Dear wandahej,You do not mention how far you can walk unassisted or how many flights of stairs. Those are good indicators what kind of pulmonary reserve you have. You should probably have preoperative clearance by a pulmonologist. Also, judging by your pictures you will get a better result from your tummy tuck if you can lose some more weight beforehand. I hope this has been helpful. Robert D. Wilcox, MD
Thank you for your question and photographs. Based on your pictures you are most likely a candidate for a full “tummy tuck”. You must pass a medical clearance before surgery specially for COPD as this patient can put significant stress on their plication and scars.The way we correct the rectus diastasis or “pooch” it's by plicating or sewing the muscles back together into the midline after being displaced laterally after pregnancy. The corrected the skin laxity that you had I would recommend not pursuing a mini- tummy tuck, as you can imagine keeping the scar centrally located would not allow you to remove all the skin elasticity that you need for a good result. Liposuction is not a good idea in your specific case, as this will only worsen the amount of stretched skin, and usually tightening of the muscles underneath is not perform during this procedure.It is best to discuss your concerns with a bore certify plastic surgeon were he can perform an examination and give you a better idea of the potential outcome while sharing your goals with this surgery. Using pictures will give us an “idea” of your problem however this not replace a physical examination. My advice to you is to do your homework, find someone who is board certified, look at before and after pictures, discuss your goals and ask for a scar regimen after your surgery to improve the quality of the scar.Best of Luck !
