Many patients (women and men!) in their 50’s and 60’s and even 70’s are able to undergo a safe and successful tummy tuck. Your internist and plastic surgeon should assess and apprise you of what the risks of the surgery are.
There may be additional tests such as a stress echocardiogram that might help in assessing the health of your heart that your internist or cardiologist may order during your physical exam. You may also want to stay in a hospital overnight or in a licensed Aftercare facility after the procedure.
Pain pumps and fibrin glue may ease the recovery and reduce the time drains are in. There are also many different types of tummy tucks now that can be performed. In general, if a considerable amount of skin and fat are present, a full tummy tuck gives the best result. (Brent Moelleken, MD, Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon)
If your general health is good and you don’t smoke, age is not a limit. If it is possible for you to lose a bit of weight, your risks will be diminished, and your outcome improved. When you ready for an in person consultation, RealSelf has listings of surgeons in your area.
You should consider cross referencing the listings from the The American Society of Plastic Surgeons (plasticsurgery dot org). A listing in the ASPS website assures you that your surgeon is not only board certified, but also is a member in good standing of the major plastic surgery organization in the U. S. (Jourdan Gottlieb, MD, Seattle Plastic Surgeon)
The decision as to whether or not a patient could or should have an elective surgical procedure is decided on the basis of overall health of the patient not their age.
While difficult to say without at least the aid of pictures, it sounds from your narrative that you would be a perfect candidate for a tummy tuck. You might also want to explore the possibility of a simultaneous breast reconstruction if you have not already done so. (Pedro M. Soler, Jr., MD, Tampa Plastic Surgeon)
A tummy tuck at 59 is not unreasonable, and I have done many women and men in their 50s, 60s, and 70s. General medical health should be good and patients should be at a reasonable, stable weight. (Kenneth B. Hughes, MD, Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon)
Your age is not as important as your health. If you are healthy enough for the surgery it’s certainly possible to seriously consider it. Sometimes leaving out the muscle tightening will decrease the recovery. You should go for a consultation and discuss all the options. Finally, you will need to see your family doc for a pre-operative clearance.If you have not had breast reconstruction you may want to even consider using the tummy fat and skin for your reconstruction. (Ronald Schuster, MD, Baltimore Plastic Surgeon)
Your age is not a reason to avoid a tummy tuck, especially if you are in the good state of health that you describe. I personally have performed tummy tucks on patients a good bit older than you. (John Whitt, MD, Louisville Plastic Surgeon)
Age 59 or later is not too late to have a tummy tuck especially if you are healthy and are at a stable weight. Many patients are getting a tummy tuck and multiple other procedures well into their 80s. It is important to be healthy and stable in weight and then see your Plastic Surgeon for consultation. (Thomas Guillot, MD, Baton Rouge Plastic Surgeon)
Plastic surgery age limit? I say no.
I have done abdominoplasties on people in their 60s and 70s. It is not so much your age as your overall health. Speak with your primary care doctor to make sure that you are healthy enough for surgery, and consult with a board certified plastic surgeon.
I suspect that at 59 you will find you are every bit as good a candidate as anyone else.(James E. Chappell, MD, Baltimore Plastic Surgeon)
Plastic surgery and Age Limit
There is no age limit regarding who would be a good candidate for a tummy tuck. A significant percentage of my tummy tuck patients are in their 50’s and some in their 60’s. That said, it is important that a candidate be in good health. Being active and a non-smoker helps lower risks of complications. It would also be important to check with your primary physician to see if they have any concerns about you having the procedure. But your age alone should not prevent you from having a tummy tuck. (Vincent D. Lepore, MD, San Jose Plastic Surgeon)
59 is not too old for plastic surgery
59 is not too old for plastic surgery. More and more people want to look as young as they feel. Diet and exercise are becoming increasingly more important to people. However, despite these lifestyle changes, some people are unable to achieve the results they desire. Age is not as important as overall health. If you are healthy enough to undergo surgery, than you should consider having the tummy tuck procedure. Consult with a board certified plastic surgeon to determine the appropriate procedure for you. (Scott Farber, MD, Boca Raton Plastic Surgeon)