I have lost 50 pounds so far, and I am planning on another 40-50, when is the ideal time to consult on a tummy tuck? (photos)

Thank you for your question and great work with your weight loss. You will get the best results from your tummy tuck if you are at your ideal and stable weight heading into surgery. You have two options. You can set up a consult now and meet with a plastic surgeon and develop a preliminary surgery plan. The surgeon will want to see you back in a few months, prior to surgery once you have met your weight loss goal, to finalize your surgery plan. Or you can wait until you are closer to (within 10 pounds) of your weight loss goal, or have already met it and then meet with a plastic surgeon and move forward with surgery at that time. Be sure to set up your consult with a board certified plastic surgeon. Good luck.

Hi JLP1031, thank you for your question and congratulations on your weight loss thus far!  If you are looking to loose another 40-50lbs I would encourage you to consult with a board certified plastic surgeon now to discuss your concerns and surgical options but wait until your weight has stabilized before proceeding with your surgery.  Starting your search now for a plastic surgeon that you are comfortable with will be important and I have found that for many patients it also aides in the remaining weight loss because your goal is much more tangible when a preliminary surgical plan has been set.  From the photos you provided you appear to be a good candidate for a full tummy tuck and liposuction of your flanks to achieve a flatter abdomen and to relieve you of the skin envelope that is causing you discomfort.  I hope that you find this helpful and I wish you all of the best!

Congrats on your weight loss thus far! You will be an excellent candidate for tummy tuck with liposuction. I recommend my patients to be within 10 pounds of their goal weight for ultimate results. Further weight loss after a procedure can change the final look of the surgery. You should consult with plastic surgeons in person so they can better help guide you to on the procedures and what steps to take to get the aesthetic results your desire. Good luck!

Hello and thank you for your question. Congratulations on your weight loss so far.  Based on your
photograph, you will be a great candidate for a tummy tuck with liposuction after your weight is stable.  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

Hello,Congratulations on your weight loss. Awesome job. Now is a good time to get a consult. You will get information on the surgery and be able to make your decision about which type of tummy tuck is best for you. I typically advise my patients to be within 15 pounds of their goal weight prior to tummy tuck so that you don't get the procedure, then lose more weight and wish you could have more skin removed. All the best in your journey,Dr. BlaggAustin, TX

Hello,Thank you for your question and congratulations on your weight loss so far! I would recommend that you get to your target weight if you can and maintain that for a few months before planning surgery. This will ensure that your results are more predictable and dramatic. Your plastic surgeon will examine you and talk about options/considerations then help you plan for your procedure.All the best 

Thank you for sharing your question and photographs and congratulations on your impressive weight loss.  I would start the process of consults now by online research and vetting of plastic surgeons who you are interested in working with.  Most likely you are 6+ months away from surgery based on an anticipated amount of time for a 50lb weight loss while remaining stable at that new weight so in another three months I would start in-person evaluations.  hope this helps.

Hi Jlp10231!  Thank you for your question!
From your photos, it looks like you would have a nice result from a full Abdominoplasty.  I typically recommend patients be within 15-20 pounds of their goal weight prior to surgery.  Determining when you want to start the consultation process is completely up to you.  If you want to get started and find the right surgeon for you now, I would do so!  Once you have chosen a surgeon, he/she can always do a second consultation once you're down to an ideal weight.  
I commend you for being so thorough and doing your homework. Make sure that you look at plenty of before-and-after photos and that you're thoroughly impressed with your surgeon's work. If you have any doubts, keep searching. There are many reputable, board-certified plastic surgeons in your area, and you will not have a problem finding one whose work and personality are the perfect fit for you. Best of luck!

Congratulations on your weight loss so far! Think about the time it will take you to lose the rest of your weight. A consultation within 6 months of your goal would help you plan for the recovery, see pictures of the expected rsults and get some cost information also. These can be motivators as you work toward your goal weight. It is best to be within about 10-15lbs of your goal weight before having this procedure. As you can see, weight loss causes loose skin. You want your Plastic Surgeon to take as much loose skin as they can to restore your waistline. If you lost another 20+lbs after a Tummy Tuck, you will see loose skin again. Best to be nearer the goal weight for long lasting results you can enjoy.Best Wishes

You should reach your goal weight prior to having a tummy tuck to get your best result.  Ideally your weight would be stable for a few months prior to have the operation.  Congratulations on your weight loss.  Be sure to find a board certified plastic surgeon to have an evaluation.