Body-contouring or tummy tuck with 34 BMI? (Photo)

Dear Iowan,   Thanks for posting your pictures and congrats on your weight loss. From observing your pictures you appear to have significant abdominal skin and muscles laxity from the chest bone to the pubic bone.       I have been in practice for over 31 years and performed tummy tuck surgery on well over 1000 patients. Based on that experience and your pictures , I would strongly recommend that you have tummy tuck first. That procedure will give you flat stomach, tight and youthful looking skin, nice belly button and ,most likely, you will lose significant amount of weight due to the muscles tightening that will reduce the amount of food that you can eat and your sense of hunger.   As far as your BMI of 34, it is fine for surgery (my limit is 35) as long as your abdomen does not protrude much when you lie flat on your back, which mean that the surgeon will be able to tighten the muscles well without compromising your lung and breathing.   You have to realize that not all results are the same, because experience, technical skills and aesthetic eye are critical for good outcome. So, do your due diligence carefully and choose your surgeon wisely.   Always, consult with experienced board certified plastic surgeons who operate in accredited surgery center. Most importantly, check the before and after pictures in the photo gallery, to make sure that they are numerous, consistent and attractive with the above mentioned features and low scar (avoid Fleur de Lis).                  Best of luck,                                      Dr Widder   PS,           A good surgeon will be able to improve on your inner thighs skin fold by puling the groin skin upward.

Thank you for your question and photos.  I believe it is best to be within 10 - 15 pounds of your ideal body weight prior to surgery for optimal results. Please consult with a board certified plastic surgeon who specializes in body contouring for an in-person examination. Ask to see a lot of before and after pictures of their work to understand what can be achieved. Hope this helps and good luck.

I
recommend abdominoplasty with mesh reinforcement if you are not planning future
pregnancies.  The mesh creates a more
hourglass figure by compressing the abdominal wall resulting in early satiety
and helps maintain a reduced weight.  I
also recommend a breast lift using The Bellesoma Method.  This will reshape your breast tissue creating
upper pole fullness without implants, elevate them higher on the chest wall and
more medial to increase your cleavage. 
Vertical scars are avoided, nipple sensation and the ability to breast
feed are maintained. Best Wishes,Gary Horndeski, M.D. 

Dear a0xbjzz,Generally speaking, you want to reach your goal weight before you consider a tummy tuck, otherwise your results will be suboptimal if you continue to lose weight after the surgery.Daniel Barrett, MD
Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

Hello and thank you for your
question. It is important to be at a stable weight prior to surgery.  I make this decision based on individual skin laxity rather than strict BMI cutoffs.  Based on your photograph, you are a candidate for a tummy tuck
with liposuction.  This can be done
through a low incision, all completely below the bikini line.  The belly button can be designed to look
natural and have no scars on the exterior.  
Your muscles can also be plicated resulting in a flat abdomen.  Make sure you specifically look
at before and after pictures of real patients who have had this surgery
performed by your surgeon and evaluate their results.  The most important
aspect is to find a surgeon you are comfortable with. I recommend that you seek
consultation with a qualified board-certified plastic surgeon who can evaluate
you in person.
Best wishes and good luck.
Richard G. Reish, M.D. FACS
Harvard-trained plastic surgeon

Thanks for your question about tummy tucks and congratulations on the great job you have done already on losing weight.  In all reality you can get a tummy tuck at any weight or BMI.  The real question is not can I get a tummy tuck but at what weight or body mass index (measure of height versus weight), but when will I get the best result from a tummy tuck.  If you get a tummy tuck when your weight is higher you will get an improvement but you will not get as dramatic of a result as if you can get your BMI down to 30 or less.  I always tell patients that the better shape you are in when we start, the better our results will be when we are finished.  Weight loss is extremely difficult and not everyone is successful but if you are the results are well worth the misery of diet and exercise.  The reason that you get a better result when your BMI is below 30 is based on the basic anatomy of the abdomen.  The abdomen has multiple layers.  The outer layers are the skin and fat and then the middle layer is the abdominal muscles and the innermost portion is composed of the intestines and internal organs such as spleen and liver which are padded by additional fatty tissue.  A tummy tuck and liposuction can remove fat and skin from the outer layers and tighten the muscles of the middle layers but it cannot remove adipose tissue from around the intestines and the internal organs.  When you have a bmi above 30 then you will be storing more fatty tissue around the internal organs and I will not be able to make your abdomen as tight and flat.  I like to use the analogy of a jam packed purse,  when a purse is really packed it is much harder to close at the top, but if you take out some of the contents of the purse then you can bring the top together much easier.  I am able to get your abdominal muscles tighter and flatter when you have reduced the contents of the inner layer by getting your BMI down to 30 or below.  A well done tummy tuck can be a wonderful event and you will get years of enjoyment out of a great result.  Best of luck on your journey.

Sincerely,
Dr. Amspacher
Director of Plastic Surgery Mosaic Life Care

Congratulations on your weight loss journey. Generally it is recommended that candidates have and can maintain a BMI of 30 or under for a few months before having surgery. This threshold keeps risks like seroma, infection, and poor wound healing from increasing. It also allows your surgeon the opportunity to maximize your results. Based on the submitted photos you will have a nice improvement with an extended tummy tuck with liposuction for contouring. Recommendations may change as you lose more weight.

Hello dear!
Thanks for the pictures and provided information as well.
Based on your photos, you are a great candidate for liposuction and a tummy tuck, to give you a nice tight tummy.
Along with the tummy tuck, liposuction allows your plastic surgeon to transform your entire shape. You improve your waist, back and flanks.
In general, you need to be physically healthy and at a stable weight, have realistic expectations, be a non-smoker and your BMI needs to be 33 or less.
l recommend you to make an appointment with a board certified plastic surgeon to talk about your goals and anything you need to know.
Good luck :)

Hello
you are a candidate for a full tummy tuck combined with a full body contouring and BBL. I would suggest liposuction on your back and flanks as well if you want. for optimal results,  your BMI should be less than 30 for elective procedures to avoid complications during and after surgery. Consult with a certified plastic surgeon. You have choices, but definitely you must be evaluated first to accomplish what you wished.
Regards
Dr. Israel Mañon
Certified Plastic Surgeon

when you are at a weight you are able to maintain easily with your daily routines and diet.  You do not have to be at a magical weight to proceed but you also have to be realistic as to what outcome you will achieve when 'overweight'.  See a local plastic surgeon and if criteria are beyond what you are able to do, keep looking as you will eventually find someone who can do this for you and won't eliminate you simply because of your BMI. Your surgeon should be able to predict the outcome you will have in terms of flattening of your tummy, where your scars will be, and what belly button options you have (you can remove it and reconstruct one later which makes the procedure a little safer).  you must realize that your thighs will become more prominent following a tummy tuck and that you would also benefit from liposuction and a breast lift if trying to address all of your issues.