Florence Mussat, M.D.
680 N Lake Shore Dr. #1030 Chicago, IL 60611 (312) 751-9000

Translator
312.751.9000

Contact

Location

Gallery

Tag: weight loss

Tag: weight loss

How Much Weight to Lose Before Tummy Tuck and Liposuction?

Are sit-ups and crunches not giving you your desired taut tummy or the proverbial six-pack abs? Don’t be discouraged. It’s not you or the exercise routine you’re doing that’s wrong. The most likely culprit is excess skin, stubborn fat or both. If that is the case, you might want to consider getting a tummy tuck or a liposuction.

Both of these surgical body contouring procedures can help achieve a shapelier contour, but each serve a different purpose.

Tummy Tuck

At a glance, a tummy tuck or abdominoplasty is a cosmetic enhancement procedure that removes extra skin and fat as well as tightens the muscles in your abdomen so you can have a flatter stomach.

Liposuction

Like the tummy tuck, liposuction will give you a svelte contour. The difference is this is strictly for fat reduction, particularly stubborn fat that just won’t budge no matter how hard you exercise or how strict you follow your diet.

How much weight do you lose with a tummy tuck and liposuction?

These procedures can really enhance your figure and make you lose fast post-surgery. However, they shouldn’t be viewed as a weight-loss option. In fact, Dr. Mussat would advise patients to lose weight before getting these procedures. You’ll get a much more optimized result if you do, and there is less risk of complications when your weight is at normal levels.

How much weight should I lose?

The best number is to be your ideal weight based on your age, height, and body frame. Your BMI is also a factor to consider. Here’s a chart that will help you determine your ideal weight.

Height Weight
  Normal Overweight Obese
4′ 10″ 91 to 118 lb 119 to 142 lb 143 to 186 lb
4′ 11″ 94 to 123 lb 124 to 147 lb 148 to 193 lb
5′ 97 to 127 lb 128 to 152 lb 153 to 199 lb
5′ 1″ 100 to 131 lb 132 to 157 lb 158 to 206 lb
5′ 2″ 104 to 135 lb 136 to 163 lb 164 to 213 lb
5′ 3″ 107 to 140 lb 141 to 168 lb 169 to 220 lb
5′ 4″ 110 to 144 lb 145 to 173 lb 174 to 227 lb
5′ 5″ 114 to 149 lb 150 to 179 lb 180 to 234 lb
5′ 6″ 118 to 154 lb 155 to 185 lb 186 to 241 lb
5′ 7″ 121 to 158 lb 159 to 190 lb 191 to 249 lb
5′ 8″ 125 to 163 lb 164 to 196 lb 197 to 256 lb
5′ 9″ 128 to 168 lb 169 to 202 lb 203 to 263 lb
5′ 10″ 132 to 173 lb 174 to 208 lb 209 to 271 lb
5′ 11″ 136 to 178 lb 179 to 214 lb 215 to 279 lb
6′ 140 to 183 lb 184 to 220 lb 221 to 287 lb
6′ 1″ 144 to 188 lb 189 to 226 lb 227 to 295 lb
6′ 2″ 148 to 193 lb 194 to 232 lb 233 to 303 lb
6′ 3″ 152 to 199 lb 200 to 239 lb 240 to 311 lb
6′ 4″ 156 to 204 lb 205 to 245 lb 246 to 320 lb

As mentioned, there are several factors to consider when calculating your body weight. So if you’re confused or you need help, ask Dr. Mussat about your ideal weight. If you need to shed excess pounds, she can recommend healthy weight loss options that are right for you.

How Obesity Increases Risk of Plastic Surgery

There’s a lot of perception out there that plastic surgery exists only as a quick fix for obesity or being overweight. This is actually a dangerous assumption: more and more medical evidence is pointing to the fact that obesity can actually increase the risks and side effects for plastic surgery. It’s important to acknowledge that plastic surgery is a very serious procedure, and managing existing health conditions before the surgery is essential for a safe procedure. The more you can do to make it as safe as possible, the better your plastic surgery results and experience will be.

The Facts About Obesity

Recent studies have shown that obese plastic surgery patients are 35% more likely than non-obese patients to visit the hospital to treat complications related to plastic surgery. Overall, 3.2% of obese plastic surgery patients developed complications when compared to the .9% of non-obese patients who had developed complications.

It’s Incredibly Expensive

It’s an unfortunate fact that most insurance companies won’t cover treatment for complications that arise from plastic surgery. Research has shown that on average, obese patients had to spend $3,900 more on health care costs after liposuction, $7,100 more after a “tummy tuck” and $7,400 more for breast-reduction surgery. It’s already taxing and difficult to have to recover from further complications from surgery; but having extra expenses for an already expensive surgery can create a lot of unnecessary stress and hardship.

It’s Not Just Aesthetic Procedures

These risks and extra costs are present even when it’s not a cosmetic procedure. When it comes to breast reduction and breast reconstruction surgery, obese women were nine times more likely to develop complications to reconstructive surgical procedures. The most common complications for these surgeries are inflammation, infection, and fluid buildup.

What Can We Do?

A great plastic surgeon will always do their best to reduce any kind of risk for plastic surgery procedures. That’s why many surgeons request that a patient lower their weight before a procedure to a healthy BMI, also known as Body Mass Index. Your BMI is a range of weights associated with different heights, and many people can look up their healthy BMI ranges themselves. In fact, many body sculpting procedures like liposuction and the tummy tuck are designed for people who are close to their ideal weight, but need to remove stubborn fat that is resistant to diet and exercise.

In the end, it’s ultimately good for you to stay at your healthy weight even after your procedure—many body contouring procedures like tummy tucks lose their results if the patient regains their weight afterwards.

Want a safe plastic surgery experience with a highly-trained plastic surgeon? Contact the offices of Dr. Florence Mussat for a consultation on pre-surgery weight loss.