If you feel that you will be able to achieve that goal then it is best to be within 5 or 10 lbs of that goal. That will allow the surgeon to contour your body for that weight.
Some of the desired weight loss will occur from the skin and fat that is removed. However, the typical weight of that tissue is just a few pounds. (Susan D. Vasko, MD, FACS Columbus Plastic Surgeon)
It is best to get to a comfortable weight for yourself before undergoing a tummy tuck. The skin can be maximally tightened to fit your body frame and you will get maximal tummy tuck results. (Christopher J. Kovanda, MD, Minneapolis Plastic Surgeon)
I always advise patients to reach their goal weight and be stable at that weight prior to undergoing a tummy tuck. This will give you the best result in the long term. (Christopher J. Davidson, MD, FACS, Wellesley Plastic Surgeon)
At 165lb you can go ahead and have your abdominoplasty done already you will continue losing weight. (Jhonny Salomon, MD, Miami Plastic Surgeon)Weight Loss Before Tummy Tuck
I think there are two parts to the answer. The first is when to have a consultation and the second is when to have surgery. It is a great time for a consultation. You can learn, first hand, what your surgical options are likely to be and what each entails. You will learn what will be expected of you during your recovery and how you can make the process easier. And, most importantly, you can begin the process of finding the right surgeon.
The second question is when to have tummy tuck surgery. Surgery is best when you have reached a plateau and you have been there for at least 3 months. In some cases, this is at goal weight. In some cases, the surgical rejuvenation process begins before goal weight to help the process along.
It is a great honor taking care of people who work as hard as you have and I encourage you to find a surgeon with whom you can develop a trusting relationship to walk through your next phase with.If you are within 10 lbs or so, it’s ok to proceed with your tummy tuck. The more excess skin can be removed at the time of surgery if you lose most of your weight before the tummy tuck. If you are uncertain, please consult with a few plastic surgeons for a more detailed examination before scheduling your surgery date. (William Bruno, MD, Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon)
If you are still losing weight, then weight until your weight loss plateaus and you can’t lose anymore. If you are stuck at 30 pounds from your goal weight, then a tummy tuck is reasonable. Remember, you may lose significant weight from your tummy tuck. Losing the maximal amount of weight will result in a safer surgery and a better post op result. (Kurtis Martin, MD, Cincinnati Plastic Surgeon)
I find the most important discussion in these cases to be maintenance of weight after surgery. The result is more likely to be damaged by weight changes after surgery, not before.
Basically, we don’t want you to lose alot of weight to get below your “Realistic” goal weight, have surgery, then gain it back afterwards. This does a lot of damage to our result.
Your plastic surgeon will give you the best result they possibly can during surgery, but we need the patient to work hard at maintaining the weight afterwards. (Paul S. Gill, MD, Houston Plastic Surgeon)Achieve a maximal stable weight prior to tummy tuck
Losing weight is hard and keeping it off is just as hard. To get a stable, long lasting result from your tummy tuck, I like my patients to have reached a maximum stable weight prior to surgery. You have done most of the hard work. You are almost there. But you need to reach a new steady state of weight so that the amount of excess skin and soft tissue can be assessed and removed in your tummy tuck. Some patients can yo-yo with their weight. Once your weight is stable (at least a few months), your tummy tuck can go ahead with a higher chance of a stable result. (Damian Marucci, MBBS, FRACS, Australia Plastic Surgeon)