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How Much Weight Can I Lose from Tummy Tuck Surgery?
For cosmetic abdominoplasty (tummy tucks) typically the weight is somewhere between 2-5 lbs. For bariatric patients who have lost significant weight and have a significant abdominal pannus (sometimes down to a patient's knees), I have removed as much as 20 lbs. Keep in mind those patients are not having a cosmetic procedure but a procedure to remove the excess tissue to help with hygiene and mobility. As the other plastic surgeons have pointed out, you should be close to your ideal body weight prior to a cosmetic tummy tuck. In addition it is important to remember that typically during surgery we are infusing fluid via IV. Some patients may actually weigh a few pounds more in the first day or so until your body is able to mobilize those fluids and the swelling comes down.
Clinical Context
A tummy tuck removes excess skin and tightens abdominal muscles, so it changes your shape more than your scale weight. Fat isn't the main target, which is why the number on the scale often stays close to the same. A panniculectomy is a related but separate surgery, usually done after major weight loss to remove a large hanging skin fold that causes rashes or limits movement. It's considered medically necessary rather than cosmetic, and removes more tissue than a standard tummy tuck.
