How Old is Too Old for a Tummy Tuck?

It is not so much the chronological age as the medical health of the individual. Therefore an uncontrolled diabetic with rheumatoid arthritis on steroids and severe inflammatory bowel disease with immunosuppressants in a 50 year old may be a worse candidate then a healthy 65 year old.

Your physical health is very important when considering elective plastic surgery.  Meaning that a history and physical before a cosmetic tummy tuck is required to determine any medical conditions.  Safety is the number one priority.

If you are healthy and cleared by your personal physician, then you can proceed with the abdominoplasty at any age.  However, make sure you are having the procedure with a  plastic surgeon who is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery.

I just had a 65 year old woman ask me that yesterday.

There is one medical answer which relates to safety and your associated risks of surgery. As you have no significant medical problems you will most likely do very well with this operation. The complication rate is low when done in an accredited facility with board certified physicians who practice the current standards of care.The satisfaction rate with this operation is extremely high.

The question only you can answer is how much does the appearance of your abdomen bother you?

I encourage you to have a consultation with a board certified plastic surgeon who can review the procedure, the post operative course and your expected recovery.

I hope this was helpful.

Hello! Thank you for your question! Age alone is not a contraindication
to a surgical procedure. There are a few medical
comorbidities that contribute to a higher risk during any surgical
procedure including infections, wound complications, delayed wound
healing, bleeding, anesthetic risks, etc. Factors such as diabetes,
hypertension, coronary artery disease, heart problems, lung problems,
etc are more common in the elderly. However, if you are healthy, or
these conditions are well-controlled, you would certainly still be a
candidate for a surgical procedure. If your complaints or desires are
great enough to consider the surgical option, I would seek a
consultation with a plastic surgeon to discuss your complaints and go
over the options as well as risks and benefits of the procedure.You
should obtain medical clearance from your primary care physician that
you
are at an acceptable risk for undergoing a surgical procedure. For
elective or aesthetic procedures, your surgeon may want to get you to a
reasonable health status prior to consideration for a procedure.
Discuss all of
your medical comorbidities and medication with your surgeon prior and
discuss these risks. Also, discuss this with your anesthesiologist as
proper monitoring and medications will be watched closely. This
procedure should still be very safe for you and hope for an
uncomplicated course with an excellent result! Hope that this helps!
Best wishes!

An in-person consultation with a reputable board certified plastic surgeon is the best way to determine if a tummy tuck is suitable for you. In my experience, 58 is definitely not too old! Your general physical and mental health are far more important when considering a tummy tuck than just your age.  

Safety is of the utmost importance in performing cosmetic surgery. Tummy tucks can be performed in individuals of all ages who are in good health. We frequently involve your personnel family physician or internist to check you to make sure that you are in good health and that the risk of complications is low. I have personally performed tummy tucks in 5 women in their 70's.

It is very important to perform operations, such as tummy tuck, in the appropriate setting. To minimize the risk, I perform tummy tucks in a Certified Accredited Surgery Center with an overnight stay. I insist on a Board Certified Anesthesiologist to be in attendance. It is very important to follow all pre-operative and post-operative instructions to ensure a good result.

I would recommend a consultation with a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon.

Best regards, Andrew Lyos MD, FACS

Hi there-

As long as you are free of medical problems, and you have a medical doctor familiar with your health and lifestyle who can help with preparing you for surgery, you should not feel your age is a reason not to pursue a happier outlook with the flatter tummy you dream of.

As long as you are healthy, without major medical problems ( diabetes, heart disease, smoking), then you should be a god candidate for the surgery.  58 years old is not old at all, so if you are a good medical candidate, then you should be good to go.  I hope this helps.

Age really is not as big a factor as your physical health.  If you are healthy, then you can have tummy tuck or abdominoplasty at any age.  I have done tummy tucks on 70 year olds and also on people in their twenties.  The best advice is to make sure that you are evaluated by a board-certified plastic surgeon.  Good luck.

We see patients for abdominoplasty in their 60's fairly routinely, and I have even done a few in their 70's. On the other hand there are younger patients whose health makes them poor candidates for the procedure. It is not a trivial operation so see a board-certified plastic surgeon who will be able to advise you about the risks vs benefits for your specific situation.