5’7 190 lbs. Tummy tuck - do I need to loose weight first? Can I expect a flat stomach after? (Photos)

Hello, and thank you for your question regarding being 5'7" and weighing 190 pounds, considering a tummy tuck, and specifically wondering if you need to lose more weight first, and whether you can expect a flat stomach after a tummy tuck. Thank you for your history and your pictures. At 5'7" and 190 pounds, your BMI is 29. Even though your BMI is less than 30, most plastic surgeons would agree that it would be best if you lost more weight. By losing weight, you will lose both subcutaneous (under the skin) and visceral (under the muscle) fat. The more fat you can lose, the better your tummy tuck results. Most plastic surgeons suggest you eat a high-protein diet with minimal carbs and low sugar. It is recommended to exercise for at least an hour a day. If these are too difficult to do, consider taking a GLP-1 medication to help with further weight loss. In your case, most plastic surgeons suggest at least a 10- to 15-pound further weight loss. This will help to reduce your visceral fat significantly and will keep your tummy from bulging. Currently, your abdomen bulges on profile due to too much visceral fat. During a tummy tuck or abdominoplasty, three anatomic areas are repaired. The rectus abdominis muscle is repaired, excess abdominal skin is removed, and excess abdominal fat is removed. If, however, the rectus abdominis muscle is being distended by visceral fat, the muscle can only be repaired to a certain extent. Even though the skin and fat are pulled tightly over the rectus muscle, the abdomen may still be distended due to the presence of visceral fat pushing the rectus abdominis muscle outward. Therefore, in your case, it would be best to lose as much visceral fat as possible, undergo rectus abdominis plication to achieve a flat tummy on profile, and then the skin and fat can be redraped. This would yield the best results. Therefore, it would be best to lose more weight before your tummy tuck and lipo flank and back surgery. Good luck. I hope I’ve answered your question regarding whether you need to lose more weight first and whether you can expect a flat stomach after a tummy tuck, considering you are 5'7" and weigh 190 pounds. Good luck.
Most plastic surgeons offer complimentary virtual or in-person consultations. Therefore, explore what other plastic surgeons have to say. If you have any further questions about a tummy tuck, please consult an experienced plastic surgeon. Please consult an experienced, board-certified plastic surgeon with a proven track record of performing tummy tucks. Ensure they have performed numerous tummy tuck surgeries and have before-and-after pictures to prove it. Carefully examine their before-and-after pictures and check their reviews on RealSelf. If you cannot find an experienced plastic surgeon in your area, consider traveling to another state. Sincerely, Dr. Katzen. (Plastic Surgeon, President of the American Society of Bariatric Surgeons, certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, Fellow of the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, American College of Surgery, and International College of Surgery and member of the American Society of Plastic Surgery, American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery, RealSelf Hall of Fame, and RealSelf Doctor Advisory Board for Medical Review and Consumer Panel.)

Fat that’s located below the skin (subcutaneous) and around the internal organs (visceral) can both contribute to a protruding belly. Abdominal muscle separation can also contribute. While a tummy tuck can remove loose skin and subcutaneous fat, as well as repair abdominal muscle separation, it cannot remove visceral fat. Visceral fat can only be removed with diet and exercise. Therefore, it would be best to ask your surgeon how much fat can be removed and how flat you may be after surgery to determine whether it would be satisfactory to you.

You do appear to be a good candidate for an abdominoplasty, which would remove your pouch you dislike and help to smooth and tighten your abdomen. In order to achieve the flattest abdomen possible, you should try to bring your weight down as close as possible to your ideal body weight. Your present BMI is slightly over 29 so some weight loss would complement your results. Best wishes.

At 5'7 and 190 lbs., your BMI is 29, which is overweight. You would benefit from losing weight but can have a tummy tuck at this time. The technique I recommend is abdominoplasty with mesh reinforcement. The mesh creates a more hourglass figure by compressing the abdominal wall resulting in early satiety and helps maintain a reduced weight.

Best Wishes,

Gary Horndeski, M.D.

Thank you for your question and photos. Your BMI is 29, you are a good candidate for VASER liposuction 360 degrees (full abdomen, pubic area, full back, waist, hips, lateral chest wall and rib cage) with a full tummy tuck. See a board certified plastic surgeon with experience in advanced body sculpting techniques for an in person consultation/evaluation. Good luck.

Thanks for your question! I do think you would be a good candidate for both procedures. If you can lose a little bit more weight, it will help flatten your belly. However, if this is your normal weight, you will still get a good result here. Best of luck!

Thank you so much for sharing your journey— you’ve already been through so much, and it’s wonderful that you’re feeling ready to take the next step toward feeling confident again.

Since you’ve had fibroid surgery and a hysterectomy, it’s very common to notice that lingering “pooch” or fullness in the lower abdomen — especially after multiple incisions in the same area. A tummy tuck with liposuction to the flanks and back is a fantastic option to tighten the muscles, remove excess skin, and smooth the entire midsection.

At 5’7” and 190 lbs, many patients are still excellent candidates, especially if you’re maintaining a stable weight and in good overall health (which it sounds like you are). Ultimately, the decision to lose additional weight is between you and your surgeon — we generally recommend being as close to your goal weight as possible before surgery, since significant weight loss afterward could affect your results.

After your tummy tuck, you can absolutely expect a flatter, firmer stomach and a more defined waistline — though your exact outcome will depend on your muscle tone, skin elasticity, and healing process.

Generally speaking you are a candidate for the tummy tuck. However to give your surgeon the opportunity to optimize your results it's best to be as close to your idea body weight as possible. This will also help with visceral fat (the fat around your organs) which is not impacted by a tummy tuck or liposuction. The procedure will remove excess subcutaneous fat and skin as well as correct abdominal wall laxity. The result will be a flatter, tighter tummy. I've included a video that I hope you find helpful.

Good morning. You are an excellent candidate for a tummy tuck combined with liposuction of the flanks and back. This procedure will remove excess skin and fat and tighten your abdominal muscles, resulting in a much flatter and more defined abdomen, even after your previous surgeries.

Although losing a few pounds further improves the result, it is not strictly necessary. With surgery, we can transform your body contour in a safe and personalized way. I would love to accompany you through this process so you can achieve the abdomen and figure you desire. If you would like, we can schedule a consultation to answer your questions and plan your surgery. Please contact us at 829-554-6062.