Tummy Tuck: Q&A

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Can I Have Tummy Tuck Now or Wait Until I Lower my BMI? (photo)

I've had three pregnancies, all c-sections. I've also lost 70 pounds through diet & exercise. However, I still have a BMI of 36 at 5'5" and 220 pounds, which I know makes me obese still. But I'm sick of my stomach overhang--it's gross, lowers my self esteem, and gets in the way while exercising. (My stomach does go flat when lying down.) If I came to you in my present condition, would you do a tummy tuck on me now or do I absolutely have to wait until I get my BMI below 30? Thanks in advance!

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29 Doctor Answers | Asked by anewmimi in Michigan

Doctor Answers (29)
Community Comments (0)

Your Self Esteem IS More Important Than You Weight

Taking off your tummy apron now will actually make it easier to exercise. If the right operation is done you should not need to re-do the tummy tuck later after getting to your ideal weight. The way you feel about yourself and how much easier it will be to buy clothes will help you work harder to get off that last chunk of weight. Here are some things I think you need to be aware of though: 1 There will be a long scar. As the apron comes of it will involve skin all... more

The "Right" Weight at Which to have Tummy Tuck Surgery

Hi there- While I understand how many women such as yourself have come to the belief that they need to vigorously exercise and diet in order to have their body contouring surgery (many of it propagated by us surgeons in order to help people understand that this surgery should not be done with weight loss as the goal), I must say that I could not disagree with the concept more... There is no magic number at which you will instantly become a great candidate for surgery, and above which... more

Timing for a tummy tuck

The BMI is used as a guideline to help physicians determine the best candidates for abdominoplasty. There are many other factors that go into the dicision making as well. I certainly think that you are a good candidate for the surgery at this time. I believe you will have a very good result and that it will make a big impact on your self esteem. If you continue to loose weight after surgery, you will just look better.

Tummy tuck and BMI

Congratulations on your weight loss. Not only have you shown great discipline in your weight loss, you are also clearly researching your procedure based on your question regarding your BMI. Our literature shows a clear increase in the complication rate when an individuals BMI is over 35. A number below 30 is ideal but there is a significant drop in complications below a BMI of 35. This is a more reasonable and obtainable goal in the short term than 30 for you. In review of your photos,... more

Timing of Tummy Tuck

I believe that you are a reasonable candidate to have the procedure at your current weight if that is your choice. It will eliminate the overhanging pannus and improve your appearance and allow you to exercise more once you have healed.

Donald Griffin, MD

7 reviews

Nashville Plastic Surgeon

Could have it done now

Congratulations on your weight loss. You have done a great job already. Your photos suggest that you have lost the weight in the right place to consider having a tummy tuck now. There does not appear to be a lot of fat in the upper part of your tummy and it looks like removal of the hanging skin and fat would make a drastic improvement. Certainly, if you have the procedure done and you loose a lot more weight, you could develop further laxity in the skin.... more

Tummy tuck and BMI

Congratulations for your weight loss. Ideally, you should have a BMI under 30. However, this may not be feasible for you. You should be able to get under and sustain a BMI under 35 prior to surgery. see video

Tummy tuck now (BMI 36) vs later (BMI 30)

Your weight loss is very impressive - shedding 70 pounds through diet & exercise is no small feat! Yours is a 'it depends' case, so a clearer understanding of where you are - both emotionally and physically - in respects to your weight loss program, is certainly needed. In general however, my advice in cases such as yours is as follows: Wait - if your goal is to loose a little more weight (in your case, roughly 30-40 pounds) then I would wait until you are... more

Might be OK now

Plastic Surgeons like their patients to be at a BMI below 30 because the risk of pot-operative complications - such as wound separation (dehiscence) and fat necrosis - significantly go down. So, if a patient can get there, that is ideal. Some people, however, are simply not genetically programmed to be able to reach that BMI. If you are one of those people - you have stalled out on your weight loss and your weight is stable (not yo-yo-ing), you are in good physical... more

Tummy tuck or more weight loss

You can make a dramatic change in the appearance of your abdominal tissue with a tummy tuck. If you are actively losing weight, then I would wait until it stabilizes. If your weight has plateaued somewhat, then I would consider you to be a tummy tuck candidate. Do realize that there are some increase complication risks with higher BMI patients, and also there is a risk that if you continue to lose a lot of weight after a tummy tuck, you may still develop some laxity of the... more

Weight loss and tummy tuck

Congratulation on your progress. Great job! At this point it would likely be a great boost to your progress to go ahead and get a tummy tuck. I will probably make it easier to exercise. When you do lose more weight, you may or may not need a revision to your tummy tuck but you will probably not need to get the whole thing redone. Good luck. Keep up the good work.

Have tummy tuck when your weight is stable

Based on your photos you appear to be a good candidate for a tummy tuck, however you would be an even better candidate at a lower weight. You should have the surgery when you are at or close to your goal weight. As you lose more weight, more skin can be removed during the procedure. Also, the complication rate (infection, wound healing, blood clot formation, etc.) is much lower when your body weight is lower. You could certainly have the surgery now, but I think your overall outcome would be... more

Tummy Tuck in a Mother of 3 with a BMI of 36

Last time I checked a BMI was a number NOT a law. IDEALLY, the BEST tummy tuck results are seen in women who completed their families and whose weight has been stable for 6 months PREFERABLY with a BMI of 27 and lower. This does not mean that you are excluded from having a tummy tuck only that your result may not be as attractive and that the rate of potential complications may be higher. I your case you may benefit from having several procedures done in staged or sequential... more

Timing Of Abdominal Panniculectomy and Weight Loss

In an ideal world, you would lose the 30 lbs and then have the procedure. But you have such a large overhanging apron and I imagine that losing any more substantial weight is going to be more difficult than it was up to this point. Given the picture of your pannus, I think you would be best served to go ahead and get it removed now. You will be able to function so much better and are more likely to lose weight if you desire to do so with it off than with it on.

