When should I have a consultation for a tummy tuck?

Far more important than deciding if TT is for you is the skill and experience of your plastic surgeon. Choose your surgeon rather than the technique and let him explain why one technique may be better than another and if you need a tummy tuck. Many board certified plastic surgeons provide a free first time consult and you should take advantage of that! See the below link on some suggestions on finding the most qualified Plastic Surgeon for you!

The consultation can be performed within a week or two of your surgery if your surgeon's schedule allows for it. You don't have to wait for your surgery after you've had a consultation, as long as the surgery has been determined safe and effective for you by your surgeon and you are comfortable in having them perform your surgery. However, it is often the case that patients have to wait a bit between their consultation and surgery because of the  surgeon's schedule. 

Hi there-
The timing of your consultation will depend greatly on your choice of surgeon, as the variables that will affect this the most will be how busy your surgeon is (some might be able to get you in soon for surgery, while others are busier and will not be able to do your surgery for some time), and how long it takes the surgeon you choose to do the procedure you need (in other words, this is another example of the truism that we are no all created equal).
My best advice to you is to do your homework, choose a surgeon you like and can trust, and call his or her office- ask how far in advance the surgeon is scheduling surgery and plan appropriately.
On occasion, if a patient has an important event they need to recover by, I might be willing to work later than usual if I am not otherwise able to accommodate the patient's desired timeline-
The important thing is that you do not compromise your safety or the quality of your care and outcome in order to fit the procedure into your schedule or budget.
Find the best surgeon for you first. Worry about the schedule second.
Here's some good advice on how to go about this: