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Is There a Recommended Target Weight for Tummy Tuck?

asked 3 years ago by msboogs in roanoke, TX
Latest answer by Vincent N. Zubowicz, MD
Question viewed 1,059 times
Tags: preparation, weight

I am 35 and have constantly battled with my weight. I am 5'2" and currently weigh 180. I have weighed as much as 200 and have gone up and down from about 150-200 in the last ten years. I have had 2 C-Sections and the horribly ugly overhang. Is there a recommended weight to reach before getting a Tummy Tuck?

13 answers to Is There a Recommended Target Weight for Tummy Tuck?

You can benefit by a tummy tuck even if you are overweight.

To msboogs, Hi! This is a common source of confusion. There is absolutely no reason to demand that you become thin before you can have your "ugly overhang" removed. Losing weight and aiming for a flatter stomach are independent issues. So you can have a tummy tuck now. Some people just cannot come close to their ideal weight, and asking for this is just another way of saying "Never!" There are two important points: 1) The WAY in which a tummy tuck is done should be... more

George J. Beraka, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Within 20lbs of your ideal weight before tummy tuck

First, the most significant determinant of a good candidate for abdominoplasty is the amount of loose skin that is below the belly button. Often, this loose skin is caused by significant weight loss or by pregnancy. In both cases, the abdominal skin has been stretched beyond its ability to shrink. If you can easily grab and pinch a large amount of loose skin, it is likely that an abdominoplasty would provide a highly noticeable improvement for you. If, on the other hand, the skin feels very... more

Joseph Thomas Cruise, MD
California Plastic Surgeon

There is no recommended weight for a tummy tuck.

Although it would be nice to operate on all patients at ideal body weight, that is just not the way things are. Overweight patients get dramatic results from abdominoplasties. It does not make them thin, but it can server as a psychological jumping point for further weight loss.

Vincent N. Zubowicz, MD
Atlanta Plastic Surgeon

Ideal Weight for Tummy Tuck Candidates

Ideally you should be close to your goal weight before undergoing a tummy tuck. This will allow for the best results, because if you continue to loose more weight you may end up with a bit of excess skin. If you wait, your results will allow for even better contours. Although, if you are losing 20 lbs or under, it is often not a problem. It is always important to remember that liposuction and tummy tucks are not to be used as a means of weight loss. Liposuction is often performed... more

Tarick K. Smaili, MD
Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

Target weight for a tummy tuck

Tummy tucks are an extremely popular and effective way to contour the abdomen. There is no perfect weight before a tummy tuck. Your best is to work with a board-certified plastic surgeon who has a great deal of experience in abdominoplasty, liposuction, and body contouring. You should also be at a stable weight and as close to your personal target as possible. Keep in mind that the more weight you lose before your tummy tuck, the better your result will be. To learn more about tummy... more

B. Pat Pazmino, MD
Miami Plastic Surgeon

www.miamiaesthetic.com

Reaching your ideal weight prior to surgery

Ideally, I would recommend that you get as close as possible to your goal weight prior to surgery. In order to achieve the best and safest results possible, patient's do the work to lose weight or wait until their weight is stable. The last thing we would like are complications or the need for revisionary surgery. Unfortunately, plastic surgery does not guarentee permanent results. Factors that may affect the results include weight loss, weight gain, gravity, aging, and... more

Tom J. Pousti, MD
San Diego Plastic Surgeon

www.poustiplasticsurgery.com

Ideal body weight for tummy tuck (abdominoplasty)

Ideally you should be within 10% of your ideal body wieght. This should be 115 pounds at 5'2'. This represents a BMI of approximately 21 and can range up to 25 corresponding to a weight of 140lbs. This will lower your inciidence of complications.

Otto Joseph Placik, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Ideal weight and tummy tuck

You should really get down to a weight that is closer to your ideal weight but a weight that you can maintain. Then consider a tummy tuck.

Steven Wallach, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

You need to get to a weight you can maintain after tummy tuck surgery

Hello, Really large patients do not see as much improvement after tummy tuck surgery as smaller patients, but you do not benefit by losing weight only to gain it afterward. It is all relative. I am not saying you can't get good results. Some of this depends upon what you define as a good result. You just can't expect to be made really thin by surgery if you are larger in the first place. I usually tell my patients to find their "maintenance weight" and then come for evaluation.... more

John P. Di Saia, MD
Orange Plastic Surgeon

Timing for tummy tuck surgery depends on you

Tummy tuck surgery (abdominoplasty) works best for individuals who have come as close to their goal weigt as possible and have been able to maintain this weight for several months. Abdominoplasty is not a substitute for weight loss and diet and exercise are important in maintaing and optimizing your results. Abdominoplasty is a rewarding surgery for many people and can help you get over the hump that exercise and diet can only partially provide.

David A. Robinson, MD
Munster Plastic Surgeon

If it is too hard for you to lose weight, you may not have to lose too much

As I'm sure you know, you are not alone in your battle with weight. I often have women who are frustrated with their weight and the look of their midsection and often find themselves working hard with little results, hoping that a tummy tuck will finally give them a positive change. If you are healthy enough, it is possible that you may be able to have the surgery with little or no weight loss, depending on the policies and comfort level of the plastic surgeon you chose. It is always... more

Thomas T. Nguyen, MD
Orange County Plastic Surgeon

Target weight for tummy tuck - it depends

Any procedure will do best when you are at a stable weight. Losing weight for the procedure only to gain it back is a losing proposition. If you are comfortable at a particular weight then so be it - just expect less from the final outcome. The large overhang will certainly be improved!

Robert M. Freund, MD
New York Plastic Surgeon

Get as close to your 'goal' weight as possible

An abdominoplasty is not a means for weight loss. It IS a way to recontour your abdominal wall and flanks AFTER losing a significant amount of weight. Surgical results with abdominoplasty are optimized in patients who have made an effort to lose as much weight to approximate their ideal body weights.