Hi, I’m considering a tummy tuck in the near future, but I think I’m still slightly overweight. Can you do this surgery if you’re overweight?
- L.L.
Tummy tuck surgery is typically performed on patients that have undergone significant weight loss, but continue to exhibit protruding skin and tissue on the abdomen. To remove a limited amount of extra fat, liposuction can often be done before proceeding with the abdominoplasty.
Obese patients, with a BMI above 30 however, are not considered good candidates. They are at a much higher risk for complications, so it is generally not advisable to perform a tummy-tuck on an obese patient. Aside from the high risks, the results are generally not as impressive.
Having said that, there are many physicians who have performed numerous tummy-tucks on patients who are borderline obese, with only a marginal increase in complications. Those in the 25-30 BMI range can sometimes benefit from a tummy tuck, but the risk of complications is slightly higher for them as well.
If you believe that you are on the borderline, visit us for a consultation and we can determine if the procedure would be safe and effective for you. Dr. Maddali evaluates every patient on an an individual basis.
Tags: abdominoplasty, tummy tuck
