Is it ok to perform tummy tuck as my BMI is 35.5? (Photos)

The most important goal for any procedure is that the patient is safe throughout the procedure and in the postoperative recovery. High BMI patients have more complications and their results are not as good. You have already noted that liposuction did not improve you and so undergoing an abdominoplasty is not likely to give you the results that you’re looking for. This is because there are two layers where people carry their extra weight. The first area of excess fat is just underneath the skin which may be amenable to liposuction, but the next area of excess fat is around your intestines, which causes the rounding of your stomach and prevents you from having a good abdominal contour after a tummy tuck. The fat that’s around your intestines is only improved by diet and exercise and weight loss. It is not amenable to liposuction. Your best and safest way to proceed would be to lose weight down to your BMI is below 30 and then to have a follow up evaluation for your body conjuring. Best wishes.

Thanks for your question. For a tummy tuck, at my practice, you need to be under a 33 BMI. Based on your BMI being 35.5, you are not eligible for surgery at this time. I would recommend meeting with your physician to develop a weight loss plan to be eligible for surgery. Hope this helps. Please always consult with a board certified plastic surgeon. Take care, Dr. Moises Salama, board certified plastic surgeon.

Elevated BMI increases the chance of complications, some of which can be quite serious. But the bigger issue is not "can we" but "should we". In your case, you should concentrate on losing weight. Losing weight will allow a plastic surgeon to get you a better result when you eventually do have your tummy tuck. So, can it be done? Of course. But, doing it before you lose weight will give you a suboptimal result.