Tummy tuck - do I have to reach my weight loss goal before surgery?

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 !

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 nonetheless some amount of skin contraction may occur over a few months after you reach your target weight. Having your surgery before this time period has passed may mean you are having a larger or different operation than you may need once things have settled a bit.

Also, because significant weight loss obviously affects the metabolism, waiting 3-6 months after your weight has plateaued will give your body to find its balance, if you will.

These two reasons are why most experienced body contouring surgeons would recommend waiting this time period before having surgery.

I do think it would be appropriate to begin planning and interviewing board certified plastic surgeons though.

Congratulations on your weight loss!

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 abdominal skin must be extremely bothersome; therefore, proceeding with the tummy tuck procedure (abdominoplasty) is not unreasonable. However, you must accept that with additional weight loss additional procedures and revisions are likely.

Again, congratulations are in order. Many thanks for your question.

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 tummy tuck. This way they can maintain their facial, breast, and buttock fullness.

Hello,

Try to get to the weight you feel you can maintain before surgery. This reduces the tendency toward revisions.