How Much Weight Should I Lose to Have Skin Removal Surgery?

It sounds like you're making a very good life decision to get back to a healthier weight.
Before you embark upon surgery and it's always best to achieve a comfortable weight that you feel you can maintain in your future without starving yourself.
I know many patients who try crash diets, drugs or other fads to lose weight.  These are generally prone to failure.  The only way to loose weight and keep it off is through diet, exercise, and even sometimes behavior modification.  You may wish to consult with your internist or nutritionist to help put you on the right track.
Body mass index charts can tell you where you should be, but getting there is the hard part.
A few things to remember as you bark upon your weight loss program:
True healthy weight loss takes time.  Don't rush it.
Rail thin is not always healthy either, seeking a comfortable and healthy weight.
Be sure that you can maintain your weight loss for a number of months prior to surgery to prove that your weight is stable. 
Don't embark upon surgery without being stable and without having adequate nutrition or you wont heal well.
Even though you're not at your goal weight yet consult with a plastic surgeon so that you can be followed during the process.  It will help to define your goals as you consider your future surgical options.
Best of luck with your continued success in weight loss.
 
 
 

Thank you for the question.

Congratulations on your decision  to change your lifestyle and achieve a “healthy” weight. I would suggest that you achieve a long-term stable weight prior to proceeding with tummy tuck surgery. There is no “magic number” that can be recommended;  the key is to get as close as possible to  goal weight that you feel you will be comfortable at for the long-term.

Achieving this  weight prior to tummy tuck surgery will:

1. Increase the safety of the procedure.

2.  Minimize the chances that additional surgery will become necessary ( in the event that you lose additional weight after the tummy tuck surgery is performed).

Best wishes.