Publicado por Dr MIguel Fernadez Calderón: 10/07/2025
Si deseas mejorar el aspecto de tu abdomen, probablemente te hayas interesado en la cirugía estética, para reparar la musculatura abdominal y eliminar la flacidez cutánea. Lamentablemente, no todas las personas pueden someterse a esta intervención, por eso queremos responder la duda de si se puede hacer una abdominoplastia con sobrepeso. Para un resultado atractivo y seguro, tu cuerpo debe cumplir unos requisitos. En este artículo explicamos qué pacientes son buenos candidatos.
What is a tummy tuck?
La abdominoplastia o cirugía de abdomen es un procedimiento quirúrgico que busca remodelar la zona abdominal, eliminando los depósitos de grasa acumulada y la piel colgante. También en este tipo de cirugía se tensan los músculos de la pared abdominal, para obtener mejores resultados.
Objetivos estéticos y funcionales
Conseguir un abdomen firme y plano, mejorar el contorno corporal y definir la cintura, reducir las estrías son los objetivos estéticos de una abdominoplastia.
Mientras que en el aspecto funcional, una abdominoplastia permite corregir la diástasis de rectos o separación de los músculos abdominales, estabiliza el core y con ello mejora la postura corporal. En algunos pacientes también se logra mejorar la incontinencia urinaria de esfuerzo.
Tipos de abdominoplastia
- Abdominoplastia tradicional. Es la cirugía de abdomen estándar en la que el cirujano extrae la grasa y retira la piel excedente del área abdominal. Para luego tensar el tejido conectivo y lograr un abdomen firme y plano.
- Abdominoplastia extendida. Es aquella en la que las incisiones se realizan alrededor de la cintura en forma de una circunferencia. Este tipo de abdominoplastia abarca zonas como la cintura y las caderas, mejorando de forma más completa el contorno corporal.
- Miniabdominoplastia. Es una variante de la abdominoplastia, que se enfoca en mejorar la mitad inferior del abdomen, eliminando solo una pequeña cantidad de tejido cutáneo de la zona superior del pubis y en corregir la flacidez de los músculos abdominales del área baja del abdomen. Se trata de una opción menos invasiva y con una recuperación más rápida.
¿Cuál es el IMC adecuado para operarse?
Como ya sabéis, tu peso no es una medida suficiente para saber si eres obeso o no. La obesidad depende de otro factor como es la altura.
El Índice de Masa Corporal (IMC) es una medida que puede orientarnos acerca del exceso de grasa corporal. Se calcula dividiendo el peso (en kilogramos) entre la talla (en metros) al cuadrado.Nos orienta para saber si nos encontramos en un peso adecuado para nuestro físico concreto.
IMC entre 25‑29,9
Valores entre 25 y 29.9 supone sobrepeso, con estas cifras, se puede considerar la cirugía, pero el cirujano debe realizar una evaluación general del paciente, y considerar otros factores antes de confirmar si es un candidato adecuado para la cirugía.
IMC ≥30 y contraindicaciones médicas
Un IMC de 30 o superior implica que tienes obesidad, y contraindica la cirugía.
IMC ideal (18,5‑24,9)
Lo mejor es que tu IMC se encuentre entre 18.5 y 24.9, son los parámetros ideales para operarte. Y también para tu salud en general.
En Internet encontrarás múltiples calculadoras para hallar fácilmente tu IMC. Si tienes obesidad y quieres operarte de abdominoplastia, ya sabes que tu IMC debe bajar de 30. Empieza a perder peso, y utiliza este número como guía de tu progreso. Te servirá para motivarte y evaluar tu progreso.
Can abdominoplasty be performed when overweight?
Tienes que saber que la abdominoplastia no está indicada en pacientes con obesidad. Un abdomen con mucha grasa nunca asociará un buen resultado.
Firstly, for safety reasons. Obesity is associated with a high risk of complications in the operating room. These complications are both general (thrombosis, infection, respiratory problems) and associated with healing.
