Tummy Tuck at 240 pounds - is it possible? (Photo)

Congratulations on your weight loss thus far. I do recommend continuing to loose weight before surgery this will decrease your surgical risks and improve your final result. Your BMI is currently 33 if you could get that down to 30 it would be ideal. Regards, 

Congratulations on losing 80 pounds! That is an incredible achievement and you are to be commended. My advice is keep on losing. And I say that knowing that this is easier said than done. However, he still had a significant amount of fat on the inside, surrounding organs, which you're surgeon will not be able to affect. If anything, it will limit his or her ability to "cinch the girdle "and improve the contour. Generally speaking, we like to hold off on abdominal contouring until the BMI is under 30. As well, the factor V is a risk already, and the more weight you lose, the more safe your procedure will be.Keep up the fantastic work!Best of luck!Dr. SubbioBoard-Certified Plastic SurgeonNewtown Square/Philadelphia, PA

Studies suggest that patients with a BMI > 30 tend to have more complications with body contouring surgery.  I would suggest getting to a stable weight and maintaining that weight for several months prior to having surgery.  You will likely be disappointed with your result is you continue to lose weight after surgery.

Some surgeons will have a BMI cutoff for patients desiring elective surgery. It has been shown in plastic surgery studies that as BMI increases, so do complication rates. Another thing to consider before surgery, in order to get the best result, you should reach your goal weight and maintain it for a few months before undergoing body contouring surgery. 

You are asking several important questions. First, can you physically have a Tummy Tuck? The answer is yes. But the outcome at best may average and is commonly disappointing in women who want to appear attractive rather than just shed the pooch. If you want a chance at a great result your BMI should be as low to normal as possible and as close to 27 as you can get it. At the present it is 33.5. Second question is is it advisable for you to have a Tummy Tuck at this time? You have. Leiden factor V mutation which seriously raises your risk for deep. Vein flooring and clots to the lungs. This has to be seriously considered. If you had a low BMI with just hanging skin and a great chance for a fantastic outcome I would still seriously hesitate before operating on you and certainly enlist the advice of a Hematologist before proceeding. But with a high BMI of 33.5 with the promise of at best a mild improvement and some wound healing complications I think your likelihood of clotting makes the surgery a bad idea at this time. I would continue to lose weight and make the risks match the benefits before having the operation. Peter Aldea MD

Thank you for your question. Based on the picture TT can be done. If you are in the process of more weight please do so before you consider the surgery. Consult with a board certified PS for evaluation.

Based on your photos, weight loss, and height, a tummy tuck at this time may be appropriate. However, a discussion with an experienced Board Certified plastic surgeon would be the best way to start to see if more weight loss would be a good idea. I would suggest a combination of truck liposuction and a No-Drain Tummy Tuck. See link below for examples. 

Hello and thank you for your question. Congratulations on your weight loss so far. I would definitely lose more weight if possible especially with your bleeding risk. You should then look for a ps who specializes in post massive weight loss body contouring. Peter Fisher M.D