High BMI for tummy tuck? (Photo)

Hello,At 5'3'', your weight should be 170 to achieve a BMI of 30, the recommended BMI limit for extensive body surgery. However, depending on your build, you may not need to loose that much before being safe for surgery. One of the biggest impediments to a successful and safe tummy tuck is excessive intra-abdominal fat storage, preventing flattening of the muscle wall with muscle plication, and dangerously increasing intra-abdominal pressures. I'd would say begin the process of surgeon selection (ABPS certified/ASAPS member surgeons), and shoot for 200 pounds. Best of luck!

Thank you for your question and based on your picture I would recommend you loose more weight for a better result  and safety reasons. Consult carefully with a board certified PS.

Dear smts07,Congratulations on taking the next steps to improve your body. Just a point of reference, your body mass index with the weight and height you listed is 48.7.  Over 25 is considered overweight. MOst plastic surgeons would recommend you to consider surgery once your BMI is under 30.  Do you currently have a goal weight in mind. Optimizing your weight prior to surgeries such as a tummy tuck will improve your results and prevent a loss of results if you were to lose the weight after surgery.  Daniel Barrett, MD
Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

Hello SMTS.Congratulations on losing 100 pounds. Unfortunately, your BMI is 48.7 calculated from the measurements you have provided. This high BMI places you at an extreme risk of complications with body contouring surgery. If you cannot lose any more weight on your own, I suggest you seek professional medical help. You may even have to consider weight loss surgery. Once your BMI gets below 30, you will be a more ideal candidate for tummy tuck surgery, importantly, you should also have lower risks.Best wishes,D Dr. ALDO 

First off, congratulations on the successful weight loss! Generally speaking, outpatient elective procedures are safest in patients with a BMI of 30 or less. Some patients can still undergo procedures in the higher BMI ranges especially if their excess hanging skin is beginning to affect their health or hygiene. These patients are best operated on in a hospital setting with the appropriate equipment, personnel, and nursing care to minimize risk of complications. Hope this helps!Johnson C. Lee, MD
Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon
IG: @drjohnsonlee

Hello
First of all congratulations on your weight loss. For optimal
results, I recommend you loose weight first your bmi should be less than 30 for elective procedures . 
Regards
Dr. Israel Mañon
Certified Plastic Surgeon

that you are able to maintain with your diet and activities as this is what will determine your long term outcome.  Certainly if you are able to easily lose the pounds, that is always desirable but I understand many reach a certain point where things do not change anymore.  Ideally this would mean your BMI was 30 or less but if less than 40, you would still be a candidate for having the procedures with certain precautions taken.

hello 

Weighting above the established weigh increases the risk of complications during and after your surgery,
the BMI range is 30 and it is important have a stable weight in order to
have any surgical process. 
I recommend you maintain your weight in a healthy range and then consider the surgery, you will achieve amazing results. 
Good luck.-



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Best to loose as much weight as possible before doing a tummy tuck.   I do feel a BMI of 30-33 would be best for the majority of the patients. If you loose as much as you can and then do the surgery you will be happier.  The best results happen from patients that get as much of the weight off as possible. Best to see a board certified plastic surgeon.  Good luck!

We usually recommend the patient target a BMI of 30 but have done patients with BMI's between 30 and 33 depending on the situation. The biggest issues are risks for blood clots/pulmonary embolism, cardiac complications of anesthesia, wound healing issues, and slow recovery. It is also advisable that you get to your goal weight and be stable there for 4-6 months before considering surgery so you know you are not still losing weight, which could influence how tight the tummy tuck can be.