t seem to lose that last ten pounds or achieve a flat stomach, a tummy tuck can help you achieve those goals.

Many patients are concerned about weight gain after a tummy tuck. At Mizuguchi Plastic Surgery in Louisville, KY, Dr. Nana Mizuguchi gives clients customized plans to help maintain the results of their surgery.

Below are some general tips to help patients lose weight after a tummy tuck.

Can you gain weight after a tummy tuck?

While a tummy tuck is not technically a weight loss or bariatric procedure, patients see an improvement in the shape of their abdomen and hips. For those looking to lose some extra weight with cosmetic surgery, liposuction can be added to a tummy tuck for optimal results.

Typically, patients are within ten pounds of their goal weight before a tummy tuck, but weeks of downtime following the surgery can lead to weight gain. You will need to avoid exercise or vigorous activities for about six weeks after your procedure, so here are tips for maintaining or losing weight after a tummy tuck:

1. Follow your doctor’s advice

As a dual board-certified aesthetic and plastic surgeon, Dr. Mizuguchi has years of experience performing tummy tucks and guiding patients through the healing process. This journey will look different for each patient, so it’s crucial to listen to the personalized advice you receive for keeping off the weight after abdominoplasty.

2. Rest and recover

Trying to rush your recovery is a health risk and could interfere with the results of your tummy tuck surgery. Putting both physical and emotional stress on the body can lead to weight gain. Limiting your movement and getting enough sleep is essential for your body’s healing process.

Refraining from strenuous activity for over a month can be hard for active people. But respecting your body will produce the best long-term results.

3. Monitor your diet

Your diet is crucial when it comes to avoiding weight gain after tummy tuck surgery. You want to give your body the energy it needs to heal without overdoing it on the calories and undoing the results.

Finding a diet plan that works for your lifestyle is an integral part of the recovery process. The following diet tips will also help:

• Eat healthy protein

• Include foods that are rich in fiber (this not only aids in weight loss but can reduce constipation that may be especially painful after a tummy tuck)

• Incorporate foods with essential vitamins to help stave off illness and infection

• Understand the trigger foods that cause you to overeat and make plans to avoid them

• Stay hydrated to help stave off false hunger

• Avoid empty carbs, fatty foods, and too much salt

4. Stay active with low-impact activities

The first few days after tummy tuck surgery require rest to avoid complications that can cause setbacks. The better you take care of yourself after an abdominoplasty, the sooner you can get back to your regular activities.

A few days after your surgery, you’ll likely be able to walk around with minimal discomfort. Short, low-intensity walks are a helpful way to ease back into activity as well as reduce swelling after a tummy tuck.

Once you consult your doctor, you will likely be able to return to other low-intensity activities in a few weeks to help avoid weight gain after a tummy tuck. After 6 – 10 weeks, you can likely ease back into abdominal exercise, as long as you do it progressively.

5. Add liposuction to your tummy tuck

If your goal is to lose weight to begin with, adding liposuction or a weight loss procedure to your tummy tuck may be an option. A tummy tuck is designed to shape and contour the abdominal area rather than get rid of fat. That’s why it’s crucial to speak openly with your plastic surgeon about your long and short-term aesthetic goals.

Safe and effective tummy tuck surgery in Louisville, KY

If you have loose skin, stretch marks, or stubborn fat deposits in the lower abdominal region, exercise and diet can’t do anything about that. It’s frustrating to work hard and not see results, but a procedure like a tummy tuck can be life-changing.

If you’re in the Louisville, KY area and ready to take matters into your own hands, schedule a consultation with Dr. Nana Mizuguchi at Mizuguchi Plastic Surgery.