Tummy tuck vs. weight loss

For a patient who has gained a great deal of weight, unquestionably it is better to get their health back through exercise and good diet, plus good medical management.  Abdominal fat is particularly dangerous for diabetes and heart attacks.  Even weight loss surgery may be a consideration for patients with morbid obesity.

A tummy tuck will have a poor result in a patient who then loses 60-80 pounds.

Tummy tucks are notoriously bad at flattening a tummy that has a great deal of fat inside it (intraabdominal fat).

Although it is a very good idea to continue exercising and losing weight, some patients have localized area of fat in the upper abdomen and the flanks that are stuborn. In these patients, an option may be large volume liposuction of the abdomen, followed by a tummy tuck at a later date. I have had patients who with this approached went from size 26 to 14.