Study Says Tummy Tuck Can Help You Keep Losing Weight

Researchers are finding that a tummy tuck may do more than contour your midsection, it can also help you keep losing weight after surgery. According to a new study published in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery – Global Open, more than half of abdominoplasty patients experienced ongoing weight loss and lower BMIs up to five years post-op, suggesting the procedure may be the plastic surgery procedure that keeps on giving.

The study, led by plastic surgeon Eun Key Kim, MD of MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, tracked 188 patients who underwent tummy tuck surgery between 2009 and 2021. On average, patients lost five to six pounds in the first six months. By year four, they had shed an additional five pounds, with some losing nearly 10 pounds total by year five. Most notably, 60 percent of patients continued to lose weight after the initial six-month mark.

Which Groups Lost the Most Weight?

Patients who started with a higher BMI saw the biggest changes over time, especially if they paired their tummy tuck with liposuction or lipectomy. The study also found that older adults, nonsmokers and people taking GLP-1 medications like semaglutide had some of the strongest results.

The researchers think the surgery itself may be part of what inspires patients to shift their habits. As they put it, many people begin building healthier routines around food and movement after surgery, changes that seem to stick and lead to lasting results.

A Catalyst for Change

For some people, the confidence that comes with seeing a physical change is enough to kickstart new habits. “Rather than abdominoplasty directly causing weight loss, these effects appear to be due to patients making positive lifestyle changes,” said Dr. Kim in a press release from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS).

It’s another reason why this already popular procedure continues to attract interest. In 2023, more than 161,000 tummy tucks were performed in the U.S., according to ASPS. While it’s not considered a weight loss surgery, it may give patients the kind of momentum that helps long-term changes stick.