How much weight loss should you have before a tummy tuck?
It is best to be as close to your goal weight as possible prior to having a tummy tuck. Usually within 5-10 pounds is what I suggest. If, realistically, you don’t think you will lose much more weight, then I say go ahead with surgery whenever you’re ready to. At your current weight, you will still see a nice change. (Brian Reedy, MD)
Exactly how much weight loss is needed before tummy tuck is a grey area
I have had many patients loose a lot of weight before this surgery and then over time, one year plus, many of the patients have re-gained the weight and then become weight stable.
As a result I suggest to patient that they should find a weight where they are stable and are comfortable living at this weight. If this is the case, then proceed with you abdominoplasty and enjoy a great result.
If you want to loose the weight and proceed that is also good and you can enjoy a great result. (Stephen M. Davis, MD, FACS, Nashville Plastic Surgeon)
Exactly how much weight loss is needed before tummy tuck is a grey area
At 5 ft. 3 in. your “ideal body weight” (IBW) according the the standard insurance tables and other formulae used to derive such information is somewhere around 115 lb, maybe 120 lb. if you have a larger frame. I think that most of us would agree that it would probably take a Spartan effort for you to achieve that body weight now, and in fact, it might even take a very unhealthy lifestyle which wouldn’t be sustainable long term.
My point is that body weight planning must take into account many factors aside from just a pure number, including one’s genetics, age, general body habitus, reasonable lifestyle, feasible exercise, and dietary capabilities. This is not to say that we should be doing aesthetic surgery on the morbidly obese with body mass index (BMI) greater than 35 or 40, but it means that the “target weight,” a term I like to use more, will vary depending upon the person.
I think most surgeons have general guidelines that they use to be sure that we don’t expose our patients to undue risks because of excessive body weight and that we help them to attain the optimal results from their surgery, given the magnitude of the commitment that it is.
Our literature shows that as the BMI exceeds 30, the risks of complications like wound healing problems, infections, deep vein thrombosis, and the like increase, so this is one guideline that has some usefulness. However, we must also recognize that BMI is relative too, because I have patients who are US Marines built like tanks with a BMI of over 30 but whose body fat percentage is less than 10. Clearly those guys are not under any increased risk.
My approach to this is to work closely with patients such as yourself to set realistic goals, and to use general guidelines based on evidence and real data to help us minimize risk and optimize outcome. You may find if you talk to three different surgeons about this, you’ll get three different answers. Schedule some consultations with experienced, board certified plastic surgeons who will be responsible about their recommendations and see which plan makes you feel most comfortable given your goals and realistic expectations of what you can do around weight loss.
Don’t jump in with the guy who says you don’t need to lose any more weight right now, as he may not have your best interests in mind, but don’t necessarily think that they guy telling you to cut to 10 stone (140 lbs for all the Yanks ) is necessarily right either. The truth is probably somewhere in the middle, and collaborating with a responsible surgeon will help you arrive at a safe plan that will most likely meet your realistic goals. (Joseph L. Grzeskiewicz, MD, San Diego Plastic Surgeon)
How much weight to lose before Tummy Tuck?
You appear to be a very good candidate for a tummy tuck. I am not sure how necessary weight loss is given lack of fullness in the upper abdomen. Liposuction of the sides and back would further refine the result.
Look at reviews and before and after pictures as well as credentials to select your surgeon. (Kenneth B. Hughes, MD, Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon)
Weight loss
I would strive toward a body mass index (BMI) of about 25. That would be a weight of 141. 20 pounds, thought, would already make a good difference in lower risk of complications, and better outcome. (Jourdan Gottlieb, MD, Seattle Plastic Surgeon)