How Close to my Goal Weight Should I Be Prior to Surgery?

Although guidelines and recommendations vary among surgeons, I recommend that my patients be within 20 pounds of his or her ideal weight when considering a cosmetic procedure. Being at, or as close as possible to, an ideal weight minimizes the chance that the surgical results will be influenced by a large weight loss or gain. It is important to ensure that the weight loss is sustainable and not just a quick loss for the sake of booking surgery. When consulting with a surgeon, be sure to be up front about your recent weight loss as this will influence the plan of care he or she will develop for you.

I appreciate your question.

For health and safety reasons, best to be at a BMI less than 30 or within 10 pounds of your goal weight and stable at that weight for 6 months prior to surgery for optimal results.

The best way to assess and give true advice would be an in-person exam.

Please see a board-certified plastic surgeon that specializes in aesthetic and restorative plastic surgery.

Best of luck!

Dr. Schwartz

Board Certified Plastic Surgeon

#RealSelf100Surgeon

#RealSelfCORESurgeon

The Mommy Makeover is a combination of procedures to bring a woman’s body back to the way she looked prior to pregnancy. Most commonly some variation of a #TummyTuck and #BreastSurgery are performed. Additional procedures can include liposuction, umbilical hernia repair.  The most common #breastprocedures include #mastopexy or #breastlift, #breastaugmentation, or #breastreduction. It is best to undergo #MommyMakeover procedures when your weight has been stable for at least one year. In addition to a one-on-one consultations with a board certified Plastic Surgeon, patients always need to be seen by their primary care doctor prior to such procedures.  We screen every patient and their medical records for risks of blood clots (DVT) and then take appropriate measures.  MWL (massive weight loss patients of  75 lbs or more) tend to have poor skin elasticity and will frequently need additional tightening even afte 6 -12 months regardless of who or how their surgery is performed. This is simply the nature of such body tissues and the ability to heal with the lack or limited elasticity.

There’s no question that being close to your ideal body
weight improves the results from Mommy Makeover surgery.It also decreases the potential for
complications with this type of surgical procedure.For these reasons, we prefer that patients be
within 10% of their ideal body weight at the time of surgery. Your
pictures suggest that you are an excellent candidate for Mommy Makeover
surgery.If you lose additional weight,
it probably wouldn’t significantly impact your final result.It’s important that your weight be stable for
at least six months prior to surgery. It
you’re considering Mommy Makeover surgery, it’s important to consult a board
certified plastic surgeon with experience in this area.This surgeon should be able to formulate a
treatment plan that addresses your concerns.

As a general rule, one would like their patient to be within 30 lbs of their goal weight. The rate of complications, (surgical and anesthesia), is less. The result usually does not have to be revised as much, (as opposed to someone who had an operation and then lost 60 lbs). Your pattern of weight loss is a bit disturbing.  You have to have good eating and exercise habits or the mommy makeover will be a waist of time and resources.  You also need calories, protein and vitamins, (in the form of vegetables/fruit) to heal up a wound.  Please speak with your board certified plastic surgeon. Together you will come up with a good plan.