Westchester County, New York (February 2013) – A recent study has drawn connections between tummy tuck surgery and weight loss, says Dr. Joshua Greenwald (http://www.nycosmeticmd.com), who practices at Cosmetic Associates of New York (CSANY), plastic surgery practice in Westchester County, Putnam County and Manhattan.
According to the study, a procedure known as abdominoplasty (also called a tummy tuck) may result in long-term weight loss. Researchers evaluated women who had undergone a tummy tuck, gauging their results one year after their procedures. Fourteen of the 20 study participants had lost an amount of weight greater than that of the tissue removed by their abdominoplasty. The findings appeared in the February 2013 edition of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, the official medical journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS).
“Abdominoplasty is extremely effective as a cosmetic procedure,” says Dr. Greenwald, one of the board-certified plastic surgeons at CSANY. “We typically perform this surgery to remove excess fat while correcting skin laxity and restoring weakened abdominal muscles – often the results of pregnancy or significant weight loss. The ASPS study indicates that a tummy tuck may offer greater benefits than previously thought.”
Dr. Samuel Beran, a plastic surgeon in New York City and partner at the practice, shares his colleague’s enthusiasm. “While abdominoplasty is not inherently a weight-loss procedure, it may provide some unexpected weight loss benefits. The results appear especially promising for patients who have larger amounts of tissue excised.”
According to Dr. Christian Guzman, another partner at the practice, study participants’ weight loss may have resulted in part from feelings of satiety, or fullness, following their surgeries. “The vast majority of participants reported feeling full either after meals or longer into the day, possibly due to hormonal changes resulting from surgery,” Dr. Guzman says.
Patients should maintain realistic expectations and not assume that tummy tuck procedures will always lead to weight loss, says Dr. Guzman. “While the results of the ASPS study are exciting, there must be more long-term analysis to confirm their viability. Our patients who undergo body contouring procedures such as abdominoplasty and liposuction in Westchester should remember that these are cosmetic procedures designed to improve appearance. We can excise a good amount of tissue, but patients shouldn’t anticipate losing massive amounts of weight as a result of these procedures.”
Dr. Greenwald adds that tummy tuck patients should be at a stable weight and be prepared to live a healthy lifestyle after their procedure. “We have achieved some dramatic results with abdominoplasty, but we stress to our patients that they play a significant role in maximizing their own results,” he says. “This includes eating a healthful diet, exercising and maintaining a healthy weight.”
For more information about any of our cosmetic procedures and treatments, request a complimentary consultation online or contact us at (914) 761-8667. Our surgeons look forward to helping you achieve your reconstructive and cosmetic goals.