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Reach Weight Loss Goal Before Tummy Tuck Surgery?

I have lost 100 pounds so far and am planning on a tummy tuck. I have 30 pounds to go until I reach my goal weight of 135. Can I go ahead and get the tummy tuck or wait till I reach my goal? I'm very happy about the weight loss but I can't stand the loose skin.

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weight loss goal

Reach a stable plateau, then have surgery

When patients lose weight as a result of healthy changes in diet and a regular exercise program, that weight loss is real. Fad diets and pills often yield impressive results, but are too often followed by a yo-yo weight fluctuation pattern. Having said that, healthy active patients often reach a weight plateau. This plateau weight may or may not be the "goal weight". Goal weights can be demoralizing if they are not sustainable. We all have a weight we would like to be, but that weight... more

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Brent Moelleken, MD

Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Tummy Tuck After Massive Weight Loss

When patients start to lose weight, they sometimes get so excited that they don't know when to stop! They also forget that the hanging abdominal pannus also weighs a lot by itself. Losing too much weight is not good! Becuase then, your face, buttocks, and breasts start to hang too much and you will look bad. I usually tell my patients who are close to their optimal weight not to lose weight because I will liposuction the extra fat from around their abdomen and flanks at the time of their... more

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S. Sean Younai, MD

Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

ASPS

Evaluate weight loss trends before tummy tuck

I may be going against the grain on this one as most of my colleagues in the thread recommend achieving your weight loss goal (losing an additional 30 lbs) prior to considering elective cosmetic surgery. I used to do the same, as this is what we are taught. Historicaly, I saw patients who wanted to lose weight, say 30 lbs, and I told them to excercise, eat well, get a trainer, join a gym and then see me back in 3-6 months. They would do all the above, see me back in the office and say... more

John Philip Connors III, MD

Atlanta Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Two schools of thought regarding preop weight loss

The conventional concept is that you should be as close as possible to your ideal weight prior to undergoing body contouring surgery. This approach results in the optimal aesthetic outcome and avoids the need for touch up surgery if you were to continue to lose significant amounts of weight after the surgery. Having said that, it may be very difficult to lose that last 30 lb, and, in your efforts to do so, would be delaying the rewards of body contouring surgery, maybe for years. Having... more

Jeffrey Horowitz, MD

Baltimore Plastic Surgeon

ASPS

Weight loss before a tummy tuck

First of all congratulations on your weight loss. There are several factors to consider when contemplating when to have your tummy tuck procedure. First, are you still actively losing weight or have you plateaued for several months? If you are still losing weight, I would try to get as close to your goal as you can (as long as your think it it realistically obtainable) and then do your procedure. If your weight has stabilized, then it's probably okay to proceed. One thing with massive... more

Vishal Kapoor, MD

Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

Do the "Tighten-Up" to Find Your Inner Self

In general, patients should be within 5-10 pounds of their ideal "goal" weight before having a tummy-tuck, liposuction, body lift, or other combined procedure, but there are always exceptions. In some cases, patients will experience a much greater capacity for, and desire to, exercise and maintain or improve upon their weight loss efforts if the surgery is done sooner rather than later. These patients are stuck at a plateau of their weight loss efforts, because they see no... more

Athleo Louis Cambre, MD

Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Tummy Tuck and my goal weight

You should be proud of yourself for losing so much weight! I tell my patients that they should be within 10 to 15 pounds of their goal weight before they have a tummy tuck, for the simple reason that the more weight that you lose, the tighter that you can pull the muscles towards the center and the more skin that can be removed. If you reward yourself with the surgery when you make that goal, you will feel even better knowing that you are as tight as you will want to be. Remember that... more

Dan Mills, MD

Orange County Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

As long as your weight loss goal is realistic, you are...

As long as your weight loss goal is realistic, you are best to have your surgery when you are closer to the goal weight. Additionally, it helps to be stable at the new weight for 6 months. When you lose additional weight after a tummy tuck, you may diminish the nice tight appearance attained at the time of surgery with your skin becoming loose again. One other thing to consider if you are losing large amounts of weight (massive weight loss >100 lbs), then a tummy tuck alone may not... more

Kent V. Hasen, MD

Naples Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

In general, a patient should ideally be within 10-20...

In general, a patient should ideally be within 10-20 pounds of their goal weight and maintain that for a few months before proceeding with surgery. The risk of losing more than 25 or 30 pounds after surgery is that you will develop loose skin again and need a revision done. It is nice to have lost all of the weight but it isn't necessary as long as you are close.

Richard P. Rand, MD, FACS

Seattle Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Go ahead and get your tummy tuck

I have found that many patients have these ideal goals as far as preoperative weight loss and many can hit a plateau and never get to their goals. These patients get frustrated and "stuck in a rut" and need something to "put them over the top" towards their goal. Carrying around extra loose skin of the abdomen can also affect one's ability to properly and efficiently exercise. I have found that by doing the surgery now, even it if is prior to your perfect ideal weight... more

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James F. Boynton, MD

Houston Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Patience will pay off

Hi there- I know that after your tremendous accomplishment, you must be eager to pursue a tummy tuck to reward yourself- and you do deserve to look your best for the effort. It is important to understand what happens to skin after weight loss however. When you lose weight, the skin will contract, or shrink a variable degree- obviously after a large weight loss the skin's elasticity (or capacity to shrink) will have diminished due to the stretching of the weight gain that came before, but... more

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Armando Soto, MD

Orlando Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

If you are planning to lose more weight, then the tummy...

If you are planning to lose more weight, then the tummy tuck results will more than likely be that much better. I would wait if you plan on reaching your goal weight. Good luck!

