Is It Safe to Have a Tummy Tuck with a Higher BMI?

I'm booked to have a TT and BA with BL next week, or rather I'm travelling with a pre.booking. I am to meet my highly qualified board certified surgeon. I have been dieting for 2 years, have already lost 75lbs and have plateaued weight for several months now. Just cannot lose another pound! My nutritionist tells me my body just needs a good rest for a while. Because I still have 40lbs to lose my BMI is still higher than 30. I really want my tummy tuck now, can I still proceed?

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11 Doctor Answers | Asked by MelbourneBorn in Melbourne

Doctor Answers (11)
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It depends on whether your remaining excess fat is internal or external to your abdomen.

I do a fair number of tummy tucks on ladies like you but also tun a fair number down until they lose more weight. If you still have a lot of "visceral fat" inside your abdomen, a tummy tuck will not be very effective in flattening your abdomen. If most of your excess fat is external to your abdomen, a tummy tuck will be effective. This is the way to determine where your excess fat is. Lie down. If your abdomen flattens, you are a good candidate for... more

Tummy Tuck is safe even if your BMI is above normal

MelbourneBorn, Having a tummy tuck even if you are not at your ideal weight is OK. Congratulations on your weight loss. Having a BMI that is above 30 does not prevent you from having a tummy tuck, but you have to understand that you have a slightly increased risk of delayed healing. We deal with many patients who had a gastric bypass or a LapBand procedure and have lost a tremendous amount of weight, yet still have a BMI >30. The only thing we do... more

With tummy tuck, ideal weight gives ideal results

Despite your BMI of 30, tummy tuck is a safe procedure. Your weight loss of 75 pounds is wonderful, and the next 40 should be within your reach. The tummy tuck however is the 'easy' part. It just makes sense that the best results are seen in individuals that have reached an 'ideal' body weight, the one that they plan to remain at after the procedure. Best of luck, peterejohnsonmd

Tummy tuck when overweight and above 30 BMI

Having a tummy tuck at a BMI will subject you to a higher rate of complicaitons including pulmonary, clotting, poor wound healing, infections, etc.

Otto Joseph Placik, MD

33 reviews

Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Tummy tuck, weight loss, cosmetic surgery

I have to do these routinely becuse Iwork in the MIwest of the United States. You can perform them with or without liposuction and get very reasonable results.

Tummy Tuck with High BMI

Many patients have tummy tucks even if they are not at their "ideal weight." However, you have to realize that the more weight you loose, the better the results could possibly be. My advice is to be at your "realistic weight" at the time of surgery. By "realistic weight" I mean the weight that you are with your normal style of living, diet and exercise pattern. It is hard to maintain an "ideal" weight if it does not match... more

Safe to Have a Tummy Tuck with a Higher BMI

Yes but the results would be much better if you lost at least 25 more pounds. After discussing with your chosen surgeon than you can decide.

It is safer to do ONLY tummy tuck in overweight patients.

Hi. We do tummy tuck on patients with higher BMI. Of course, you will still be overweight, but you will have flat stomach. This can be an incentive to lose more weight. Measures can be taken to make procedure safe. But I would not do your breasts at the same time. That really increases the risk.

Be at your "best" weight

You will certainly get the best result from being at YOUR best weight. As long as you are otherwise healthy and are at a stable weight, a board certified plastic surgeon can assess your best elective options for you, always understanding that safety comes first. It sounds like you are at a stable weight and that you and your plastic surgeon have decided that your goals are reasonable and surgery can be performed safely. That's definitely a decision the two of you need to... more

Tummy tuck and high BMI

You haved done a lot of work to get where you are. I would encourage you to keep working if you can make progress on getting your BMI down. I understand that many people will get to a certain weight and not be able to get down any more with out some extrodinary effort. The weight that you are when you do your tummy tuck will need to be discussed with your surgeon. I prefer to have people below a BMI of 30 but after a review of their activity and goals we may decide... more