The Role Your Weight Plays When Considering Cosmetic Surgery
Undergoing cosmetic plastic surgery, whether for aesthetic or medical reasons, is a significant decision that requires thorough preparation to ensure the best possible outcome. One crucial aspect of this preparation is ensuring you are at your goal weight and maintaining a stable weight for at least three months before booking your surgery. This step is essential not only for improving your outcomes and the results of your procedure but also for minimising potential risks and complications.
Being at your goal weight is important because it allows your surgeon to work with the most accurate representation of your body’s contours.
Why Is It Important to Be at Your Goal Weight?
If your weight fluctuates significantly after surgery, the results could be affected. For example, Dr Cronin states ‘patients that lose or gain a substantial amount of weight post-surgery can lead to sagging skin, uneven contours, or other aesthetic issues that might require further corrective procedures’.
Moreover, reaching and maintaining a stable weight ensures that your body is in a balanced state, which promotes better healing. Rapid weight changes can stress your body and impact its ability to recover from surgery efficiently.
The Importance of Stability
Beyond reaching your goal weight, maintaining that weight for at least three months before surgery is equally important. This period of stability gives your body time to adjust, ensuring that the results of your procedure will be as predictable and lasting as possible. It also signals to your surgeon that your weight is unlikely to fluctuate significantly post-surgery, which is key to achieving the best outcomes.
Why is a BMI of 30 or below Essential?
For those considering cosmetic surgery for aesthetic or medical purposes, having a BMI of 30 or below is crucial. Dr Cronin will not operate on a patient with a BMI over 30 due to the increased risks and complications, including:
- Increased Risk of Infections: Higher body fat levels can impair the immune system's ability to fight infections, making post-operative infections more likely.
- Delayed Wound Healing: Excess weight can cause added pressure on surgical wounds, leading to slower healing and an increased risk of wound complications, such as dehiscence (wound separation).
- Anaesthesia Complications: Administering anaesthesia to overweight patients can be more challenging, with an increased risk of airway management difficulties, hypoventilation, and adverse reactions.
- Higher Risk of Blood Clots: Overweight patients are more prone to developing deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE), which are serious and potentially life-threatening complications.
- Poor Aesthetic Outcomes: Achieving optimal aesthetic results may be more difficult in overweight patients, as excess fat can obscure body contours and lead to uneven or less satisfactory results.
- Increased Surgical Time: Operating on overweight individuals may require more time due to the complexity of working with excess tissue, which can increase the risk of complications associated with prolonged surgery.
- Strain on the Body: The added stress of carrying excess weight can make the recovery process more challenging and prolonged, increasing the likelihood of post-operative complications.
Given these risks, it is strongly recommended that patients reach and maintain a healthy weight before undergoing cosmetic surgery to ensure the safest and most successful outcomes.
What is a BMI and how do I calculate my BMI?
Body Mass Index (BMI) is a widely used measure to assess whether an individual has a healthy body weight for their height. BMI is calculated by dividing a person’s weight in kilograms by the square of their height in metres (kg/m²).
A BMI below 25 is considered within the normal weight range, while a BMI between 25 and 29.9 is classified as overweight. A BMI of 30 or above is categorised as obese.
Dr Cronin says ‘Maintaining a BMI of 30 or below helps ensure that the body is in an optimal state for surgery’. This allows your surgeon to achieve the best possible results and reduces the likelihood of needing further corrective procedures.
Conclusion
If you are considering cosmetic surgery, take the time to reach your goal weight and maintain it for at least three months before booking your procedure. Achieving and maintaining a BMI of 30 or below is crucial not only for your safety but also for ensuring the best possible surgical outcomes. By carefully preparing your body in this way, you’ll be setting the stage for a successful and satisfying cosmetic surgery experience.
If you have any questions or need guidance on weight management before your surgery, our team at The Coastal Clinic Plastic Surgery & Aesthetics is here to help. We are committed to supporting you every step of the way.