Can I Have Tummy Tuck Now or Wait Until I Lower my BMI? (photo)

Thanks for posting the photos. Very hard to advise over the internet. My guess is you would be fine now bot another 30 pounds would be safer for you. Give it a try.

Tummy tuck now or after more weight loss?

Great photos. Go for it now. Will likely help you lose more weight, and because of your combination of loose abdominal wall and excess abdominal skin, both of which will be treated by abdominoplasty, you should get a dramatic result! Your result will not be significantly compromised by further weight loss afterward.

Do your tummy tuck now

First of all, congratulations on losing the weight you've been able to do. You have done a great job. I would say absolutely to go ahead and do your abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) now. Most plastic surgeons include some component of liposuction into the procedure at the same time which I would recommend. I typically do liposuction of the anterior and posterior flanks at the same time as the abdominoplasty. The only thing to be aware of is that you still may... more

Tummy Tuck

Based on your pictures, you look like you could achieve a nice result with a tummy tuck / abdominoplasty. Since you have hanging / dependent skin, an excision procedure would be necessary to remove the extra skin. Liposuction and other less invasive procedure would not produce a good results for you. However, at the same time as the abdominoplasty / tummy tuck, you may benefit from liposuction on your flanks. At a second procedure, you may consider liposuction of your... more

BMI and tummy tuck

I don't base decisions for surgery on BMI. Instead, the crucial question is whether you have reached your desired weight. If so, then you could consider surgery. If not, then research your options and find a plastic surgeon with whom you are comfortable while continuing to loss weight. You are definitely a candidate for a tummy tuck. Congratulations on the weight loss!

Tummy tuck now or later

I also do not base my decisions on BMI. For me, if the upper abdomen has thinned out and most of the excess is in the lower abdominal apron, I would consider going ahead now IF you have absolutely plateaued and can't lose any more weight. If you are able to exercise better after and then lose 20-30 pounds, your result might become lax.

What is the best BMI for tummy tuck surgery?

First of all, you are to be congratulated on your weight loss--it is not easy and you are doing the job! But you are not yet done, unless you have hit a plateau you cannot easily get past. My colleagues' answers all convey varying points of view, all of which have validity. Take the time to read them, and see what makes the most sense to you. Try to avoid being swayed by your own bias to "finally have surgery done" because you will ultimately need another, or different... more

Choosing the right time for surgery

Looking at your pictures you are definitely a good candidate for surgery. Whether or not you should do it now all depends on how likely you are to loose any more weight. Loosing more weight (more than 20 lb) will mean that the cosmetic results of your surgery will degrade a little bit. Losing a few pound will likely make no difference to your cosmetic outcome. As to the BMI question, I do not use BMI as a deciding factor in my selection criteria (as long as the BMI is... more

Tummy Tuck now or later

You are to be commended on your weight loss through diet and exercise,Congratulations! I have many patients in a similar situation, the excess skin and weight through their abdomen now becomes a barrier to continued exercise. They have loved the results from a Tummy Tuck at this time, knowing that it may looosen slightly with continued weight loss. You should still get a very good result. The best way to evaluate your health and make this a safe procedure for you is to see a Board... more

I would recommed tummy tuck

You have done a great job and lost a lot of weight. If your abdominal skin and fat interfere with your exercise and make you self conscious ,tummy tuck can help you to become more sctive by removing the extra skin from lower abdomen. As long as you are in good health,tummy tuck can be done safely.

Kamran Khoobehi, MD

28 reviews

New Orleans Plastic Surgeon

BMI less than 30 for best tummy tuck results

A tummy tuck is less likely to have complications and results will be better if you wait until you get to a BMI of 30 or less.

Tummy tuck surgery with elevated BMI

You are asking a good question and many patients share your concerns. First of all, BMI does correlate carefully with an increased or decreased potential for surgical complications after any major surgery. Wound disruption, infections, pulmonary emboli and general respiratory and cardiac problems certainly increase significantly with a higher BMI. Ideally you should lose the weight that you want to lose before having the surgery performed. Secondly, if you... more

Surgery now or lose more weight?

Based on your photo I imagine that you carry a lot of weight in your thighs and legs because your belly and chest doesn't look that big. If you are still able to easily lose more weight than I would do so. I think you will get the best result from a circumferential tummy tuck which would reshape your entire waist. If so you will probably lose about 5 libs from the skin being removed. If you've hit a wall, go for the surgery.

Tummytuck timing

My opinion diifers slightly from the first surgeon. First, complication rates are higher with a BMI over 35 (some say 30). You would need to consider that. Second, your results will be better if you lose down to your goal weight. 10% change is not a big issue but as a person loses 30, 40 pounds or more the skin will loosen. It can not be predicted how much. For people with unlimited time and money, a tummy tuck can be repeated. An option would be to perform a removal of just a portion... more

Michael Hueneke, MD

6 reviews

Nashville Plastic Surgeon

Timing of Tummy Tuck Surgery?

Thank you for the question and pictures. You should be congratulated on your successful diet and exercise regimen. Your motivation to proceed with tummy tuck surgery is completely understandable. I try to individualize my recommendations for every patient I see; I do not go by any specific BMI when making decisions regarding timing of stomach surgery. Based on your pictures and description I think you're very close to being ready for tummy tuck... more