Safety should always be the first priority when undergoing any type of surgical procedure. Losing weight can reduce the risk for complications with surgery. BMI is but one measure. Distribution of fat and overall health as well as goals all factor into this decision. I am not so stringent on the BMIs of prospective patients. It would be nice for everyone to be at goal weight, but that is not realistic. If the patient has enough risk factors to be moderate to high risk for surgery, I will not operate on these patients. Kenneth Hughes, MD, Board Certified Plastic SurgeonLos Angeles, CA
Hello, •You should be at a steady weight and within about 20% of your ideal body weigh. Your skin plays a role in whether you are a good candidate. You should have healthy skin with good elasticity, so that your skin is able to bounce back to its former tightness once the fat is removed. If you are having liposuction over a larger area, excess skin removal may also be necessary. If you have excessive stretch marks in areas where you gained weight or over your abdomen if you were pregnant, this may be a good indication of poor elasticity. So then you would need a Tummy Tuck. Its all depending on the skin of the Patient if you have lots of excess skin then just a Lipo would not be effective.
