How Much Fat Can Be Removed With a Tummy Tuck?
Are you considering a tummy tuck? If so, you probably have several questions about the procedure, recovery, and results. One of the most commonly asked questions is, “How much fat can be removed with a tummy tuck?” In this blog, we address what factors influence the amount of fat removed during a tummy tuck, as well as what treatments to choose if fat loss is your top priority.
4 Min Read:
What You Should Know When Considering a Tummy Tuck
Factors Influencing the Amount of Fat Removal During a Tummy Tuck
Is Fat Loss Your Primary Goal?
Learn More About Tummy Tucks in San Diego
When you’re on a weight loss journey, one of the things you may be looking forward to is showing off your hard work. Wearing clothes in a smaller size or in a more revealing style than you did before is often classified as a non-scale victory—-achieving a goal through weight loss that doesn’t focus on what the scale says.
However, what many people often struggle with after losing weight is excess skin that makes you look bigger than you are. Other issues people encounter are more visible stretch marks or loose, sagging skin on their abdomen, making it difficult to wear the crop top they’ve been longing to buy. A tummy tuck can change all of that, removing and tightening loose skin. But what if you still have abdominal fat you want to lose? Can a tummy tuck help with that? In this blog, we’ll discuss the factors that influence how much fat is removed during a tummy tuck, as well as alternatives to a tummy tuck if fat reduction is your primary goal.
What You Should Know When Considering a Tummy Tuck
A tummy tuck is designed to eliminate excess skin and fat on your abdomen, trimming and contouring your midsection. It can also repair abdominal muscle damage (known as diastasis recti) and restore strength and function to your core.
Tummy tucks are not a method of weight loss, nor are they meant to be a way to eliminate fat. In fact, for best results, it is recommended that you be within 25-30 pounds of your goal weight before undergoing a tummy tuck. Gaining or losing weight after your surgery will affect your results, so it’s best to stay at a stable weight if possible.
Factors Influencing the Amount of Fat Removal During a Tummy Tuck
Patient’s Body Composition
Your body composition plays a role in the amount of fat that can potentially be removed during a tummy tuck. People with a higher body fat percentage may have more total fat and skin on their stomachs that can be removed. Conversely, if you have a lower body fat percentage, the tissue removal from a tummy tuck will likely consist more of skin and less fat.
Type of Tummy Tuck
There are several types of tummy tucks, the most common of which are a full tummy tuck, mini tummy tuck, and extended tummy tuck. Depending on which type of tummy tuck you have, and your overall size, the total weight removed can vary greatly. On larger patients, sometimes up to five pounds or more can be removed.
Health and Safety Considerations
The most crucial thing to remember when meeting with potential plastic surgeons is that while your tummy tuck results are important, your health and safety are even more important. You need to find a reputable and experienced board-certified plastic surgeon who offers a realistic outlook for what results can be safely achieved.
Is Fat Loss Your Primary Goal?
A tummy tuck is a game of inches, not pounds. If you’re primarily seeking fat loss, a better bet would be liposuction or CoolSculpting®. According to the recommendations of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), the maximum amount of fat that can be removed in a single liposuction procedure is about 11 pounds, but the safest limit is around six to eight pounds. CoolSculpting® patients can expect to lose around 25% of the fat cells in the targeted treatment area, so the actual number of pounds depends on the patient’s starting weight.
What is essential to keep in mind is that whether you choose a tummy tuck, liposuction, or CoolSculpting®, the results are geared toward contouring your body, not helping you lose weight. This is especially true in the case of a tummy tuck. A tummy tuck is an invasive surgery with extended recovery time required, so people with a significant amount of weight still to lose should do so before undergoing the procedure. You and your surgeon are both invested in seeing you achieve the maximum results from your tummy tuck, and continuing to lose weight after your procedure can impact your results—even to the point of needing revision surgery to address more excess skin.
Learn More About Tummy Tuck Surgery in San Diego
If you’re thinking about getting a tummy tuck or any other type of cosmetic surgery, it’s essential to know as much as possible about the procedure: its advantages, disadvantages, recovery requirements, and realistic expectations for your results. The best way to discover if you’re a candidate for a tummy tuck is to schedule a consultation with Dr. Pollack by calling 858-450-9100 or completing the online contact form.