How Much Weight to Lose Before Tummy Tuck and Liposuction?

Thank you for the question.

There is no magic number of pounds to lose.  You will know physically (when you are at your baseline weight) and emotionally when you are ready to proceed with this major operation.  This planning would involve making sure you have enough help for your kids and yourself during the recovery period (approx. 3-4 weeks).  

I do however have another  word of advice for you. Patients who are about to undergo tummy tuck surgery spend a lot of time thinking about the physical preparation for the procedure (for example weight loss issues) but do not spend a lot of time thinking about the emotional aspects.
It is not uncommon for patients who undergo the procedure to experience severe “mood swings”. These emotions may range from depression ( “why did I do this to myself”) to elation  (which may lead to over activity). I think it is helpful to be aware that these emotional swings do occur postoperatively. 
Suggestions I have for patients undergoing this procedure: 1. Make sure you have a strong support system in place who have time/patience to take care of you. 2. Be patient with the healing process, understanding that it will take several weeks to months to feel “normal” again. 3. Be prepared to distract your mind with things of interest such as books, magazines, and movies. 4. Expect less of yourself; do not go back to work too early and let others take care of you (for a change). 5. Keep in close communication with your surgeon and do not hesitate to communicate questions/concerns and the emotional swings that you may experience. 6. Keep in mind the end result!

I hope this helps.

Thank you for your question regarding weight loss before a tummy tuck and liposuction. It's great that you're already focused on improving your health and fitness. To get the best results from your surgery, most plastic surgeons, including myself, recommend reaching your goal weight or getting as close to it as possible before undergoing the procedure. Ideally, you should aim to be at your lowest stable weight and maintain it for at least three months prior to surgery. This will help ensure that your results are long-lasting and reduce the chances of needing further procedures.

At your height of 5'9" and weight of 190 lbs, it sounds like you're already making progress. Keep in mind that the closer you are to your goal weight, the better the outcome, as the surgery will primarily target excess skin and stubborn fat that doesn’t respond to diet and exercise.

As for combining procedures, yes, it’s quite common to perform liposuction on areas like the underarms at the same time as a tummy tuck. This can help contour your body and address those areas of flab that may not go away with exercise alone.

I recommend continuing your weight loss journey and consulting with a board-certified plastic surgeon once you've reached a stable weight to discuss your options and create a plan that will help you achieve your desired results.

Sincerely,
Dr. Katzen

You want to get as close to your goal weight that you can maintain to get the best results from your surgery. If you are in good health there should be no problem for you to have a tummy tuck and liposuction under your arms. Be sure to see a board certified plastic surgeon. Good luck.