How close to goal to you have to be to get a tummy tuck?

I was at goal.

You should be there or at least so close the only way you will loose more is the TT or don't do it!

Yeah, that is the problem. I only want to get to size 14 and that is probably 23 more lbs which would put me at 34 bmi. To get to 25 BMI I would have to get to 165 which is too thin for me. I am hoping at size 14 I will look good enough to have one. Its too hard for me to maintain under a size 14. In fact, I don't even think I've been there before!

Close enough, isn't good enough in terms of reconstructive surgery.

You would be hard pressed to find a reconsructive surgeon who will do a TT on someone who is still overweight.

A plastic surgeon however, will take your money and run, results be dammed.

I was approved @ 183#'s and a size 14. I was under 12 hours for my TT/MR/BL/BA. He took off 9#'s off of my tummy. I have maintained 168#'s and a size 10 for 7 months. I am glad that my doctor's were in agreement that 170#'s was an acceptable, healthy weight for me. Good Luck!

As far as it being hard to find a PS to do the surgery if you are overweight, I totally dissagree with that one. They will do the surgery on you but the key is they want you to be at a weight you are comfortable and can maintain. But from me to you I would say you really need to loose what you want to before the TT b/c if you loose 25 after surgery you will not be as tight. They say you can loose or gain up to 30 lbs without affecting the outcome but I dissagree with that b/c you wont be nearly as tight. BUT you could start going to consults now b/c that right there takes time, my PS was booked up 3 mths before I could get a consult then 4 mths from there till surgery so take your time and do your research on the TT and go see some PS.

Check out this website, they are wonderful and can answer any question you have. I have been there for over 3 years now, lol.. Love it.

www.makemeheal.com

Go to the TT section. THey have many others as well.

Good luck,

Danielle

Here's a better link to take you right to it.

Tummy Tuck, Abdominoplasty Message Boards, Forums, Plastic Surgery, Cosmetic, Chats

Danielle

As far as it being hard to find a PS to do the surgery if you are overweight, I totally dissagree with that one. They will do the surgery on you but the key is they want you to be at a weight you are comfortable and can maintain. But from me to you I would say you really need to loose what you want to before the TT b/c if you loose 25 after surgery you will not be as tight. They say you can loose or gain up to 30 lbs without affecting the outcome but I dissagree with that b/c you wont be nearly as tight. BUT you could start going to consults now b/c that right there takes time, my PS was booked up 3 mths before I could get a consult then 4 mths from there till surgery so take your time and do your research on the TT and go see some PS.

Check out this website, they are wonderful and can answer any question you have. I have been there for over 3 years now, lol.. Love it.

www.makemeheal.com

Go to the TT section. THey have many others as well.

Good luck,

Danielle

Yeah. I did say reconstructive surgeon. Not plastic. A PS will give you a third boob if you pay them enough.

I'm not getting one but I've found the last 15lb were the ones that made the MOST difference to my body. Like before that you're losing fat generally all over and shrinking but after that, I've REALLY noticed my boobs shrinking, my tummy flattening and my I guess if I could lose another 15 I'd find my thighs really getting slimmer.

The difference has been so marked, I'm now convinced that whilst a TT would be worthwhile when you're carrying an apron of skin, if you can wait till you're at goal because by then you've done your maximum reshaping.

Of course many people set their goals at higher weights than what the chart says is normal and then I dont think it'd make a lot of difference because you wont go through that incredible shrinking that happens at the end.

Jachut and Chickie both make excellent points.

I'd think the closer to goal (or at goal) that you'd be, and the longer you are there, would maximize the results of the procedure.

And as far was what Chickie said, we who have lost massive amounts of weight (or hope to in my case) should really be seeing plastic surgeons who specialize in RECONSTRUCTION. Not just any plastic surgeon. There is a special skill set involved in rejoining skin that has little elasticity, etc. Bariatric patients are a different breed.

I am booked for a full tummy tuck, lipo and breast lift/augmentation in Feb 08, I booked with a man who is widely considered to be one of the world top major weightloss reconstructive surgeons , his name is Jean Fracois Pascal and he has pioneered many different body lift procedure techniques. He lectures all over the US and shares his techniques with other surgeons.

Here is a link to his web Docteur PASCAL - LYON - FRANCE

At the same time that I booked a good friend of mine who isnt banded and has a BMI of around 33 booked in also.While he told me to get within a stone of goal ( BMI 23) he was quite happy to carry out the procedure on her as her weight has been stable for a while now and she has a huge apron of skin left from her 3 kids.

I dont think it is what size you are that is the key with these surgeons, it is whether your weight is stable. As someone who has a band you are much more likely to go on to lose more weight which can have a negative effect on your results.

For what it is worth he said that another stone weight loss would not have a negative effect, as long as I exercised as well he said it would just improve the results.

Hope this helps.

I had a TT at 200 lbs and it was the best thing I ever did. I had lost 150+ lbs at that point and made a conscious choice (with my reconstructive surgeon) to go ahead with the "major ressection" at that point, knowing full well that I may require a "tweak" later, if I lost substantially more weight. I did, but when I had my lateral thighs done at goal, I got a big of residual improvement in my lower stomach and now I don't need a "tweak" after all.

From personal experience, I disagree that TT must occur at goal or within 20 lbs from goal. I do think that's best with MOST patients, because of the financial impact. But I do think there are circumstances where it is justified. I don't know that I'd have run my marathon (training for which took me to goal) with the pannus. And I know I wouldn't be as far along with the psychological progress of adapting to my new body image if I'd waited.

There are plusses and minuses. In my opinion, it is not as simple as paying for what you want from one type of surgeon versus another (though I'm sure there's truth to the fact that there's always someone out there who will take your money and give you what you want, even if it's not the right thing for you or your body). There are careful considerations all around.