What is the minimum weight acceptable for a tummy tuck/smart lipo/standard lipo procedure? I've been told to lose weight (Photo)

Hi. First, congratulations on your efforts and weight loss! That's quite an accomplishment. As surgeons we would like our patients to be at or near at their ideal BMI. However, thee are also patients that plateau for one reason or another. If otherwise healthy, you could have your tummy tuck with a medical clearance.Always seek out the opinion of a surgeon certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery with years of experience in liposuction and fat transfers . Furthermore request to see before and after photos of previous patients by that doctor....not a clinic or surgery center. Do your homework......research and verify the doctor's credentials. Have they had problems with the Board of Medicine, disciplinary or otherwise. Any law suits? How about the center, clinic or facility? Are they accredited by a national organization or do they just have State approval. Understand that at the current time, there are three nationally recognized organizations responsible for the highest levels of patient safety, AAAASF, AAACH and JCHO. You owe it to yourself to position yourself for the best possible results but under the most stringent safety regulations.How about anesthesia? Will you have a medical doctor certified by the American Board of Anesthesiology or a certified nurse anesthetist (CRNA)? Understand that there is no substitute for research. Cosmetic surgery, no matter how simple it may be to the patients, are invasive procedures and as such carry certain risks and complications.In our office we use TouchMD which is a web based program in which patients have the ability to load their picture unto the program. We can accommodate patients from as far away as California. I then evaluate them and can actually draw on the picture to show a potential patient where the incisions would be located and how the procedure is to be realized. It's all done to comply with HIPPA which is the federal law that protects the patient's medical information. Look them up.Give yourself the highest percentage of a sucssesful operation. Good luck, Dr. PG

Thanks for sharing your concerns with us. Trying to lose weight before a surgical procedure its a very delicate matter, since in many cases a restrictive diet can cause problems, such as anemia, electrolyte disturbances, decreased protein, etc ... retarding the healing process and damaging the surgery.For these reasons, if your purpose is to lose weight, i recommend you have a BMI less than or equal to 30.  In this regard, you must to have a support with a nutritionist, so you can achieve the desired goal, in the most healthy way, without incressing complications risks in the plastic surgery to perform.On the other hand, I recommend you yo be treated by a board certified plastic surgeon, with special training in Plastic Surgery After Massive Weight Loss. Therefore, it will use different surgical techniques and special safety measures for ex- obese patients.It's very important to make a preparation weeks or even months before the surgery, advising the patient to take certain measures that helps to have a successful surgery with very good results.You only can perform multiple procedures at the same time if the blood work and pre-op cardiovascular evaluation are in optimal range that allows us to make a safe procedure.Respectfully,Dr. Emmanuel Mallol.-

There are two reasons to be at an "ideal" body weight before surgery. Better results and lower risks of complications. However, you might be in a position to have a procedure now anyway. To me, it looks like a large part of your abdominal contour is due to intra-abdominal fat, which surgery cannot touch. If you have surgery now, your stomach will not really be flat, and if you lose weight after, your skin will loosen again. My advice would be to honestly think about how likely you are to continue losing weight and what a realistic long term weight is for you. If you think you will soon be lighter, and your goal weight is more than 20 pounds away, then wait. If you think you may be done losing weight, then have all the contouring you want and enjoy your results. If, however, you want to lose more but think you have hit a plateau, then one option is to remove only the hanging skin below the waist. This is a less expensive, lower risk procedure with less downtime than a full tummy tuck, and you can always have a full tummy tuck with liposuction later to focus on shape once you are down to your goal weight. As for arms, some liposuction now can prepare you for a tighter, lower risk arm lift later on. I I recommend seeing a few board certified plastic surgeons who have experience in body contouring after weight loss and get some in person opinions. It doesn't commit you to anything and may help you come up with a plan. 

Hello,First off- congratulations on your weight loss. It can be very tough but the health benefits are worth it. It sounds as if you might still have a BMI higher than the range considered safe and ideal for cosmetic surgery. Typically Plastic Surgeons will ask for a BMI of 30 or less to plan for surgery. This is both for your safety and aesthetically pleasing results. I perform Tummy Tucks and Liposuction for body contouring- not weight loss.I would recommend that you lose as much excess fat as possible from the abdominal area before considering this surgery in order to give your surgeon more material to work with. When you meet with your Plastic Surgeon they will be able to assess your skin/fat and talk with you about next steps. They will likely be able to help connect you with nutrition/diet support to get you closer to your goal as well. I wish you all the best.

Hi, packetninjette.  Thanks for your question and photos.  Based on your photos, you would benefit from tummy tuck and liposuction of the waists/flanks.  You do have excess skin and bulging.  Whether you are an optimal candidate for tummy tuck at this point can be better assessed by your plastic surgeon who can evaluate you in-person.  Tummy tuck would be best if 1) you have reached your stable, goal weight, 2) healthy and medically optimized, 3) non-smoker. I would encourage you to continue losing weight as weight loss will be good for your overall health.  Any contour problem (hanging arm skin or flabby belly) can be improved with surgery.  Please consult a board-certified plastic surgeon.  Best regards.

Hello dear, thanks for the question and pictures, I recommend you to have a full tummy tuck with muscle repair and also to be under 200 pounds to have the procedure done.

You might be a candidate BUT best to be seen in person by a boarded PSs. I might offer you staged surgeries. Stage 1 Full TT or Paddle-ectomy of lower abdomen with liposuction. Stage 2 additional liposuction. 

Thank you for the question and pictures. 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 (best chance to achieve an optimal aesthetic outcome), 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. When the time is right, seeking consultation with well experienced board-certified plastic surgeons will be your next/best step. Best wishes.

Hello and thank you for a great question.I have worked with many patients that had the same concern, or had previously been told they were not a canidate for a tummy tummy.  I have found that, on a case by case basis, many women can undergo a tummy tuck (previously being told that they were not ideal patients) and get results that motivate them to live more healthful lives, lose increased weight, and be very happy with the removal of skin and tissue.Having a realistic expectation with be key.  However, seeing a flatter tummy area, and feeling liberated from drooping skin (and the issues it causes both physically and emotionally) has helped many women feel great- even if they still have a journey of additional weight loss ahead.  I have personally removed as much as 20lbs from a patient during a tummy tuck.  This procedure is not FOR weight loss however, but to rid you of the pannus (the skin that drapes the abdomen).  All that to say, in my opinion a tummy tuck can be effective for patients that fall outside of "ideal canidate" measurments.I have not examined you, but I believe you can set goals for continued weight loss, achieve this and undergo your procedure and get results that leave you very pleased. My opinion is based on pictures alone, please make sure you consult with a board certified plastic surgeon as you move forward.  Best of Luck,-Dr. O