What is the heaviest person you've ever done a tummy tuck and lipo on? (Photo)

Question

I ask this questions because I'm 61 and 345 several months ago I was 411pounds, I have a lot of sagging skin and I want to have a tummy tuck done and the saggy skin gets in the way of exercising. Basically I like to know can it be removed?

Jose M. Soler-Baillo, MD, MS · Answer

I recommend weight loss and weight control prior to
any cosmetic procedure. It is great to hear your are losing weight! Although removing fat and skin can benefit the health of
a patient this should not be confused with a weight loss procedure. Hope this helps,Dr. JSB

Mariam Awada, MD, FACS · Answer

Congratulations on your weight loss.  I encourage you to be patient and keep trying to lose weight and get your BMI below 31 as this is the range when cosmetic/elective surgery becomes much safer.  Life and safety is always priority.  Patience and getting the best outcome with a once in a lifetime procedure is what I encourage of all my patients. You are on the right path.  You didn't gain weight in a few months and it may take another year or so for you to get to the point when your surgery will be safer and your outcome much better.  The looser your skin(thinner and less fat) the flatter and better result you will have.  Keep on succeeding in your makeover.  Patience!

Shayne Webb, MD · Answer

In my practice, I don't have a certain weight or BMI that I use as cutoffs because they virtually mean nothing.  I go more toward a person's overall health status and how the fat is distributed.  A thick abdominal flap can lead to excessive wound healing issues because fat has very little blood flow.  The thicker the flap, the more likely are issues especially if lipo is used.  That being said, I would suggest that you continue your weight loss especially since you are doing well.  Once you reach a plateau, seek a board certified plastic surgeon to help you the rest of the way.Best wishes.

Stephanie Beidler Teotia, MD · Answer

Congratulations on your weight loss. Are you at your ideal weight? I would not consider this procedure until you are at your goal weight.

Nelson Castillo, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question and congratulations on your weight loss!  There are options for you as you continue on this lifestyle change to get healthier.  I tell patients that for an elective cosmetic procedure you want to reach your desired goal weight and remain stable there for several months.  This allows your skin to maximally respond to your weight loss and will considerably reduce your risk of surgery.  It also ensures that your results will be long-term.  If you have lost enough weight that you have a large overhanging apron of skin and fat that is causing stomach/groin issues: rashes, ulcers, infections, etc than you may be a candidate for a panniculectomy, a procedure that removes this extra skin and fat.  It is not a cosmetic procedure and does not remove much weight, but once you are healed it may allow you to continue your exercising to continue to lose weight.  Your BMI is currently over 45, and because of possible risk factors, I would like to see you get to around 35 before pursuing surgery.  That would be around the 250 lb mark.  Find a board certified plastic surgeon who can hep you navigate this process

Tom J. Pousti, MD · Answer

Thank you for the question and picture.   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.   When the time is right, seeking consultation with well experienced board-certified plastic surgeons will  be your next/best step.  Best wishes.

Kahlil Andrews, MD · Answer

Hello, congratulations on your weight loss. It is probably
not a great idea to have a true tummy tuck at this time. The undermining of the
skin that is performed with a formal tummy tuck can put a person at risk for
wound healing issues and even loss of the undermined skin and fat. This risk increases with
increasing BMI. Undermining decreases blood flow to tissues, which can lead to
tissue loss. A panniculectomy, however, can be safely performed in most patients,
even those with an elevated BMI. There is an important difference between a
tummy tuck and a panniculectomy with respect to delayed wound healing and
tissue loss. With a panniculectomy, all of the tissue that is undermined is removed,
thus no undermined tissues are maintained decreasing the risk of tissue loss. Panniculectomies are good procedures
that can remove significant amounts of overhanging skin, which can greatly
improve your ability to exercise. Good luck. Best regards

Ron Hazani, MD, FACS · Answer

You can be a great candidate for plastic surgery following massive weight loss surgery. By reducing your height to weight ratio you can avoid many of the post operative complications and have a significant aesthetic result that you will keep for a long time.

What is the heaviest person you've ever done a tummy tuck and lipo on? (Photo)

Answers (8)

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