When should I have a consultation for a tummy tuck?

Far more important than deciding if TT is for you is the skill and experience of your plastic surgeon. Choose your surgeon rather than the technique and let him explain why one technique may be better than another and if you need a tummy tuck. Many board certified plastic surgeons provide a free first time consult and you should take advantage of that! See the below link on some suggestions on finding the most qualified Plastic Surgeon for you!

The consultation can be performed within a week or two of your surgery if your surgeon's schedule allows for it. You don't have to wait for your surgery after you've had a consultation, as long as the surgery has been determined safe and effective for you by your surgeon and you are comfortable in having them perform your surgery. However, it is often the case that patients have to wait a bit between their consultation and surgery because of the  surgeon's schedule. 

Hi there-
The timing of your consultation will depend greatly on your choice of surgeon, as the variables that will affect this the most will be how busy your surgeon is (some might be able to get you in soon for surgery, while others are busier and will not be able to do your surgery for some time), and how long it takes the surgeon you choose to do the procedure you need (in other words, this is another example of the truism that we are no all created equal).
My best advice to you is to do your homework, choose a surgeon you like and can trust, and call his or her office- ask how far in advance the surgeon is scheduling surgery and plan appropriately.
On occasion, if a patient has an important event they need to recover by, I might be willing to work later than usual if I am not otherwise able to accommodate the patient's desired timeline-
The important thing is that you do not compromise your safety or the quality of your care and outcome in order to fit the procedure into your schedule or budget.
Find the best surgeon for you first. Worry about the schedule second.
Here's some good advice on how to go about this:

Hello - Make sure you have enough time to get your preoperative clearance from your primary care physician as well as time to get your bloodwork completed. Also, if you're consulting with several doctors give yourself time to digest all of the information that you'll be given. Try not to rush into something like cosmetic surgery that can be expensive and alter the way that you look. Good luck!

The longer in advance you have your consultation for a tummy tuck, the more time you have to plan for your recovery and the more flexibility your surgeon is likely to have to get you on his or her operative schedule. But there is no right or wrong way to do this. I see some patients in consultation who want the surgery as soon as possible, and we work to get them done that way. Others come in and schedule their surgery for 8 months from the consultation and that is ok too.

Typically it takes a few weeks to get in to see a busy plastic surgeon, and then there is lag time to when the surgery can be scheduled as well. You want to think also about the recovery after surgery, particularly of you want to be swimsuit-ready for summer. Of course getting the appointment doesn't lock you into a schedule for surgery, so no reason to put it off.

I would add to the comments above that its a good idea to meet a few plastic surgeon's prior to scheduling surgery. Get several opinions and choose the surgeon that you feel the most comfortable with.
Tummy Tuck surgery is a major procedure- I generally check a set of pre-operative labs on my tummy tuck patients. I also discuss the procedure with their primary care physician if there are any medical issues (high blood pressure, cardiac problems etc). These visits take a few weeks to complete.
There is a substantial amount of patient education that needs to occur as well: how to manage the drains, activity schedule, compression garments, DVT prophylaxis plan etc.
Plan on meeting your plastic surgeon a few weeks prior to surgery to ensure that all of the above issues have been dealt with.

Even if you are well-prepared for your consultation, it is amazing how many new questions may come to your mind!
My advice is schedule your consultations at least 8-12 weeks before your planned surgery date. This allows you to see at least 2-3 board certified plastic surgeons, compare personalities, results, prices, etc.
This is elective surgery, so there is no urgency to it! Take your time and make sure all your concerns are addressed.

You should allow 8-12 weeks time between consultation and surgery. Plastic surgeons are often busier when the weather is warm, kids are in school and the economy is humming.
I would recommend you not view the consultation as a useless preliminary, regardless of how highly recommended the Plastic surgeon is. This is YOUR chance to review and asses the person you are entrusting your well-being to. So, take your time. read about him / her. Ask as many questions as you have and see several surgeons.
Take your time. Do your homework. The more time you have taken to prepare, the more informed you will be and the wiser your choice of surgeon.
Good Luck.
Dr. P. Aldea

If you are healthy, non smoker and had recent labs and/or physical, getting a tummy tuck becomes a scheduling issue. Medicaly, i like to have few weeks between the consultation and surgery to allow for proper pre-op, instructions etc.