Abdominoplasty, also known as a tummy tuck, is a popular body contouring procedure often used after massive weight loss, pregnancy or other changes to tighten excess skin and loose abdominal muscle tissue. Thus, it’s easy to understand why many people who get a tummy tuck are concerned about what might happen if they gain weight after their procedures.
In this guide, we explain what might cause weight gain after a tummy tuck and what your options are to address post-abdominoplasty pounds.
Reasons for Weight Gain after a Tummy Tuck
There are a number of reasons why you might experience weight gain after getting a tummy tuck. To start, it is important to note that directly after your tummy tuck, water retention can cause swelling and temporary weight gain, so avoid paying too much attention to the number on the scale while you recover.
Once swelling has diminished and you’ve fully recovered, all sorts of factors can contribute to weight fluctuations, including lifestyle changes, a new pregnancy, hormone imbalances and chronic stress. It is natural for most people to have weight fluctuations at different points in their lives. However, any considerable weight gain can negatively affect your tummy tuck results. Weight gain from additional pregnancies absolutely will impact how your abdomen looks.
When Should You Consider Tummy Tuck Revision?
If the factors noted above have resulted in minor weight gains of under 10 to 15 pounds, they are unlikely to affect the quality of your tummy tuck results. However, more significant weight gain has the potential to impact those results.
If you have experienced significant weight gain, the first step would be to identify the underlying cause, and then make any appropriate lifestyle or healthcare adjustments to help remedy that cause and achieve a healthy, stable weight.
Tummy tuck revision surgeries are possible, though they should be considered as a last-resort and are not stand-ins for traditional weight loss. If you think you could be a good candidate for a tummy tuck revision, consult an experienced plastic surgeon to discuss your specific needs and surgical options.
To schedule a consultation with Dr. Kolder, please give us a call at 805-484-2855 or easily request an appointment online.
