Today liposuction is available for many patients with a higher BMI or who have more than a few extra pounds. That said, it is essential to understand that many of us carry excess fat in two different locations. Fat is found behind the stomach muscle wall (visceral fat) and on top of it (superficial fat) are entirely different issues. Liposuction surgery only can remove superficial fat.
The only way to lose visceral fat is through lifestyle management with a low-carb diet and exercise. It’s best if you took on the challenge of losing visceral fat for the best results but even more important for your health and longevity. Too much visceral fat leads to many health complications including insulin resistance, diabetes, high blood pressure and susceptibility to infections.
Best BMI for Liposuction vs. Tummy Tuck
Liposuction is one of the most popular cosmetic surgeries performed worldwide. Many people want to know what the ideal body mass index (BMI) is for having liposuction surgery. This article compares the benefits of liposuction versus a tummy tuck procedure. Some surgeons today have the skill set to combine liposuction and a tummy tuck in the same procedure. This ability to combine lipo with a tummy tuck opens up new possibilities for high BMI patients.
The American Society of Plastic Surgeons reports that over 2 million Americans had liposuction in 2016 alone. In fact, according to ASPS statistics, liposuction is the third most common plastic surgery procedure in America.
A tummy tuck is also quite popular among women. However, it’s important to note some differences between liposuction and a tummy tuck. For example, while both procedures involve fat removal, liposuction involves suctioning excess fatty tissue where a full tummy tuck involves the surgical repair of muscles and excess skin and a mini tuck removes excess skin that is loose. Liposuction applied to already loose skin, is a sure to disappoint.
In addition, liposuction allows patients to achieve more comprehensive aesthetic results because it targets problem areas such as love handles, muffin tops, bra fat, and thighs. On the other hand, a tummy tuck removes loose skin and fatty deposits around the abdomen, but it cannot target specific problems like liposuction.
As you can see, there are several reasons why liposuction is a practical option if you have good skin elasticity without excess skin rather than a tummy tuck for achieving optimal results. If you’re interested in learning more about how each procedure for your goals please schedule a consult with Dr. Ahmed for your personalized surgical plan.
BMI Between 25 and 29
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a Body Mass Index (BMI) between 25 and 29 indicates you are overweight but not obese. Being overweight puts you at risk for developing health problems associated with being overweight, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and some cancers. However, it does NOT mean you are unhealthy. People with BMI ranges below 30 tend to live longer than those who are underweight or severely overweight.
Liposuction can help you look better and feel healthier. While liposuction cannot make you thin, it can improve your body contours and eliminate stubborn pockets of fat. As a result, you can achieve a slimmer waistline and more rounded hips, thighs, and buttocks. And because liposuction has a modest tightening effect for people with good skin elasticity, you can have smoother skin. As we age, we loose tightness and elasticity so ask you surgeon if your age affects your skin quality.
BMI Over 30 to 40
A patient’s BMI can affect the types of surgeries available. For example, being overweight might mean you won’t qualify for some standard procedures like bariatric surgery. However, not all patients with mid range BMIs verses higher BMI are ineligible for cosmetic liposuction or tummy tucks. You surgeon needs to evaluate whether your excess weight is cause by a large amount of visceral fat or other factors such as bone structure, muscle density and superficial fat. Higher BMI patients are good candidates if they are healthy without too much of the dangerous concerns of visceral fat.
Patients with BMIs over 40 have an obese BMI rating and must lose weight before undergoing major elective surgeries such as gastric bypass, sleeve gastrectomy, and adjustable gastric banding. These patients should start losing weight within six months of surgery. If you have a BMI over 40, you shouldn’t assume that a specific procedure will help you achieve your ideal body size. Instead, your doctor considers many factors, including age, health history, lifestyle habits, and how much excess fat you have around your waistline. If you need a BMI calculator women, click here.
Doctor Ahmed Is Both A Cosmetic Surgeon And A Bariatric Surgeon
He understands all the options for higher BMI patients and what they can do to lose weight, feel great, and look fantastic! If you have a BMI in the high 30’s or above, come see Dr. Ahmed to talk about your cosmetic options and for help setting goals to get that shape you are dreaming about.
Making Large Volume, Higher BMI Liposuction Safer
VASER liposuction is one of the fastest growing cosmetic procedures performed today. The breakthrough with VASER high-definition liposuction is that a surgeon can remove the greatest amount of fat safely than with any other method. In the case of more traditional lipo methods as much as 40% more fat can be removed. However, for longer liposuction procedures and for liposculpting and ab etching general anesthesia is standard.
Consider More Than One Stage
If you are a high BMI patient, your surgeon may recommend staging. The idea behind staging is simple: Instead of one big operation, doctors perform a shorter surgery over several weeks or months. For example, if you are having comprehensive 360 VASER liposuction, a body lift, tummy tuck and thigh lift, that is a very long surgery for one surgeon. By doing two surgeries there tend to be fewer complications and recovery may be more manageable. In addition, staging may be appropriate for high BMI patients for safety reasons.