Photo Credit: jasmin chew via www.pexels.com

A tummy-tuck (or an abdominoplasty) is a cosmetic surgery to improve the shape of the tummy area. Often desired by people who have excess skin due to weight loss or pregnancy, it’s no wonder it’s so popular. With BAAPS estimating around 28,000 are people going under the knife each year, it’s more common than you’d think.

But if you’re considering a tummy tuck, or if you’ve recently had one – you may be wondering how to get long term results after your surgery?

If you have had a tummy tuck, how do you maintain the results?

First off, it’s worth mentioning that a tummy tuck is not a substitute for weight loss and won’t have the desired effects if you don’t change your lifestyle. With 36% of adults considered to be overweight, it’s clear that many of us need to change our lifestyle and diet.

It’s important to remember that it’s not a permanent solution, and should your diet slip backwards, you could risk undoing the hard work of your surgeon. In the same breath, you won’t have toned muscles if you don’t work out! To ensure a toned, slim stomach in the long term, you will need to work hard to maintain your physique.

To keep your body looking beach-ready, it’s important to keep hydrated and moisturise daily to maintain healthy skin on your abdomen. As you may be prone to scar tissue, it’s a good idea to use moisturiser as soon as the scabs have healed to reduce the look of scarring.

Another way to reduce scarring is to apply topical Vitamin E oil. Applied once per day, this should reduce scarring. To prevent dark scars, you should also wear sunscreen on your scar for around a year post-op and avoid tanning the area.

Preventing weight gain after a tummy-tuck

After a tummy tuck, it’s important to do your best to prevent weight gain so that you can enjoy the results of your surgery for years to come.

As part of your recovery plan, an exercise and lifestyle plan should be discussed with your surgeon. For your body to heal following a tummy-tuck, your body will need an increased amount of protein and fibre. Your diet should be a balance of seafood, dairy, white meat, poultry and eggs. Salty and fatty foods along with carbs should be avoided. If you are going to eat carbs, these should be high in fibre.

You should also look to embark on a fitness regime. Exercise is an excellent way to keep fit and keep the weight off. Your surgeon will be able to discuss with you when you can start hitting the gym again, but this is usually around 7-10 weeks post op. Initially, taking up gentle activities such as yoga can be used to improve core strength following the surgery.

The key takeaway

A tummy tuck is a big decision and is certainly not a quick fix. Results from a tummy tuck differ hugely depending on how much work you put in after you’ve recovered.

However, the good news is that by eating a balanced diet and exercising regularly, you can enjoy the results of your surgery for many years to come.