Secondly, for aesthetic reasons. Obese people have too much fat, both inside and outside the abdominal wall. Surgery removes the fat outside the abdominal wall, but not the fat inside. To operate on such an abdomen would give the belly a bulging appearance. The result, besides being risky, is aesthetically unacceptable.
En pacientes obesos no podemos conseguir los objetivos principales de la abdominoplastia. La musculatura no puede repararse correctamente, y el abdomen no consigue un aspecto aplanado.
No obstante, tenemos que aclarar que obesidad no es lo mismo que sobrepeso. Para distinguir estos términos, empleamos el IMC, valores muy altos implican obesidad, cifras algo menores se clasifican como sobrepeso, como 25‑29,9, aunque lo ideal sería entre 18,5‑24,9.
Si bien los pacientes obesos no deben operarse, sí se puede considerar la abdominoplastia con sobrepeso, si el IMC no es muy alto. También si gozas de buena salud, y tu cirujano comprueba que no posees demasiada grasa intraabdominal.
Beneficios de operarse dentro del rango adecuado
Mejor cicatrización y recuperación más rápida
Tener un IMC adecuado para una cirugía de abdomen significa que la persona tiene una mejor condición física. Por lo que los tiempos de recuperación suelen ser más cortos.
Resultados estéticos más efectivos
Los resultados de una cirugía en estas condiciones se pueden mantener a largo plazo, debido a que el paciente tiene un peso más estable.
Menor riesgo de complicaciones postoperatorias
Las personas con sobrepeso, luego de una cirugía, pueden tener mayor riesgo de infecciones, sangrados, problemas de cicatrización y de que se produzcan coágulos de sangre, debido a su condición. Al someterse a la operación con un IMC óptimo, estos riesgos se reducen.
Risks of abdominoplasty in overweight patients
Overweight patients may not only have unexpected results after abdominoplasty, but are also exposed to greater risks.
Common complications and how to prevent them
The complications that a patient who undergoes an abdominoplasty with overweight is subjected to later may be increased risk of infections and bleeding. This is because they have more fatty tissues and blood vessels in the treated area.
They are also more likely to suffer from respiratory problems or venous thrombosis due to inactivity after surgery. Having more adipose tissue can lead to poor healing.
Adequate preparation for abdominoplasty surgery can prevent these complications. Even if the patient is overweight, he/she can begin to eat healthily and do some physical activity prior to surgery. Additionally, it is important to stop smoking.
Special considerations for recovery
Due to being overweight, patients may require a longer recovery time than a patient with a normal BMI. They must also consider the risks we have discussed, such as infection, bleeding or respiratory problems.
In addition, this type of patient may require more frequent postoperative care and follow-up visits to the surgeon to ensure that the recovery process is proceeding as expected.
How do I know if I am a good candidate for abdominoplasty?
Abdominoplasty candidates usually have diastasis recti. This means that the musculature has "given of itself" by pregnancy, overexertion, or excess weight. This does not usually cause pain or discomfort. However, it does create a bulging, lumpy appearance in the belly. Its repair in abdominoplasty allows, in addition to a defined waist, to have more strength in the abdomen.
In case of female patients, it is best to undergo surgery after pregnancy. Becoming pregnant after abdominoplasty is possible, but not recommended, as it may cause recurrence of diastasis recti.
The ideal patient for abdominoplasty has skin flaccidity in the front part of the abdomen. In cases of extreme weight loss, the skin may sag in other areas (back, flanks...). In these situations, abdominoplasty is not enough and other more aggressive surgeries must be performed to eliminate the flaccidity (lower body lift, trunk lift...).
The ideal abdominoplasty patient should not smoke. Smoking increases too much the problems associated with surgery. The wounds close worse and cause more problems. And, what is worse, it increases the possibility of very serious complications such as thrombosis, respiratory problems... It is always a good time to give up smoking, but if you want to undergo surgery, even more so!
The ideal abdominoplasty patient has usually lost a lot of weight in the past. However, at the time of surgery she should have been at a stable weight for several months. And she must be able to maintain this weight for a prolonged period of time.
Also, you need to have reasonable expectations about the surgery. You should know that abdominoplasty removes excess sagging skin, but does not serve as a slimming procedure.
