Lombardo Cosmetic Surgery | Dr. Maria Lombardo | Rancho Mirage, CA

What Weight Do I have to be for a Mommy Makeover

  • Posted on: Mar 15 2022
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Fit and sporty girl in underwearAs a woman, your body will change in profoundly unique ways that are entirely different than the men in your life. You know this, and yet it can be frustrating to see a man hold on to more muscle mass and “shape” than your body seems capable of. After having children, raising children, or simply going through life, the breasts can deflate and sag. At the same time, the tummy can drop and fluff, so to speak. Women may harbor more fatty tissue across their midsection that looks puffy and loose, creating dissatisfaction in clothing, not to mention bathing suits or, yikes, naked! Mommy makeovers have been popular for many years because the customized series of procedures involved in this treatment address the exact concerns that the vast majority of women deal with at some point. If you’ve been considering a Mommy Makeover, or even just abdominoplasty, you may have heard a little something about being your “ideal weight” before having surgery. Here, we want to discuss what that really means and why it’s an important topic to understand before moving forward with surgery.

Weight is a Relative Matter

When you hear that you should be your ideal weight before having a tummy tuck or Mommy Makeover, it isn’t so much that you should reach a specific weight so much as a range. What doctors really evaluate for surgical candidacy is your BMI, body mass index. Your body mass index is a weight range that is relative to your height. When comparing the two, the BMI classifies your weight as either underweight, healthy or normal, overweight, or obese. What is interesting about the body mass index is that the category of obese occurs sooner than anyone may look at themselves in the mirror and describe themselves as such. Generally, doctors do not perform elective procedures, especially abdominal procedures, on patients with a BMI greater than 30. What does this look like in real life? A person who is 5 foot 6 inches and weighs 190 has a BMI of just over 30. A person standing 5 foot 8 at the same weight would be considered overweight. At a height of 6 feet 2 inches, 190 pounds would be considered healthy.

Why Does This Matter?

Mommy Makeover procedures and abdominoplasty, even with liposuction, are not intended for weight loss. These are body contouring surgeries that accentuate curves from the breasts to the midsection and then some. None of these procedures will change a person’s BMI. The only way to do that is with healthy lifestyle habits. And there are several benefits to doing so. As it pertains to surgery, BMI is important because it may impact the long-term cosmetic outcome of body contouring surgery. If you were to have your Mommy Makeover at a slightly higher weight than you plan to keep and you then lose weight, your breasts and belly may become slightly saggy. While this can be extremely frustrating, it is not medically concerning. Your doctor’s reasoning for recommending weight loss to reduce BMI to under 30 is that anything higher than that can increase the risk of infection, swelling, and bruising. High BMI weakens the immune system, which can affect surgical recovery. Additionally, BMI over 30 has been linked to anesthesia risks and longer anesthesia recovery.

Are you within your range of being a great candidate for a Mommy Makeover or other body contouring? We’re ready to help you! Are you struggling to get yourself to a healthy BMI? We can help you there, too. Dr. Lombardo utilizes a precise, effective weight-loss method to help her patients drop the weight they no longer want to carry. Contact our Rancho Mirage office at 760) 610-8990 to schedule your consultation!

Posted in: Mommy Makeover, Practice News

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