BMI 35 is the maximum acceptable BMI for tummy tuck. One thing that you should keep in your mind is the closer you are to your BMI, the better the final result you can get. Most surgeons would not perform tummy tuck if your BMI is greater than 40.
While there are no standard weight requirements for a tummy tuck, there are some guidelines most cosmetic surgeons follow. If your BMI is not over 35 and you are within about 30% of your ideal weight and in overall good health, you should be a viable candidate for plus-size tummy tuck surgery.
If your BMI is over 40:
Unfortunately, you are not an ideal candidate for liposuction, tummy tuck, or gastric balloon. Your best option is to reduce your weight with diet and exercise, or with semaglutide weight-loss injections.
A BMI of less than 30 is considered ideal for a tummy tuck procedure because it lowers the risk of complications. A BMI of 30-35 is the maximum when it comes to a tummy tuck. Few plastic surgeons will perform abdominoplasty on patients with a BMI higher than 35.
Candidates for a Plus Size Tummy Tuck
You have a BMI of 30 or less. Are within 20-30 pounds of your goal weight. You are healthy and do not have a medical condition(s) that may increase your risk of complications. You are devoted to living a healthy lifestyle.
The procedure can help a variety of patients, including plus-sized women and men. If you are overweight, but not considered obese, you may still qualify for tummy tuck surgery. You will see optimal results if you are already close to your ideal weight.
"Tummy tuck" surgery (abdominoplasty) can be safely performed in obese patients, with no increase in complications compared to non-obese patients, reports a study in the April issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery®, the official medical journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS).
Most women lose between 2 and 3 pants sizes after a tuck, but there are patients who lose even more. If you had a lot of loose skin before the procedure, for example, you could go down 4 more pants sizes.
It is important that you be close to your desired weight for six to twelve months before undergoing a tummy tuck. Most surgeons will recommend patients be between 10-15 pounds from their goal weight. This is important as gaining or losing additional weight can undo the contoured shape achieved through your surgery.
A BMI that is less than 30 is considered to be ideal for a tummy tuck procedure. Of course, you can still have the surgery even if you're overweight and still get good results.
Troy Pittman, a board-certified Washington D.C.-based plastic surgeon, patients who have obesity, a lot of visceral fat (located near vital organs), underlying medical conditions or blood-clotting disorders should refrain from having tummy tucks.
NOTE: Most plastic surgeons will not perform a tummy tuck on patients with a BMI of more than 40. Patients with a BMI > 40 would be advised to lose additional weight before surgery.
Some lose 10-15 pounds from their surgery. Those choosing a tummy tuck to regain their body shape due to pregnancies or aging lose fewer pounds. Some don't even notice any signs of weight loss, and others experience a nominal weight loss; usually five pounds or less.
Whilst the removal of this can result in some loss of body mass, a tummy tuck is not a weight loss solution. In fact, removing excess skin can make it easier for patients to shed pounds and contour their bodies post-surgery.
It is even harder to keep the weight at bay from your tummy once you've lost it. Recent studies are showing patients who undergo abdominoplasty – better known as a tummy tuck – are keeping the weight off and even losing weight long after their surgery. Learn more about the long lasting benefits of the tummy tuck.
Many patients wonder if you can be too old for a tummy tuck, such as 50 or more. There's no age limit for having this procedure; it's possible to remove excess skin and fat from the abdomen in older patients.
While a tummy tuck incision is similar to a C-section, the intra abdominal component of the operation is not there. This essentially means that a tummy tuck is less invasive procedure compared to the cesarean section.
There will be some discomfort after a tummy tuck, with the worst discomfort experienced within the first week. On a scale of 1 – 10, pain is often estimated at around a 6-7 for the the first few days to a week, reducing to around a 3 – 4 in the second week. This would, of course, depend on the individual.
Whether you're contemplating a Mommy Makeover package or just want to undergo a tummy tuck, you'll be relieved to know that any pain from this cosmetic procedure is far less than that experienced after a C-section. *Individual Results May Vary.
A tummy tuck surgery not only has a big effect on the look of the abdomen, but it can also affect the appearance of other bodily structures. It is not uncommon for patients to report that people believed their breasts looked bigger.
A tummy tuck can remove loose, excess skin and fat, and tighten weak fascia. A tummy tuck may also remove stretch marks and excess skin in the lower abdomen below the bellybutton. However, a tummy tuck won't correct stretch marks outside of this area.
Even in most normal weight and extremely fit women, the abdomen may not be completely flat following abdominoplasty. It is realistic for patients to expect improvement in the flatness of the stomach, but should not immediately assume that their abdomen will be entirely flat.
Abdominal obesity is defined as a waist circumference of more than 88 cm (35 inches) in women and more than 102 cm (40 inches) in men.
A plus-size tummy tuck or high BMI abdominoplasty is a plus-size plastic surgery procedure performed on patients who fall into the “overweight” or “obese” BMI categories, and it can be absolutely life changing.
Tummy tuck surgery results will vary depending on a person's age. For example, a younger patient can expect to see very smooth abdominal skin after abdominoplasty. However, an older patient's skin is typically less elastic than that of a younger person and won't automatically “snap back” to fit the body's new contours.