You should also be aware that the results will be spoiled if you do not diet and exercise after surgery. Finally, surgery should be a personal desire, and not the will of family members or partners.
Taking anticoagulant medication, diabetes, previous abdominal surgeries... may
increase the risk of complications. However, this is not a reason not to undergo surgery. You should only discuss it with your surgeon in the previous evaluation.
What is the ideal weight for abdominoplasty?
There is no ideal weight for abdominoplasty. A very tall patient can weigh 80 kg and not be obese. However, a very small patient, weighing 80 kg, is very likely to be overweight. Therefore, your weight is not the best parameter to control whether you can have surgery or not. It depends on other factors, such as height, to know if you have extra kilos.
Another important detail is the distribution of fat in the belly. Generally, excess fat is not good for surgery. But ultimately, the worst thing is that the accumulation of fat is located within the abdominal wall. Your surgeon will assess the distribution of your fat in consultation.
He will also take accurate height and weight measurements to determine if you are a good candidate for surgery.
How to lose weight for a tummy tuck?
On your way to a correct BMI, diet and exercise play a fundamental role. The first step is to identify those foods that are most harmful to your health, and eliminate them completely. Try to eat 3 or 4 meals a day, but in smaller quantities than before, and without unhealthy products.
You should avoid industrial pastries, convenience foods, fried foods, and products with too much sugar. Avoid too much salt in your meals, which will cause you to retain liquids.
Losing weight for abdominoplasty is important, but even more important is that your diet ensures you all the necessary nutrients. For this surgery, you need sufficient reserves of vitamins, trace elements, proteins and iron. Therefore, in addition to losing weight, you need a varied and healthy diet. You must have fruits, vegetables, meat or fish, legumes, whole grains...
Exercise is another pillar if you want to lose weight for a tummy tuck. If you have never been very athletic, start slowly. Start by going for a walk, and then go for a run. The exercise does not need to be intense, but it should be long-lasting, to allow time for fat burning.
Aerobic exercise will make you lose weight. It will also improve your respiratory and cardiovascular systems. Once you reach a weight associated with an appropriate BMI, you need to strive to maintain it. Diet and exercise are still essential.
How many kilos are lost after abdominoplasty?
Losing weight with a tummy tuck should not be a goal for you. Abdominoplasty serves to repair the abdominal musculature and eliminate flaccidity, not to lose weight. The skin that is removed in surgery usually weighs more than 500 grams, but not usually more than 3000 grams.
If it is combined with liposuction, it is possible that the weight loss will be greater. But I repeat, this is not the objective of the intervention. The appropriate weight must be achieved before the intervention.
Recovery and postoperative care for overweight patients
Tips for a healthy recovery
Those patients who, although overweight, undergo abdominoplasty, because the surgeon considers that they do not have too much body fat, are in good health and their BMI is not too high, need to take good care of themselves during the recovery process to avoid complications.
It is essential to rest the first days after surgery and to take the medications indicated by the surgeon. Both recommendations are related to the decrease of pain and swelling. In addition, you should use a compression press will serve to keep the skin and tissues in their new position.
Drinking enough water and taking care of the diet is also indispensable in this process. Water and liquids help to reduce swelling and a good, balanced and healthy diet should be a new habit for the patient, since it is the way to have a better postoperative stage, and to maintain the results of the surgery in the long term.
Post-surgery activities and limitations
In terms of limitations, it is important not to lift heavy objects or perform activities or exercises that involve too much effort. So that problems with incisions or other complications can be avoided.
Once recovery progresses, it is necessary to include exercise in the daily routine. You can start with gentle, short walks and gradually increase the intensity, or incorporate other exercises such as cycling.
Smoking is also not recommended, as it increases the risk of infections and scarring problems.
Remember the importance of scheduling follow-up visits with the surgeon to ensure that the entire recovery process is carried out properly.
Now you know if you can have a tummy tuck if you are overweight, and some recommendations to become an ideal candidate for this procedure. It is key to always consult with expert surgeons to guide you throughout the process. Contact us to ask for an evaluation.
