I've lost 82 pounds. Am I ready for a tummy tuck? (Photos)

Congratulations on your impressive weight loss! You will want to wait until you are at your goal weight and able to maintain it prior to having your tummy tuck. This will allow your surgeon the opportunity to maximize your results. At that time you can visit with a board certified plastic surgeon and discuss your goals for surgery and learn more about the procedure.

Hello and thank you for your question. Congratulations on your weight loss journey - that is not an easy feat! Regarding the timing of a tummy tuck, the best advice is to be at or as close as possible to your goal weight prior to surgery (i.e. don't plan to lose more weight after surgery) and also have have stable weight for at least 6-12 months after notable weight loss (i.e. don't have surgery if your weight is still changing/fluctuating beyond plus/minus a few pounds. If this is the weight/BMI that you are happy and healthy at, then it is OK to proceed with a tummy tuck, in my opinion. And I do not believe you need the vertical FDL based on your photo, unless your goal was absolutely the tightest abdominal skin regardless of scarring.

Yes, it is important to note the difference between visceral and subcutaneous fat. For best aesthetic results (i.e. the flattest possible belly), I usually recommend a BMI less than 30 for patients. This is due to the fact that the proportion of visceral fat (behind the muscles that cannot safely be removed with plastic surgery) is greater in BMIs more than 30. Different surgeons likely have different "cut offs" and recommendations.

Nevertheless, in my opinion, many patients in the BMI 30-35 range can still have great results with abdominoplasty. I don't routinely recommend this surgery for patients with a BMI higher than 35 as not only does the aesthetic result become more unreliable, but there is also greater anesthesia and post-surgical complications risks involved with higher BMIs.

Thanks again and good luck with your journey!

Good job on your successful weight loss. I would say you are ready to move on with rejuvenation of your tummy. There are two very good options for you depending on your anatomy, specifically your muscles. The first question is if you have noticeable diastasis, meaning a bulge in-between your six-pack muscles when you do a sit up or plank type of action. Your muscles look flat in your photo so this is likely not a major issue in decision making. You also do not have significant visceral fat. Assuming so, the I would recommend liposuction with skin excision and umbilical transposition. This is a tummy tuck type of skin excision excluding the muscle tightening. This can be done with an oral cocktail for sedation and local tumescent anesthesia, so you never go "under". There are no drains with resumption of activity as tolerated. Also, you get the benefit of liposuction of the abdominal flap in the same setting, so you lose the fatty bulk which is NOT done in a formal abdominoplasty. There is an overall lower complication rate and down time compared to a traditional tummy tuck. This is a great option for many women out there . . . An in-person exam will help determine which option is best for you. See attached reference.

I hope this helps.

Thank you.