Is it better to have a lower body weight or a lower body fat percent before a tummy tuck to get the best results?

Thank you for your question regarding how to achieve the best results before undergoing a tummy tuck or lower body. Based on your significant weight loss journey, you’ve already made tremendous progress.

Most plastic surgeons recommend reaching your lowest possible weight before surgery to achieve the most "snatched" look with your tummy tuck. This will allow the surgeon to remove the maximum amount of excess skin and provide you with the tightest and most contoured results. While having a lower body fat percentage is also beneficial, being at your lowest stable weight typically allows for the most dramatic transformation.

When you’re at your lowest weight, there’s less subcutaneous fat to contend with, which means the surgeon can focus more on skin removal and muscle tightening, leading to a more defined waistline and overall improved contour.

I suggest reaching your target weight before surgery to ensure the best possible outcome. Be sure to discuss your goals and concerns with your plastic surgeon, who can help you fine-tune your plan for optimal results.

Sincerely,

J. Timothy Katzen, MD, FASMBS, FICS

Congratulations on your weight loss. For my patients, I advise that a BMI of 25 is optimal but not necessary to have tummy tuck surgery. I base their fitness for surgery on their overall health, and BMI or body fat percentage are one of many indicators of fitness for surgery. If a person is able to lose weight and keep it off it's quite helpful in achieving good results, because tummy tuck surgery can't target fatty deposits deep within the body (visceral fat), under the muscle layer. On the other hand, there isn't much benefit to losing weight just to gain it back, so in my opinion it is better to have a stable body weight. On the other hand, if a person is very overweight, the risk of postoperative complications increases. Each person is assessed individually.

It really does not make much difference which way you are. Ideally, you should be in your ideal weight range for best results. Muscle weighs more than fat. Congratulations on your weight loss!