Weight Stays Off One Year After Tummy Tuck
While most physicians will counsel that abdominoplasty results can be easily reversed with poor diet and a sedentary lifestyle, studies are showing that many women enjoy long-lasting weight loss benefits. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons has released data on an informational study published earlier this year in their official medical journal, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. Many patients who are overweight or obese prior to the procedure manage to keep the weight off after a year.
This is exciting and encouraging news for patients who are considering a tummy tuck for weight loss. Specifically, the study shows that out of 20 women, those with greater than 4.5 pounds removed kept the weight off at 12 months. Women who weren’t as obese or didn’t have as much weight removed had an increased BMI, according to study data. Many physicians and healthcare experts postulate that these results are due to changes in hormones signaling and feelings of satiety.
In short, fat cells stimulate hormonal regulation of chemicals that can make your brain feel more or less full. With more fat cells to feed, the brain often takes longer (and more food) to feel full. On the other hand, removing fat cells can reverse that process and help you to feel fuller, faster. Naturally, feeling fuller sooner usually leads to eating less, and eating less usually leads to weight loss.
When reviewed by patients and physicians, these abdominoplasty weight loss results are encouraging and should be taken into consideration for preoperative surgical consultations. However, it is important to understand that weight loss plastic surgery procedures are not irreversible. Weight can even be regained above and beyond what was originally removed. Patients must consider long-term dietary and lifestyle modifications in order to reap the full benefits of a tummy tuck or similar procedure.
