Throughout a woman’s life, she will go through various changes. It can be frustrating for women when the men in their lives are able to easily maintain their shape while it requires a great amount of effort for them. Pregnancy, childbirth, and raising children can all lead to deflation and sagging of the breasts.
The tummy can also be affected over time, as it tends to drop and fluff. Women are more prone to harboring fatty tissue in the abdominal area, leaving them with a puffy and loose look. Naturally, these developments make the patient feel dissatisfied with how they look, both when clothed and when naked.
For years, mommy makeovers have been the most popular approach to treating these conditions, as they can be fully customized to treat various issues that a patient may deal with. Most patients who have considered undergoing this powerful treatment have probably heard that they need to be at a certain weight in order to qualify for the procedure.
We have collected some vital information regarding this aspect of a mommy makeover to help you move forward fully informed.
A patient’s weight is relative
While patients often interpret the phrase ‘ideal weight’ as a specific weight that they must reach, it actually means a certain weight range that is determined by their body type. When it comes to determining candidacy for surgical procedures, doctors are much more focused on one’s BMI (body mass index) than anything else. A BMI is a weight range that is relative to one’s height. The body mass index uses the ratio between one’s weight and height to classify them as underweight, healthy (normal), overweight, or obese.
What must be kept in mind about the BMI is that it doesn’t necessarily correspond to the average person’s concept of being overweight or ‘normal’. For example, the ‘obese’ threshold is much lower than one might expect. Most doctors tend to avoid performing any surgical procedures on patients with a BMI greater than 30.
You may be wondering what this actually looks like. To give you an idea, we can take a weight of 190 pounds. At this weight, a person who is 5 foot 6 inches would have a BMI of around 30, a person standing 5 foot 8 inches would be classified as overweight, and a person at 6 foot 2 inches would be considered normal.
Why does BMI matter?
While they can have profound effects on the aesthetics of the body, mommy makeover and abdominoplasty procedures are not designed to achieve weight loss. They are body contouring procedures, designed to accentuate areas such as the breasts and midsection. Undergoing these procedures will not drastically influence one’s BMI. One can only achieve these vital changes by making healthy lifestyle changes, allowing them to enjoy life and long-term health.
When it comes to the surgery itself, being at the right BMI is incredibly important. This is simply due to the fact that fluctuations in weight can affect the results of the procedure. For example, losing a large amount of weight after undergoing a mommy makeover might leave one with deflated and sagging breasts. While this may not be a life-threatening issue, there are others to consider. For example, having a BMI of 30 or higher can greatly increase the risk of infection, swelling, and bruising. Having a high BMI can negatively impact the immune system, making it more difficult for the patient to recover. Beyond that, having a BMI of over 30 has been linked to a proclivity toward complications with anesthesia.
What is the takeaway?
While there is no ‘ideal weight’ for a mommy makeover procedure, every patient will have to make sure that they are at a proper BMI before undergoing the treatment. Doing this not only safeguards against dissatisfactory results but also against complications (infections, swelling, and bruising). Patients interested in undergoing a mommy makeover procedure would do well to speak with a nutritionist to develop a plan that will help them determine their ideal weight and show them how to get there.
As with any surgical procedure, patients should only refer to a highly experienced and well-revered doctor to carry out a mommy makeover.
