How To Get The Best Results From Your Tummy Tuck (Updated 2025)

Loose skin, pockets of fat, and a belly bulge plague many people who exercise consistently and follow a healthy diet. Fitness alone often cannot eliminate the effects of pregnancy, weight changes, and aging on the body. Abdominoplasty, commonly known as a tummy tuck, helps with these frustrating issues, eliminating excess, loose skin and removing belly fat to tighten and contour the midsection.

But how do you make sure you get the best results from your tummy tuck? Here are my top five tips.

Prepare for the Procedure

Preparing for your tummy tuck is one of the most important steps in achieving the best results. Maintaining a stable weight, eating a healthy diet, and staying active can help preserve your results after surgery. It’s also essential to understand what to expect during the procedure, your recovery timeline, and the final outcome. Whether you’re considering a mini tummy tuck vs. a full tummy tuck or need additional procedures like a mons lift with your tummy tuck, your surgeon will guide you to the best choice for your needs.

During your consultation, I will perform a physical exam, discuss your concerns and goals, and recommend the best approach for your specific needs—whether it’s a standard tummy tuck, a Fleur de Lis tummy tuck for more extensive skin removal, or a comparison of panniculectomy vs. tummy tuck surgery to determine which option is best suited for you.

Choose the Right Plastic Surgeon

One of the most important things you can do to ensure you get exceptional results is to choose the right plastic surgeon. Reading up on experienced board-certified plastic surgeons can guide you to the right practice for your procedure. Tummy tucks are one of my favorite procedures to perform because, as my patients have said, “the improvements are so dramatic.”

Whether you’re seeking a tummy tuck after weight loss, after pregnancy, or after you’ve fully healed from a C-section, I customize each procedure to fit your body and aesthetic goals.

Avoid Smoking and Drinking

Alcohol and nicotine negatively affect your body’s ability to heal. Nicotine, including cigarettes, vaping, or even nicotine patches or gum, can reduce the size of your blood vessels, restricting oxygen flow. When less oxygen flows to your wounds, you are at greater risk for infection at the incision sites, delayed wound healing, and thicker, wider scars.

Alcohol can thin your blood and increase post-surgical swelling, slowing your healing process. Your surgeon should instruct you on how long to keep away from nicotine and alcohol during your recovery.

Follow Activity Restrictions

While staying lightly active helps prevent complications like blood clots, you should avoid strenuous activity during the early recovery period, including heavy lifting. Swelling follows a natural progression, and understanding the stages of swelling after a tummy tuck helps you navigate your recovery more comfortably. Generally, most swelling peaks within the first 2 weeks and gradually subsides over several months.

Around 2 weeks post-op, you can start low-impact exercises such as walking, but it may take 6 weeks or more before you can engage in vigorous physical activity. Overexertion too soon can lead to complications such as a seroma after your tummy tuck; a seroma is a buildup of fluid that may require drainage.

Understand Postoperative Instructions

Your plastic surgeon will provide detailed postoperative instructions explaining how to care for yourself during recovery and ensure you achieve your best results. Depending on the complexity of your procedure, you may have surgical drains in place for about a week. Walking upright will likely be difficult at first, but taking short, frequent walks helps with circulation and reduces the risk of blood clots.

Prescription pain medication will be prescribed to help keep you comfortable. It is crucial to give yourself the time to heal and regain your strength after surgery.

Take the First Step

If you want a tighter, firmer tummy, request a consultation using our online form or call us at (205) 933-9308. We’re happy to talk with you about your tummy tuck options.