Tummy Tuck

Q:

I am seriously considering a tummy tuck. I have lost approximately 70 pounds and have kept it off for 2 years. I would still like to lose 40 pounds more, but I have reached a plateau. I exercise at a fitness center 3 times a week but have had little or no success in getting rid of my "pouch" and it is rather large. I feel like a tummy tuck would help me feel better about my appearance; but since I do want to lose additional weight, would having a tummy tuck before the weight is lost be successful?

A:

Congratulations on your weight loss and change in lifestyle. It is not unusual after a significant weight loss to have some residual fatty tissue of the abdomen and some loose skin. An abdominoplasty, or tummy tuck, can help remove the excess skin and fatty tissue that remains and, at the same time, the muscles can be tightened to firm up the abdomen further. Additional contouring with lipoplasty (liposuction) for the hips, waist, and upper abdomen can provide further improvement in contour. The tummy tuck operation is not designed for weight loss, although a few pounds will be shed, but it generally is designed for improvement in contour. You did not mention your current weight, but I think that probably you could proceed with abdominoplasty and achieve a very nice improvement, and likely any additional weight that you would be able to lose would complement the results of your surgery.

Answered by: Deason C. Dunagan, M.D., FACS
Huntsville, AL

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