If you’re considering plastic surgery, your mind is probably occupied by the procedure itself. How long will it take? What will recovery look like? Will the final results be close to what I wanted?
However, before you get wrapped up in all of the details of a procedure, it’s important to consider all of the factors that are within your control to ensure that a procedure goes smoothly.
Some may wonder whether their weight will play a role in the success of their procedure — specifically, their BMI.
For context, BMI, or “body mass index,” is a calculation based on height and weight. It’s very imperfect — for example, bodybuilders are known to measure as “obese” despite having minimal body fat — but it’s a starting point for many considerations regarding one’s weight and health.
So, does your BMI matter if you’re considering plastic surgery? The answer is “yes” — but there’s a lot more to the story. In this piece, we’ll use our experience in our Milwaukee, Wisconsin practice to tell you everything you need to know about BMI and plastic surgery.
Why BMI Comes Up Before Plastic Surgery
Before any major procedure, a surgeon like Dr. Mark Bosbous will want to make sure you’re in the safest possible condition before going forward. BMI plays a role in this calculation. Having a higher BMI has been linked to complications with surgical procedures, such as infection, blood clots, wound healing problems, and more.
That said, simply having a high BMI is not enough to disqualify one from surgery. Surgeons will not generally rely solely on one’s BMI to determine whether they are healthy enough for their desired procedure. Instead, a surgeon will use BMI alongside other factors to determine one’s suitability for surgery. Other factors included in this calculation include one’s medical history, medications, previous surgeries, blood pressure, whether one’s weight has been stable, whether one has diabetes, and more.
BMI may matter more for some procedures than others. For example, body contouring surgeries, including tummy tucks, liposuction, and lower body lifts, can involve larger treatment areas and longer recovery times. In these cases, a surgeon may make specific requests of a patient prior to surgery, or offer them specific advice for an ideal recovery.
What If Your BMI Is Low?
Hearing this, one may think that the goal is to get their BMI as low as possible.
This couldn’t be further from the truth. Patients with very low BMIs may also encounter issues with surgery. For example, severely underweight people could have nutritional issues that make healing difficult. Other problems could include not having enough natural tissue for a desired procedure; for example, a very thin patient seeking a fat transfer may not have enough donor fat to achieve their goals.
Prior to a procedure, your goal should not simply be lowering your BMI. Instead, it should be reaching and maintaining a healthy, stable weight.
How BMI Can Impact Your Results
Your BMI can affect the results of your procedure.
If you have a healthy, stable BMI, you’re likely to see the results of your procedure as intended. However, those with weight fluctuations may see significant changes in outcomes.
For example, if someone gets liposuction, then loses weight, or has a significant weight fluctuation, the contour of their body may change significantly. Additionally, while a tummy tuck can remove loose skin and repair muscles where appropriate, future weight changes can stretch the skin again.
This is why many surgeons say that the best time for body contouring surgery is when one is at or near a stable, maintainable weight. This does not have to be one’s “ideal” weight; instead, it just means a realistic weight that one can easily maintain with their normal lifestyle.
There’s no single BMI that is ideal for all people, nor is there a single BMI that is ideal for all plastic surgery patients. Instead, a surgeon like Dr. Bosbous will advise a patient about how their BMI can impact their results — and, if necessary, advise them on how much weight they should lose prior to a procedure.
Talk to a Surgeon
When booking a consultation for a plastic surgery procedure, your primary concern should not be your BMI. A consultation is comprehensive, covering not only BMI, but manifold factors that can influence one’s suitability for cosmetic surgery. BMI plays a role, to be sure, but it’s far from the only factor that surgeons consider.
If you’re thinking about plastic surgery, reach out today to schedule a consultation. We can answer your questions and provide specific recommendations for your needs and goals.