Tummy Tuck: Q&A

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Tummy Tuck While Losing Weight?

I'm 5"2" and 209lbs. I have lost about 20 pounds and I will continue losing more. I have a personal trainer and am working to get the weight off. My husband and I are wondering if I would be a good candidate for a Tummy Tuck.

I have had three children and the skin around my stomach just hangs. We know that having a tummy tuck will not cause me to lose weight that I would continue working out but we also thought having one would smooth out the area so that as I lost weight it would look nicer. Please help

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19 Doctor Answers | Asked by brali01 in Ft. Bragg NC

Doctor Answers (19)
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Weight vs. Timing of Tummy Tuck

From what you describe, you woud be a good candidate for tummy tuck, but not now. You shoud attain your target weight or be within about 10# of the weight. The reason is that a tummy tuck will tighten things up. After you lose a lot of weight, things will be loose and a secondary tummy tuck is very difficult to get a good result. Something else to consider is a panniculectomy.

Tummy Tuck While Losing Weight

Congratulations on your weight loss. For optimal results, you should be at your long term stable weight prior to proceeding with surgery. see video

Tummy tuck during weight loss

First, congratulations on your weight loss. Yes, if you plan to lose more weight, you should delay surgery until your weight is stable. An additional weight loss will likely produce increased sagging of the abdomen so, once you have reached and maintained your target weight, you should be an excellent surgical candidate. Your plastic surgeon will then be able to determine whether you should undergo panniculectomy (removal of the hanging skin apron) or if a full abdominoplasty is the... more

Tummy tuck results

Thank you for the question. I think you have a good plan to drop weight to where you want to be long term prior to surgery. This will allow you to achieve the best result possible. It will also minimize the chances that you will need further surgery (for example if you were to lose weight after the procedure further surgery may be necessary). You should be aware however that often an “extended” tummy tuck is necessary to treat the muffin top area. This extended tummy... more

Best to lose the weight before abdominoplasty

I would advise you to lose the weight first before going through an abdominoplasty/tummy tuck procedure. This procedure is like making a dress and if you want the dress to fit you should be at your expected weight when you see the dressmaker. With the tummy tuck procedure one of the significant changes that occurs is a result of tightening the abdominal wall and if you have extra weight generally - some of this will be intra-abdominal, making it harder to tighten the abdominal... more

Tummy Tuck can be done in some cases while losing weight

Surgeons usually say that patients should be at their ideal weight before undergoing body contouring surgery. In my practice, that is not a hard and fast rule. If you are close to your goal weight it is unlikely that losing 10 or 15 pounds after tummy tuck will ruin your postoperative result. Also, if you have separation of your abdominal muscles from your pregnancies, you are probably not getting the full benefit of your workout as your muscles are not in the proper position for most... more

Tummy Tuck Before Weight Loss

It is always best to lose the weight you are going to lose before having any plastic surgery. It is recommended that you are at a stable weight for atleast 3 months prior to undergoing any body contouring surgery. Good luck.

Tummy Tuck results will be best if you are close to your desired weight

Good job on your weight loss! It would be best to continue your program of sensible diet and exercise and be closer to your preferred weight before having a tummy tuck. You would enjoy the results now, but if have the surgery and then lose a significant amount of additional weight, you will tend to develop some recurrent loose skin. Realistically, if you can't quite lose all the weight you want, then discuss proceeding with your surgery with your surgeon.

Tummy Tuck following weight loss

Brali01, Thanks for the question. Given that you are in the process of losing weight, I would recommend that you continue to do so implementing a sound nutritional and exercise program. Once your ideal weight goal is reached, I would make the effort to maintain it for a couple months before proceeding with an abdominoplasty. Having the procedure performed prior to you reaching your ideal weight will result in the development of additional soft tissue laxity, likely compromising your result... more

Continue losing weight before Tummy Tuck

The easy answer is to continue losing weight until you are in a range of 10 pounds from ideal weight. That is in a perfect world. If after 6 months you have lost another 30 pounds than after a full discussion with your boarded plastic surgeon I would consider doing the surgery. Best of Luck, Merry Merry!

Tummy Tuck before or after weight loss

I agree with the comments of my colleagues. Lose the pounds first, maintain a stable weight, and then assess your need for a tummy tuck and liposuction.

Otto Joseph Placik, MD

32 reviews

Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Lose the weight BEFORE a tummy tuck

The only rational way to approach this is to lose the weight down to within 10 pounds of ideal weight before the TT. Otherwise, if you lose 20+ pounds after surgery there will be looseness again in the abdominal skin.

You might want to wait for a tummy tuck if you're currently losing weight

Hi Brali01 - Congratulations on your weight loss! If you're interested in removing the excess skin of your abdomen and tightening the muscles of your stomach then a tummy tuck is right for you. However, if you still have weight to lose you might want to wait as you will continue to get lose, hanging skin. If the extra skin is getting in the way of your exercise, though, you may want to get the tummy tuck so that your workouts will be easier. It's hard to give you an exact answer without... more

Best to postpone surgery until after you're through losing weight

If you're still actively losing weight, it's best to postpone surgery until your weight has plateaued. As you know, the more weight you lose, the more skin laxity (looseness) you will develop. If you undergo surgery, and then lose more weight, you may find yourself seeking surgery yet again once you've reached your goal weight. Although it requires some patience, you should continue on your current diet and exercise regimen and continue to strive to lose weight. Hope this helps. Best of luck. more

Tummy tuck after weight loss

Congratulations on your success. You sound like you will be a good candidate for a Tummy tuck but wait until you have lost all the weight you plan to lose. If you do the procedure too soon and continue to lose weight your skin will loosen too much.

Tummy Tuck while losing weight

It sounds like you still have a fair amount of weight to lose. You should wait until you've lost all the weight that you want to and your weight is stable before getting a tummy tuck. The reason for this is that the result will not be as good and you might develop more loose skin afterwards from the additional weight loss. If you've had 3 children, you no doubt have loose skin and muscle and will be a good candidate for tummy tuck surgery after you lose the weight. You can look forward to... more

Tummy Tuck during Weight Loss

I agree that undergoing a Tummy tuck during weight loss is generally a bad idea. With your current body habitus and the degree of weight loss which you have achieved, you will see minimal benefit with a tummy tuck. On the other hand, if you continue working with your trainer and lose an additional 40-60 pounds, you will probably be delighted with your tummy tuck later.

Tummy Tuck with loosing weight

If you are actively loosing weight, then it is best to wait until you have steady weight before having surgery. If it a matter of 5 or ten pounds, then it really does not matter. However, if you have significant weight to loose, then loose it first and then get the surgery. Good luck.

Tummy Tuck WHILE still Losing weight is not a good idea

At 5"2" and 209lbs, your BMI is still 38.2 (where a BMI of 30 and over is obese and of 40 and over is morbidly obese and qualifies for weight loss bypass surgery). Although a Tummy Tuck in you would flatten your abdomen, the result will not be nearly as good as it would be if done once your BMI is well under 30. Moreover, the rate of complications is higher as the BMI goes up. A Tummy Tuck should be done once your weight has been stable for 6 months or so. By bringing the sideways... more