How long should my weight be stable before a tummy tuck?

Hi there, great question and
one I get asked frequently.I tell my
patients their weight should be stable and within 10 pounds of a healthy weight
that they can maintain.No crash dieting
or fast weight loss right before surgery, but being overweight does increase
risks for complications.Significant
weight gain or loss after a tummy tuck can have a negative effect on the
results.Sounds like you are about ready
to plan for surgery.Good luck!Sincerely, Dr. Michelle Spring

Thank you for your question.  It is best to finish losing weight and have your weight at a point you are comfortable with before your tummy tuck for best results.  Although there is nothing "wrong" with continuing to lose weight, your surgery is going to provide you with a nice, flat tummy, and if you continue to lose weight following the surgery, you can compromise your result. This is equally true with gaining weight.  There is no magical length of time to be at a stable weight, but it should be as close to your goal weight as possible, and one that you are comfortable with and can maintain before investing in a tummy tuck.  I hope this is helpful. 

I appreciate your question.Best to be at a BMI less than 30 or within 10 pounds of your goal weight and stable at that weight for 6 months prior to surgery for optimal results.

The best way to assess and give true
advice would be an in-person exam.

Please see a board-certified plastic
surgeon that specializes in aesthetic and restorative plastic surgery.

Best of luck!

Dr. Schwartz

Board
Certified Plastic Surgeon

Director-Beverly
Hills Breast and Body Institute

#RealSelf100Surgeon

Hello Thank you for your question. Its not necessarily about weight as it is BMI. It would be ideal if you were at a BMI of 35  or lower prior to a tummy tuck. if you are lower than that, lose as much more as you feel you want prior to the surgery. The lower your weight the better the results are for your tummy tuck. Best regards

Thank you for your question. Congratulations on your weight loss! I see many patients who lose a significant amount of weight and then desire body contouring procedures. I strongly recommend that patients maintain a stable weight for at least 6, if not 12, months before proceeding with surgery. You want to make sure that your weight is stable because weight loss or gain after surgery can dramatically alter your results. In addition, the more weight you are able to lose before surgery, the more skin can be removed at the time of surgery. Best of luck!

Losing weight prior to body contouring surgery is an important way of promoting safer surgery and better outcomes. In the ideal circumstance, patients will have reached their goal weight. However, this isn't possible for many, and so a reasonable compromise would be to strive for a BMI of less than 35.The requirement to maintain a stable weight for 3-6 months prior to surgery is there to minimize the likelihood of a patient experiencing a significant weight gain following body contouring surgery. For example, if a patient reaches their goal weight through unsustainable lifestyle changes and then immeditely undergoes a tummy tuck there may be a significant weight gain post-op which could in turn compromise the result. I hope this has been helpful and best of luck with your upcoming procedure.  

HelloCongratulations on your great weight loss! That's a wonderful accomplishment and will help both your overall health and your surgical results.I generally recommend that women get close to the realistic weight that they are going to be ... I don't mean the ideal goal, but rather a realistic weight that is healthy and can be maintained. If you're within 10-15 # of where you think you're going to stay, it would be fine to go ahead and have a consult. If you lose a bit more weight before surgery, that's great, but wouldn't be likely to change the overall surgical plan.If you've had weight loss surgery such as a lap band, it's usually best to be at a stable weight for at least 6 mos before surgery. If you've lost weight with diet and exercise, in my opinion, you don't need to wait any specific amount of time before going ahead with surgery.I hope that helps-Best wishes-

First off, congratulations on your amazing weight loss! Few things are more rewarding than doing body contouring procedures for patients that have already put in the work to become healthier. There is not set amount of time that your weight should be stable, but it is more important that you are at a weight and maintaining a diet and exercise routine that are realistic and sustainable. People who do crash diets and lose large amounts of weight will likely fail and put weight back on postoperatively. If you are at a sustainable weight many people find that the surgery provides them continued motivation and they lose even more weight after surgery. Good luck. You deserve it.

For any cosmetic procedure, the optimal time to have surgery is when you are at your realistic size, which is hopefully your ideal weight, but often is slightly above that.  The reason for this is that the surgery is performed to achieve the best contours and look for your size at the time of surgery.  While you can still gain, or lose, weight after surgery safely, it may compromise the desired result.  You should aim to be at that weight for at least six months, and preferably one year, before surgery because then you know that it is sustainable!  Good luck.

Congratulations on your current weight loss. In my opinion one should be at a comfortable realistic weight for at least 6 months before undergoing an abdominoplasty. Talk with your board certified plastic surgeon