It goes without saying that your weight matters when it comes to plastic surgery.
However, being on the heavy side does not automatically disqualify you from getting cosmetic surgery. There are several factors to consider and plenty of questions to answer.
So if you’re wondering how your weight might affect your quest in getting the body of your dreams, here are some of the most commonly asked questions about it.
What is BMI and how do you calculate it?
When you go for your initial consultation with your chosen plastic surgeon, one of the terms you’ll encounter is BMI.
BMI stands for body mass index. Think of it like a ratio that takes your weight and compares it to your height, helping you figure out how much body fat you might have and giving a bigger picture than just a number on the scale.
With your BMI, you can find out if you’re in a healthy weight range (BMI of 18.5 to 24.9), underweight (which is a BMI under 18.5), or overweight (over 25).
The cool thing is, you can easily check your BMI yourself! You can calculate your BMI using this formula: BMI = weight(kg)/height(m)2.
Alternatively, you can use a BMI calculator online. All you need to input is your height and weight, and it will give you your BMI.
Why does BMI matter?
Having a healthy weight (reflected by your BMI) is important for two reasons: it gives a sneak peek of your overall health and sets you up for the best possible results from surgery.
If your BMI is a bit high for your chosen surgery, your doctor might recommend getting it lower first. This is because being overweight can increase some risks during surgery.
For example, it can weaken your immune system, make healing slower, and up the chances of infection or blood clots.
Basically, a healthy weight before surgery helps everything go smoother, from recovery to the final results you’re hoping for.
What’s the ideal BMI for body contouring surgery?
Different procedures have different weight limits.
Usually, 30 is the magic number for many surgeries, though some upper body procedures like breast reductions might allow a slightly higher BMI (around 33).
Are you really not allowed to have surgery if you have high BMI?
Here’s the thing: BMI is a great starting point for doctors, but it’s just one piece of the puzzle.
It’s like a quick snapshot that can flag potential health risks. But BMI alone doesn’t take everything into account.
In fact, latest studies show plastic surgeries can be safely performed among obese patients, as their BMI does not increase their risk of complications compared to patients with healthy weight.
A lot of plastic surgeons these days — including Dr. Nick Masri — engage in high BMI plastic surgery that lets even plus-size patients enjoy the benefits of body contouring.
For these procedures, they don’t have a BMI limit, as surgeons use other means of assessing their patient’s overall health status.
To get a truly clear picture, doctors consider other things, like your lifestyle (think diet and exercise), how fit you are, your family history, and any other health issues you might have.
If your chosen surgeon deems you’re healthy despite having a high BMI, then your surgery can proceed without a hitch.