Many people think that having plastic surgery performed will help solve all of the issues they may have with their appearance – including weight issues. However, this is not always the case, as your surgeon will normally insist that you be willing to lose a specified amount of weight before he or she will be able to perform any major form of plastic surgery on you.
Excess Weight May Delay Your Recovery Time
If you are more than 15 lb. to 20 lb. overweight, your surgeon will normally advise you to lose as much excess weight as possible before he or she will perform any cosmetic procedure surgery where cutting or liposuction will be required. The main reason for this is that, if you are overweight, the site of your surgery will take a lot longer to heal and recovery time will also be longer than that of a person who is within a healthy weight range for their age and height. Most surgeons recommend that you be no more than 15 lb. overweight if you want to have plastic surgery performed.
You Will Not Achieve the Results you Desire
Most people think that a plastic surgery procedure such as a tummy tuck will be able to leave them with a firm and flat abdominal area regardless of how large it currently is or that liposuction will remove all of their cellulite in a single procedure. Unfortunately, only so much fat and skin can be safely removed from the abdominal area at a time. If you are able to lose excess weight beforehand, chances are that you will only need to have excess skin removed, which will be a far less intensive and more cost-effective procedure for you. As a result, there will also be a lot less scarring to worry about afterwards.
Getting Started on Your Pre-Plastic Surgery Weight-Loss Journey
The easiest way to reduce your weight before surgery is to engage in exercise such as walking, jogging or even cycling. You will also need to be willing to change your dietary habits to include fresh, whole foods and less processed foods and sugars. If you are not sure how to compile a healthy eating plan, your surgeon will either provide you with a basic plan or refer you to a dietician who will be able to assist you. Once you have followed the plan and engaged in exercise for a few weeks, your surgeon will reassess your current weight along with your surgery requirements and then operate accordingly.
If you have pre-existing health conditions, you will need to inform your plastic surgeon beforehand. Failure to do so could not only affect the outcome of your surgery; it could put your health at risk, especially if you suffer from bleeding or bruising disorders. It’s important to be wary of surgeons who claim to be able to perform ‘miracle’ surgery on you if you are heavily overweight, as there is no substitute for a healthy diet and exercise plan.
