Patients always ask what is considered a high or obese body mass index (BMI) for plastic surgery. Overweight and obese people are often nervous that their obese BMI score will prevent them from receiving the plastic surgery they want, but that no longer is the case.
How Important is BMI to Your Body Goals?
Studies have shown that surgeons can safely perform tummy tucks for patients facing overweight and obesity with no increased risk of complications compared to non-obese patients.
Dr. Nick Masri, one of Miami’s top double board-certified plastic surgeons, strongly believes that excess weight should not prevent anyone from achieving their body goals.
And now, more patients within the obese and overweight categories can get their dream body without worrying about their weight or its complications.
What High BMI Means
The BMI categories measure body fat based on a person’s height and weight using a BMI calculator.
Does a high BMI mean you’re unhealthy?
No, not necessarily. When it comes to BMI for plastic surgery procedures, surgery is more risky only if the patient has chronic underlying health problems including but not limited to high blood pressure, sleep apnea, heart diseases, and diabetes.
While it is essential to determine a patient’s body weight and BMI score before surgery, Dr. Masri will still perform the patient’s desired procedure so long as the patient is healthy.
Nick Masri MD, one of Miami's top board-certified plastic surgeons.
With over 20 years of experience operating on post-bariatric and massive weight loss patients, Dr. Masri offers cosmetic surgery to those who may have been turned down by other surgeons due to their BMI – giving them a chance to achieve their dream body.
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What is Considered a High BMI?
An ideal BMI ranges from 18.5 to 24.9. Most surgeons often consider a BMI over 30 too high, so they avoid operating on patients with this score.
Dr. Nick Masri, on the other hand, thoroughly assesses his patients and their health before making a final decision. He has successfully operated on numerous patients with a BMI of 45.
Some people might wonder how this is possible. What’s important to remember is that the BMI score is merely a screening tool, not a diagnostic tool.
A patient can still be healthy even with a high BMI score, which means it will be safe for them to have plastic surgery. Their overall health will determine whether they are at risk for any complications.
How Can Someone with a High BMI Be Healthy?
Body fat does not entirely define a person’s health. A person considered overweight or obese can have low body fat and body composition and still be healthy.
Here are some factors that may increase one’s BMI despite having low body fat:
Height
Even with little body fat, taller people have a higher BMI.
According to a University of Oxford study, a person’s height can affect their BMI. Because of how BMI is calculated, it tends to increase when a person is taller.
Ethnicity
A person’s ethnicity may affect their BMI despite having minimal to no concerning health conditions.
Muscle Mass
Physical activity or having an active lifestyle may increase muscle mass. It dramatically affects BMI calculation because the metric cannot distinguish the difference between body fat and muscles.
Can You Still Get Plastic Surgery Even If You Have a High BMI?
The short answer is YES!
Every medical professional will consider a patient’s BMI before doing any surgical procedure. This does not entirely determine whether a patient is qualified.
Pre-existing medical conditions may be delayed or disqualify a patient to plastic surgery.
Patients must disclose any pre-existing medical conditions with their cosmetic surgeon to determine potential effects and estimated recovery time.
Below are some pre-existing medical conditions that may disqualify a patient for any plastic surgery, regardless of their BMI.
Hypertension
Any surgeon may refuse to perform a procedure on a patient with high blood pressure. A surgeon will ask the patient to control their blood pressure before undergoing a procedure.
Diabetes
People with diabetes tend to have their wounds heal slower than those without diabetes.
Though the condition itself is not a dealbreaker, a plastic surgeon will recommend that patients control their blood glucose levels before the surgery.
Blood Thinners
Patients taking blood-thinning medications as maintenance are asked to discontinue taking them two weeks before any surgery. It prevents prolonged bleeding after the operation.
Having these conditions does not automatically mean you don’t qualify for cosmetic surgery. Additional precautions may need to be taken to decrease any risks.
What are the High BMI Risks You Should Know?
While getting plus-size plastic surgery is safe as long as you pass your doctor’s health assessments, it’s still important to know the potential risks.
Heart attack
Many patients with heart disease, or a history of heart attacks, can have successful cosmetic procedures. The plastic surgeon will ask that the patient obtain clearance from their cardiologist to confirm their heart stability.
Wound infection
A person with diabetes needs more time for their wounds to heal, which increases the risk of infections and other complications.
Plastic surgeons will commonly operate on people with diabetes so long as the proper precautions are taken.
Deep Vein Thrombosis
This condition occurs when a blood clot forms in one or more of the deep veins in the body, particularly in the legs. While this can happen due to a person’s weight, it can also happen due to smoking, multiple pregnancies, or sitting for long periods of time.
These are only some complications that a patient may encounter after any surgery, not just cosmetic surgery.
However, these risks are not entirely due to one’s body weight. Instead, these are primarily due to pre-existing comorbidities such as heart disease and diabetes. They could also be due to lifestyle and other factors.
Though weight is correlated with certain health risks, it’s important to note that correlation and causation are different.
Women with elevated BMI and classified as obese or overweight no longer need to feel left out in plastic surgery. BMI is not the sole measure of health.
I do not use BMI as a sole criterion in determining one's candidacy for surgery.
As all patients have individualized goals and surgical nuances, a high BMI should not prevent one from achieving your plastic surgery goals.
Nick Masri MD
Double Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon
Consult Dr. Nick Masri to learn more about high BMI plastic surgery for plus size patients.