Tummy Tuck with While Obese? (photo)

Congrats on the weight loss that is the biggest hurdle. if you are 130 and 5'1" then the time us right but if you think you want to lose significantly more weight then you might want to wait. Loosing more weight after a tummy tuck is possible and not dangerous but the tightness if the tummy tuck might be less with the weight loss.

If your information is accurate and you're 5 ft tall and 130 lbs, then I think based on your photos you are at an appropriate stage to go ahead with your tummy tuck. However, your statement that you have another 80-100 lbs to lose does not make sense. One of these figures is wrong. If there was a typo and you actually weigh 230 and want to lose another 80-100 lbs more, then getting to your goal weight would be preferable.But, I have encountered patients where the overhanging skin is causing problems to lose more weight because of the irritation. In those cases, I would recommend proceeding with a panniculectomy (excising only the overhanging skin without the full cosmetic tummy tuck) first to get rid of the irritation and allow for easier exercise. Then, when you have achieved more weight loss closer to the goal weight, then undergo the full cosmetic tummy tuck or abdominoplasty. Depending on your insurance plan, some may cover the panniculectomy. Good luck!

Congratulation on your weight loss. Thank you for your picture. If you currently weigh a 130 lbs then this is a great time for your tummy tuck!Dr. ES

Tummy tuck is best performed at a stable weight close to your goal weight. Find a plastic surgeon with ELITE credentials who performs hundreds of tummy tuck procedures each year. Then look at the plastic surgeon's website before and after photo galleries to get a sense of who can deliver the results. Kenneth Hughes, MD Los Angeles, CA

My advice is to wait to have a tummy tuck until you have lost all of your desired weight and your weight has been stable for several month's time. Best of luck.

Its certainly feasible to do an abdominoplasty procedure for a patient with a BMI of 30 or more (obese) - but the risk of complications is somewhat higher - delayed wound healing, seroma, wound infections etc. are higher in obese patients. Maximizing your realistic weight loss prior to the procedure is always good advice.

After looking at your photograph, it appears that what you are having difficulty with during the remaining amount of weight loss is the hanging redundant skin and fat. What worked out well for patients in your shoes was to perform a panninculectomy rather than tummy tuck to rid your body of the excess skin and fat. Then one can perform an official abdominoplasty to tighten the remaining skin. Please inquire with your surgeon regarding this 2 stage approach. The other option is to probably undergo a complete body lift rather than abdominoplasty to tighten the skin on the back side as well.

Tummytucktroubles:
Congrats on losing all the weight. Based on the one photo, I would classify you as a massive weight loss patient with excess skin hanging. A tummy tuck could remove that excess hanging skin. If you are still overweight and have some extra fat inside your abdomen by your organs, that would not be addressed with a tummy tuck. That would prevent you from getting a very flat stomach.
As for tummy tucks for "overweight patients" - you can have a tummy tuck even if you are not the in the "normal range" for weight. I counsel patients that if they are overweight, they have a higher risk for a blood clot in their legs and a higher risk for a minor wound problem. But, those problems are quite rare. Also, overweight patients should be counseled on reasonable expectations because a flat tummy is usually not obtainable if significantly overweight.
I would meet with a plastic surgeon because you need an exam in person before making a definitive decision. Hope that this helps.

Thank you for the question. Congratulations on your weight loss thus far.  Generally speaking, it is always best to achieve long-term stable weight prior to proceeding with  body contouring surgery. Doing so, will increase the safety of the operation, will likely improve the outcome of the operation, and will decrease chances that additional surgery will become necessary subsequently. 







In my practice, I do not ask specific patients to achieve a specific weight prior to proceeding with tummy tuck surgery. I simply ask patients to achieve a long-term stable weight where he/she feels comfortable and does not expect significant fluctuation postoperatively.  As you know, recruiting other professionals such as personal trainers, nutritionists, physicians who specialize in weight loss concerns etc. may be helpful to you. 







 Having said the above,  occasional patients do benefit from panniculectomy surgery as a “jumpstart” to achieving their final goals. You may find the attached link, dedicated to patients who have experienced significant weight loss, helpful to you as you consider your options. Best wishes.

You are an excellent candidate for a tummy tuck procedure and should get a very satisfying result. Good Job!