Steven Wallach, MD

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Congratulations on your weight loss - that is quite an...

Congratulations on your weight loss - that is quite an accomplishment. Here is how I approach this: Although I have a goal weight, how long will it take me to achieve it? How realistic is the goal weight I have chosen? If you will get there in a reasonable amount of time and it is a weight you will maintain, then wait. You wouldn't buy a new wardrobe and then lose 30 lbs. Your skin is your wardrobe. If you contour the skin to your weight and lose 30lbs you will lose some of the cosmetic... more

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Robert W. Kessler, MD

Orange County Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Weight loss prior to tummy tuck

Congratulations on losing so much weight! I know that the excess skin that remains can be difficult to live with. The question of whether or not to lose additional weight is common. I tell patients what is important is to get to a weight they can maintain. I discourage crash diets or other "quick fixes" just to get that weight because after the diet the weight is put back on. The abdominoplasty can often accomplish that look of extra weight loss and when the patient feels... more

Sheila Bond, MD

Montclair Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Close to your weight loss goal is OK before tummy tuck

Weight loss goals are sometimes set so low that a person may never reach them, or if they do, they will rebound with a 20 lb weight gain after the surgery. So I don't require a hard and fast number be reached, but more importantly that you've lost as much as you think you can and your weight has been stable.

Mario Loomis, MD

Middletown Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Having a tummy tuck before reaching your ideal weight

It is common that someone who is successfully losing weight will find that the last few pounds are the toughest. As a rule of thumb, I will typically go ahead with surgery if the patient is within 15-20 pounds of their realistic goal weight. The procedure I do won't change within that weight range, so from a surgical standpoint it's not going to really make a difference whether you've arrived at your goal weight or you're 15 pounds above it. I have often seen patients get really... more

Douglas J. Mackenzie, MD

Santa Barbara Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Weight Loss before or after tummy tuck

I have a portfolio I have a large selection of photos of clients with lots of rolls of skin and fat and many who have just loose skin. The final result is the same. It is always healthier to lose weight if you are overweight, but this does not tighten the skin. If you are obese, I suggest waiting until it is safe to operate and have a clearance for general anesthesia. It is often very good to lose weight afterward, and your tummy looks better. I perform liposuction under your bra area... more

John Ward, MD

Phoenix Plastic Surgeon

ASPS

Reaching your goal weight before a tummy tuck

Dear Cheryl, You are almost there! If at all possible, I recommend that my patients reach within 10% of their goal weight before considering body contouring. It makes sense that if we "tighten up" everything to the optimum allowable conditions, it will become somewhat lax if you loose additional weight. I've found that 10% does not make a significant difference, so it is a reasonable goal. That being said, some patients hit a plateau and cannot seem to loss further weight. If... more

Michael A. Bogdan, MD

Dallas Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

You may be closer than you think

My experience is that weight loss patients often mistake the large, overhanging excess skin for fat. They do not understand their weight loss plateau as a result. So I advise an early consulation with a plastic surgeon experienced with weight loss patients. This way you can get an idea of how much further you need to go. Being close to your ideal weight is always best for any type of plastic surgery !

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John LoMonaco, MD

Houston Plastic Surgeon

ASPS

See a plastic surgeon now and develop surgical plan specifically designed for you

Cheryl Lynn: First of all, my sincerest congratulations are extended to you for a job well done! You should be very proud of yourself loosing a hundred pounds. My advice to you is to find a competent, board certified plastic surgeon that is experienced in body contouring surgery in major weight loss patients. You need to engage in earnest discussions and develop surgical plan specifically designed for you. After all, the timing of surgery is all about your wants and needs! The excessive... more

Stephen A. Goldstein, MD

Denver Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Tummy Tuck - Weight Loss

To gain the optimal results for a body contouring procedure including a tummy tuck, you should be near your target weight. If you believe that you are within your acceptable weight zone, then arrange a consultation with a board certified surgeon to benefit from his/her expertise.

Kris M. Reddy, MD

West Palm Beach Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS

Before tummy tuck, weight loss should be stable

Most surgeons feel that you should be at a stable weight (within 10-15lbs) for at least six months and ideally a year. This will maximize your results.

Pramit Malhotra, MD

Ann Arbor Plastic Surgeon

It's ultimately your decision!

As long as you are healthy and your current BMI (Body Mass Index) is 30 or below you actually have two options. 1 - Have your surgery know but know that you may need some touch up or additional surgery after another 30 lbs of weight loss or 2 - Wait until you reach you goal weight and then plan your surgery. I have done things both ways for my patients. Some patients choose to have surgery now which gives them further incentive to continue towards their goal weight and some... more

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Renato Saltz, MD

Salt Lake City Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Weight Loss Before Tummy Tuck

Virtually every patient I see for Tummy Tuck consultation after a massive weight loss still wants to lose more weight, even though they may have been at a plateau for some time. I think what they don't realize is there is a certain amount of fat weight still attached to the extra skin and it just is not possible to lose that until the skin is gone. The only way to know for sure is have a consultation with a plastic surgeon that is experienced in body contouring after a major weight loss,... more

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Ronald V. DeMars, MD

Portland Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Reaching goal weight for tummy tuck surgery

Congrats on the weigh loss. Regarding goal weight.... It is important with any body contouring procedure that you are at a stable weight that is relatively easy to maintain. If you reached your goal weight, had surgery and then rebounded to your current weight, you may not be happy with the outcome. At your current weight, you might lose some weight with tummy tuck and you can lose some additional weight without adversely affecting your tummy tuck result.... more