Frequently asked questions

Candidacy depends on the specific procedure, but several general principles apply: weight should be stable for at least 6 months (ideally longer for major post-weight-loss patients), BMI should typically be below 32–35 for elective body contouring (higher BMI substantially raises complication rates), smoking must be stopped 4 weeks before surgery, and any uncontrolled medical conditions should be managed. We assess candidacy individually at consultation — no general statement substitutes for examination. In practice the decision is rarely a simple yes or no: most patients are appropriate candidates with one or two areas to optimise first, so the answer is more often "yes, after the following adjustments". The four candidacy questions →

Yes. Body contouring after significant weight loss is indicated regardless of how the weight was lost — bariatric surgery, GLP-1 medications, sustained dietary effort, or any combination. The relevant factor is the amount lost and the resulting skin changes, not the method of weight loss. What does differ between routes is the timing of readiness — weight stability and nutritional status are assessed the same way, but they are reached at different points depending on how the loss happened. When to operate after weight loss → · After Ozempic and other GLP-1 medication →

There is no specific upper age limit, but the relevant question is biological rather than chronological age. A healthy 65-year-old may be a better surgical candidate than an unfit 45-year-old. Pre-operative evaluation considers cardiovascular fitness, comorbidities, and medication review rather than age alone — which is why a well-controlled chronic condition counts for more in the assessment than the number on the birth certificate. Is there a best age for body contouring? →

The pinch test at consultation is usually decisive. If the skin retracts crisply when released, liposuction alone is generally appropriate. If the skin sags or shows visible redundancy, skin excision (tummy tuck, arm lift, thigh lift, depending on the area) is the right operation. Getting this wrong — performing liposuction on a patient who needs skin excision — produces a worse contour than before surgery. Skin quality is the variable behind the test: after major weight loss the skin's own recoil is reduced, which is why patients with otherwise similar amounts of fat can need different operations. Liposuction vs tummy tuck → · Skin quality after weight loss →

Some combinations are routine: lipoabdominoplasty (tummy tuck + liposuction), mommy makeover (tummy tuck + breast surgery), arm lift + breast surgery. Other combinations are too much for one anaesthesia and are staged 3–6 months apart. Decisions are based on total operative time, patient health, and recovery capacity. More on staging →

For most single procedures: 7–10 days from arrival to safe return travel. For combined procedures or post-bariatric multi-procedure surgery: 10–14 days. The constraint is partly clinical (avoiding deep vein thrombosis on long flights, ensuring drains are removed before travel) and partly logistical (post-operative checks at days 2, 5, 7 typically). The clinical half of that is worth stating plainly: the early post-operative days carry the highest clot risk, so booking a too-early flight to save hotel nights works against your safety rather than for your budget. The return flight is cleared at a follow-up check, not by the calendar alone. Travel and accommodation → · Blood clots and flying home →

Strongly encouraged for major procedures. A companion helps with hotel mobility in the first 48–72 hours, accompanies the patient to follow-up checks, and assists with airport transfers. For mommy makeover, lower body lift, or any multi-procedure case, a companion is effectively essential. The same applies once you are home: major procedures need one to two weeks of help at home, and patients without that support are advised to arrange it before scheduling rather than to improvise afterwards. Why recovery support affects candidacy →