What Is the Maximum BMI for a Tummy Tuck?

BMI for a Tummy Tuck: If you have a lot of loose belly skin after pregnancy or weight loss, there’s only so much diet and exercise can do. Even if you lose more weight, the loose abdominal skin and fat will still be there.

That’s why a tummy tuck, also called abdominoplasty, is so popular with men and women. This skin-trimming procedure can remove skin and fat from the abdomen, as well as tighten the abdominal muscles.

The result is a smoother, flatter, and more attractive abdomen that boosts your self-confidence and lets you wear more flattering clothing.

This procedure can do a lot to enhance the appearance of the abdomen, but it’s critical to remember it’s not intended for weight loss. You should be close to your goal weight before having a tummy tuck.

People thinking about a tummy tuck usually have a lot of questions, such as what the maximum BMI for a tummy tuck is. Please keep reading to find out more.

Tummy Tuck Overview

During the tummy tuck, the surgeon removes extra skin and some fat from the abdomen. The procedure also involves tightening the abdominal muscles that may have separated from pregnancy or weight gain.

Patients with loose skin only below the navel may only need a mini tummy tuck, while those with loose skin above the navel may need a full tummy tuck.

Your surgeon may also do liposuction to remove more fat from the belly and other areas, such as the sides or legs.

Some patients also may opt for other procedures with a tummy tuck, such as a Brazilian butt lift or thigh lift.

Why Get A Tummy Tuck?

Many women want to get rid of the loose, stretched skin on their abdomen after pregnancy. Both women and men may dislike the sight and feeling of loose stomach skin after massive weight loss.

Eliminating this extra tissue has many benefits. The one most people know is the procedure provides a flatter, slimmer belly and waistline. But there are other substantial benefits to consider:

Strengthens The Abdomen

Many women who were pregnant at least once may have weakened, separated abdominal muscles. The surgeon can place internal sutures in the muscle wall to tighten them, and this also can make the stomach tighter and flatter.

Stronger abdominal muscles also may improve your posture and eliminate lower back pain.

Improves Control

As people age, get pregnant, and lose weight, it’s possible to have less bowel and bladder control from a weakened abdomen. These problems can be largely resolved with a tummy tuck that removes extra skin and fat from the abdomen.

Reduces Medical Risks

Patients with extra skin and fat in the abdomen are at a higher risk of heart disease, diabetes, gallstones, and sleep apnea.

Having a tummy tuck can improve your health and extend your lift.

Improves Incontinence

After a woman is pregnant, she may have problems with accidental bladder leakage from sneezing, coughing, or laughing. Again, it’s usually due to weakened abdominal tissues, but this can be corrected with the tummy tuck.

May Prevent Hernias

The surgeon can suture the abdominal muscles to tighten them, and this can reduce stress on the ab muscles that can cause hernias.

Maximum BMI For A Tummy Tuck

As noted above, a tummy tuck isn’t for weight loss. The surgeon will only approve you for the procedure if you’re close to your goal weight.

Patients who still need to drop weight shouldn’t have a tummy tuck yet because additional weight loss could compromise the results. The procedure also won’t make the belly flat if you’re still carrying too much weight in the midsection.

Also, you’re at higher risk of complications if you’re too heavy, including poor wound healing, infections, and even getting blood clots in the legs.

So, if you shouldn’t have a tummy tuck if you’re too heavy, what’s the limit? Most surgeons don’t have an exact weight or BMI for a tummy tuck limit to decide when to do or not do the procedure.

However, many board-certified plastic surgeons won’t do a tummy tuck on a patient who has a BMI above 40. That’s the point on the BMI scale where the patient is considered morbidly obese. You can review your BMI by finding a chart online and inputting your height and weight.

Some surgeons report they don’t usually do a tummy tuck on a patient with a 30 BMI.

If you have a BMI between 30 and 40, this is a gray area where one surgeon may do the procedure but another won’t. You can cover this topic with your plastic surgeon during the consultation. They will tell you if you’re a candidate for a tummy tuck at your current BMI and weight.

There’s no doubt that the closer you are to your goal weight, the better the results. You might not be able to get back to the weight you were in your 20s or before pregnancy. But it helps to be closer to your goal weight for ideal tummy tuck results.

If you still are more than 10 pounds over your ideal weight, many surgeons recommend losing more weight first. With less abdominal fat, the tightening and contouring of the muscles and skin will yield more impressive results.

Having a tummy tuck can transform your abdomen and make you look thinner and younger. Talk to your surgeon soon to learn if you’re ready for a tummy tuck.

Request A Tummy Tuck Consultation

Interested in a tummy tuck? Dr. Scott J Farber or Dr. Amita Shah of Hill Country Plastic Surgery can help. They will consult with you about your desire for a tummy tuck and help decide if it’s a good fit for your aesthetic and personal goals.

 

 

 

References

BMI For A Tummy Tuck. (2021). Accessed at https://www.plasticsurgery.org/news/blog/four-medical-benefits-of-a-tummy-tuck

Tummy Tuck Overview. (n.d.). Accessed at https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/procedures/11017-tummy-tuck

Tummy Tuck Surgery. (n.d.). Accessed at https://www.theaestheticsociety.org/procedures/body/tummy-tuck