Yes — and be stable for three months. Operating on a moving target is how good results are undone within a year.
A tummy tuck removes a calculated amount of skin. Lose 15 kg afterwards and the abdomen loosens again; gain it and the repair is under tension. Three months at the same weight is the practical threshold we use.
Removing 4–5 litres of fat changes contour, not the scale — and large-volume removal carries fluid-shift risks that make it a poor substitute for diet. Patients closest to their target weight get the best contour results.
After bariatric surgery, wait 12–18 months and until weight has plateaued. Skin will not retract further after that point, and operating earlier means removing skin that would still have loosened.
Protein intake, resistance training and skin care do improve the starting point. They do not restore elasticity to skin that has been stretched for years — no cream does.
Often yes for smaller procedures, with higher risk. Above BMI 35 most surgeons will ask you to lose weight first for safety reasons.