Tummy Tuck After Gastric Bypass?

I had Gastric Bypass 11/18/08 and I have so far lost 95 lbs. I'm now 158 lbs, and hoping to lose another 15 lbs. Is it too early for a Tummy Tuck?

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abdomen fat

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9 Doctor Answers | Asked by CaliPrincess619 in San Diego, CA

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Tummy tuck after gastric bypass is very rewarding to patients

I have a vast experience with body contouring in massive weight loss patients. You do not state how tall you are which would help figure out if you are close to your ideal body weight. Weight loss is faster with gastric bypass than lap band. Often patients plateau out for a while than have a second period of rapid weight loss. If only 15lbs stand between you and your ideal body weight, you can have a tummy tuck. It is possible that you would need a lower body lift as well. Your plastic... more

Tummy tuck after weight loss

You should be proud of losing so much weight! ideally, you will get the best result by losing as much weight as possible prior to surgery. Having your weight stable is also a helpful factor.

I would wait for your weight to stabilize for 6 months

Once your weight is stable, I think then is the best time to proceed with the tummy tuck. Remember however that your skin is different than folks who have not undergone gastric bypass surgery, and a second touch up procedure may be required in the future, as the skin loosens over time.

Timing

First of all congratulations on the weight loss. The timing of body contouring after weight loss is an individual decision. Basic recommendations are to be at a stable weight for 3 months. This helps decrease the need for revisional procedures. It is time to begin consulting with a plastic surgeon who has a significant experience in body contouring after weight loss to begin planning your surgeries. If you carry your remaining weight in localized areas that will be addressed by surgery than... more

Which procedure is appropriate is dependent upon where you have lost your weight

A panniculectomy or abdominoplasty may or may not be the procedure for you at your current weight of 158 lbs. Where the 95 lbs. has come off and where the remaining 158 lbs. are located can also determine whether your abdominal procedure should be the first procedure chosen. For instance, loss of weight in the arms, breasts, buttocks, and thighs but with retained fullness in the lower and upper abdomen may make a patient a less optimal patient for abdominal contouring initially. In... more

You can do a tummy tuck in 3 months.

Hi! A few pounds don't really matter. I think you could schedule a tummy tuck anytime after another 3 months, depending on your schedule. We use special techniques for massive weight loss patients. See link below for options.

Post Weight Loss Surgery

In general I like my patients to be at a stable weight for atleast 3 months prior to their surgery. This usually happens when they are about 1 year out from their weight loss surgery. So, you are probably too early still and would wait, as you will have more skin and tighter abdomen if you were to wait until you have lost the weight you are going to lose. Good luck.

Not too early for Tummy Tuck

Congratulations on your weight loss. This is a really common question. While ideally you should reach "goal" and maintain it for several months before having a Tummy Tuck, it is not always realistic. As I tell my patients, your "goal" weight is a very arbitrary number set by your bariatric surgeon. It does not take into account the amount of excess skin. Given your weight loss, I am willing to bet that you have at least 20 pounds of skin that needs to be removed from... more