Can a tummy tuck be done if my BMI is 32?

While a BMI at 32 is high, you can still undergo a Tummy Tuck and get a very nice result. If you has the ability to lose weight I would try to do this before your procedure as it would decrease the chances of post operative healing problems.

Without photographs or an examination it would be impossible to determine which operation would be best for you.

You will likely have a better cosmetic outcome and fewer complications if you lose some weight before having a tummy tuck. I would consult with a few experienced plastic surgeons in person for a complete exam and more detailed information. Patients who have higher BMIs generally are at higher risk of DVTs (blood clots) and wound healing complications.Best wishes,Dr.Bruno

A tummy tuck can be done at your weight. There are several factors to consider when deciding whether to have a tummy tuck.A tummy tuck will remove excess skin from your abdomen, and allow the surgeon to tighten the abdominal wall. Visceral fat, is the fat that is located around our abdominal organs. It sits behind your abdominal wall, and is not remove during a tummy tuck surgery. The only way to decrease the amount of visceral fat is weight loss. As the amount of visceral fat decreases the abdominal wall can be tightened more during a tummy tuck surgery. Also, additional weight loss helps the surgeon remove excess skin from the abdominal wall.The most important factor when determining whether to have a tummy tuck procedure, is whether you are at a stable weight. If 187 pounds is your goal weight, then proceeding with a tummy tuck is reasonable. If you plan to lose weight, then it's worth waiting until you have completed the weight loss so that you can have the best, and longest lasting, results from your tummy tuck surgery.

Obesity not only can compromise the cosmetic result one can achieve, but your recovery will be more difficult, your risks for wound healing issues will be increased and chances of a DVT (deep venous thrombosis) and Pulmonary Embolism will be greater.  I recommend you try to lose some weight first (try to get your BMI closer to 25 or under) with proper dieting an exercise.  You will have a better result, better experience and safer outcome.  Best wishes.

You may be a good candidate for a tummy tuck, but pictures or an exam would be helpful to assess candidacy. Look at
reviews and before and after pictures as well as credentials to select
your surgeon.Kenneth Hughes, MDLos Angeles, CA

It is not a perfect world and not everyone can be at ideal body weight before elective cosmetic surgery. Many patients have abdominoplasty's with high BMIs and are quite pleased with the result.

Yes, absolutely it can. Each surgeon will have a different cutoff for BMI over which they won't operate on a patient electively, however 32 should be in the range that most surgeons would be more than comfortable operating on someone. For the best results I would suggest losing as much of the excess weight as possible before your procedure and make sure to use a board-certified plastic surgeon. Best of luck! 

Thank you for the question.  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.  Having said the above,  occasional patients do benefit from panniculectomy surgery as a “jumpstart” to achieving their final goals. You may find the attached link, dedicated to patients who have experienced significant weight loss, helpful to you as you consider your options. Best wishes.

You can have a tummy tuck if you are able to maintain your current weight or if this is your plateau weight.  You will have an improvement in contours but if you want to maintain that result, you must keep your weight steady.