Am I a candidate for a tummy tuck at this weight? (photos)

Hi, thanks for your question. We typically recommend that your BMI be less than 35 before undergoing surgery in order to ensure that your procedure is safe and carries the least amount of risks possible. The height and weight that you provided puts you at about a BMI of 32, which means your surgeon may consider surgery in your case. That being said the closer you are to your goal weight prior to surgery the better for both issues of health and safety and for an optimal final result. I highly recommend that you book an in person consultation with a board certified plastic surgeon in order to explore all of your options.

Thank you for your questions and photos. From your photos, you are a good candidate for a tummy tuck. A tummy tuck will address excess skin & repair of the abdominal muscle. The abdominal wall can be weakened after pregnancy and (or) significant weight gain & loss. By repairing the muscle, not only does the appearance of your abdominal area improve, but your core strength as well. The repair of the muscle will cinch your waist like an inner corset, which will accentuate your curves. Liposuction will remove excess fat from unwanted areas with some skin retraction. Your expectations and health will dictate the best procedure(s) for you. I suggest a consultation with a board certified plastic surgeon to go over the options that best address your goals. Best of luck!

Dhaval Patel MD
Double Board Certified Plastic Surgeon
Chicago
South Barrington
Oakbrook
Orland Park

At your current height and weight, your BMI is above 32. This is very close to the acceptable range for tummy tuck surgery. It is ideal to be at your goal weight prior to surgery as losing weight after will diminish results.

Hello hey1750
From just your photos I would say yes, you would greatly benefit from an extended tummy tuck with muscle repair and liposuction.
You have a large skin flap with a large volume of fat.
Your weight and height ratio puts your BMI above 32 which, normally plastic surgeons don't like operating with a BMI over 30.
In some cases exceptions are made but this would require some blood work and possibly other tests to ensure that, despite the high bmi you may still be healthy enough for the procedure. It difficult but even a 10 pound weight loss would greatly increase your chances of a great final result and fewer complications.
I hope this has helped and wishing you the very best.

At 5'4 and 190 lbs, your BMI is 32 which is acceptable for surgery. If you are not planning future pregnancies, I recommend abdominoplasty with mesh reinforcement. The mesh creates a more hourglass figure by compressing the abdominal wall resulting in early satiety and helps maintain a reduced weight.

Best Wishes,

Gary Horndeski, M.D.

Thank you for your question and pictures. Yes, it is possible for you to get a tummy tuck. If you're willing to travel, Surgeons in the Dominican Republic have experience and very high standard of excellence when it comes to plastic surgery. I'm positive you can get what you're looking for.

Dear hey1750,
based on your photos, you look like a good candidate for a TT. Full tummy tuck should tighten your abdominal muscles and remove the excess skin. Flanks liposuction would give you a better shape. I would suggest you to consult a board-certified plastic surgeon because only after a thorough examination you will get more information and recommendations.
Daniel Barrett, MD
Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

Thank you for your question and series of photographs.  Nothing replaces an in-person examination, but I think you would most benefit from a full tummy tuck and liposuction of your waist and flanks.  The tummy tuck will tighten your stomach muscles, helping to achieve a flatter appearance, while removing excess skin and adipose tissue.  Liposuction can be used to enhance your tummy tuck results by narrowing your waist and removing isolated areas of diet and exercise resistant fat.  I would favor the full approach because it appears that your skin and muscle laxity is present above and below your belly button and would recommend losing a few more pounds in order to minimize risk and maximize results (aim for a BMI under 30). Hope that this helps

Depending on your overall health, you may be able to proceed with a tummy tuck at your current weight. You'd likely have better results if you lost weight prior to your procedure, but you would have a nice improvement in your abdominal contour. Also those above a BMI of 30 do carry a higher risk for some complications. I encourage you to begin by visiting with a board certified plastic surgeon near you to learn more.

If you have truly tried to lose weight and this is where you live, and any health issues are medically well managed, then it is reasonable to proceed with a tummy tuck.
Liposuction circumferentially will thin your torso. The tummy tuck can now be performed without a drain and your "FUPA" or pannus will be gone.