Although people often believe that cosmetic procedures such as liposuction can be used to help them lose weight, this is a common misconception. In fact, a patient’s body mass index (BMI) is a critical part of their safety and recovery during and after surgery and should fall within a certain range in order to be considered a surgical candidate.
Most cosmetic surgical procedures require patients to be at a stable weight which is at or near their goal weight. Usually, this means that patients should be within 10 pounds of their target weight. This is particularly important for body contouring surgical procedures, such as liposuction and fat transfer.
What is body mass index?
Body mass index, or BMI, is an estimate of how much fat is on your body. Your BMI is calculated using your height and weight and can be used to give you an approximation of your ideal body weight range for optimal health. According to the World Health Organization, a healthy BMI range is between 18.5 and 25. However, it is also important to remember that BMI is only an approximate assessment of your health and that there are many other factors which could affect your BMI, such as your muscle composition. Additionally, having a BMI within the healthy range is only one factor in overall health.
Why is your BMI important for surgical results?
After significant weight loss, many patients have excess skin or stubborn fat that they want to treat with cosmetic surgical procedures. Being at or near a stable goal weight before undergoing surgery is important because any significant fluctuations in weight can negatively impact the results of your procedure. Both weight loss and weight gain after surgery can harm your cosmetic outcome.
The most important reason that your BMI should be within a certain range before undergoing surgical procedures is for your own safety. Having a healthy BMI can reduce the risks associated with surgical procedures. Research has shown correlations between high BMIs and health conditions such as high blood pressure and heart disease. Additionally, patients with higher BMIs are at increased risk for post-surgical complications associated with anesthesia, infection, fluid buildup, and slow wound healing. These factors may also increase your risk of needing additional revisional surgery to address any post-surgical complications. Overall, being within a safe BMI range will reduce your surgical risks and improve the outcome of your surgery.
What BMI is recommended for surgery?
Although each plastic surgeon will have their own guidelines and requirements for surgical patients, most surgeons will require you to have a BMI within a specific range for safety and healing purposes.
To ensure safe and optimal outcomes for patients, Buffalo Plastic Surgery recommends that your BMI is under 35 before undergoing surgery. Your surgery is all about helping you look and feel your best, and being at a safe weight will put you in the best position to achieve your goals.
