Time Sensitive: Am I a good candidate for TT? (Photo)

Hi, thank you for sharing your question. You will have a better outcome after reaching your goal weight before undergoing surgery.

Hello, if my patients are still in the process of losing weight I typically advise them to reach their goal weight for several months before considering surgery. The skin on the abdomen might get looser, so it might be possible to remove even more excess tissue. That stated, if a person is only planning to lose several pounds, it may not have any impact on the final result. If you get an in-person consult, your surgeon will be able to assess the degree of skin and muscle laxity, presence of a diastasis or hernia, then provide more concrete advice about the best timing of surgery in your case.

Thank you for your question regarding whether you are a good candidate for a tummy tuck. Thank you for your history and your physical. First, I would suggest you lose weight before your tummy tuck. You could ruin your results if you plan on losing fifteen pounds before your tummy tuck. Therefore again, I suggest that if you're planning on losing weight, you should lose it before your tummy tuck. Also, I would do your tummy tuck/abdominoplasty with muscle repair. Why are you not doing your muscle repair? Since your abdomen is distended, most of your distension is due to muscle weakness. You will not get an optimal result without muscle plication. Therefore, why are you not considering having muscle repair? Therefore, I suggest you lose weight before your tummy tuck and undergo muscle repair when you have a tummy tuck. Thank you for your question regarding if you're a good candidate for a tummy tuck.
If you have any more questions regarding reconstructive surgery after massive weight loss, please contact my office. Reconstructive surgeries after massive weight loss include an abdominoplasty, tummy tuck, thigh lift, breast lift, mastopexy, arm lift, brachioplasty, torsoplasty, back lift, buttock augmentation, and buttock lift. Since these reconstructive surgeries after massive weight loss, are big procedures, please seek an experienced, board certified plastic surgeon with significant experience performing these types of lifts. Do your research. Make sure they have performed at least 100 of each procedure you are considering for reconstructive surgery after massive weight loss. Make sure they have the before and after pictures to prove it. Carefully examine their before and after pictures and check their reviews on RealSelf.

Thanks for your question. From your pictures you seem to be a good candidate for a tummy tuck. At my practice, the tummy tuck includes muscle repair. Being as close to your ideal weight is always recommended. I suggest scheduling a consult for a proper evaluation. Always consult with a board certified plastic surgeon. Take care, Moises Salama MD, Board Certified Plastic Surgeon

Hello and thank you for your question! Your details along with your photos show that you are a good tummy tuck candidate. The ideal candidates in our practice have a BMI less than 30, are at or as close as possible to their goal weight and do not plan to have further children. I would recommend a full abdominoplasty with muscle repair as this will give you the flattest, tightest belly. As far as your weight loss plans, I would encourage you to lose as much of those 15lbs prior to surgery. Small variations in weight after surgery (5lbs+) won't lead to much visible difference. But I advise patients that the results may start being compromised with larger fluctuations in weight (10lbs +), meaning some loose skin vs more fullness depending on weight loss/gain.

Weight loss after a tummy tuck can negatively impact results. While it is not guaranteed, it would be better to lose the weight first. That way, you don’t have to worry about it. A tummy tuck removes fat right below your skin, so your surgeon would have to make sure that your unwanted fat can be removed to achieve your desired results. They would also check if you have abdominal muscle separation, as this can be repaired during your tummy tuck.

Thank you for your question. I would recommend a tummy tuck for you. From the pictures you have posted it looks like you may have some intra abdominal fat which can be worked on by diet and exercise. If you were to do the muscle repair it would help push down on that intra abdominal fat and help give a better appearance. If the 15lbs brings you to your weight goal, I don't believe you have to lose that before surgery and can work on that after surgery. I typically recommend being within 15-20lbs of your goal weight. I would speak to a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon in person to evaluate you and discuss the plan. Best of luck to you.

In person exam is essential. Based on limited photos it appears that you would benefit from a full tummy tuck with muscle tightening. Most all experienced Plastic Surgeons are booked up months in advance - so scheduling a consultation would be the first step in this process. Good luck

Hi Betts45,
Weight optimization is super important prior to tummy tuck, especially for patients like you. Your concern about looking pregnant is likely the result of 2 things. First, a weakness in the right to left connections between your 6 pack muscles, commonly referred to as rectus diastases. Second, fat around your intestines which is able to bulge forward through that weakness. Together, these 2 factors create the appearance of the abdomen as shown in the photos.
Preemptive weight loss is incredibly important, as it would decrease the amount of visceral, or intra-abdominal, fat which is present. Why this is important is it will allow your surgeon to better plicate or tighten the right to left separation between her 6 pack muscles in the operating room. This ultimately optimizes your postoperative contour.
If you have goals of weight loss, and especially because you have substantial diastases based on the photos, I would suggest weight loss first prior to tummy tuck.
Hope this helps.
Best,Christopher Pannucci, MDBoard Certified Plastic SurgeonPlastic Surgery NorthwestSpokane, Washington

Hi. I would recommend losing the weight first, or at least most of that weight such as 10 of the 15 pounds for instance. I would also strongly encourage you to have a tummy tuck WITH muscle repair. Based on your picture I would guess that a fair amount of your abdominal protrusion is a component of separated abdominal muscles (rectus diastases), and without a good solid muscle repair in my opinion you are very much missing the boat in terms of getting an optimal improvement from a tummy tuck. I would recommend consulting with a board certified plastic surgeon with good experience with body contouring and specifically tummy tuck's to help guide you through this process.
Good luck and take care,
Dr. Howell