Obesity and Abdominoplasty – What BMI is Too High?
Weight Considerations in Abdominoplasty
Patients seeking abdominoplasty frequently are turned away because of obesity. Certainly, abdominoplasty is ideally performed in patients who are either normal weight or moderately overweight. However, with proper patient selection, some patients might benefit even in the obese category.
Concern
This patient is a 59-year-old woman who has always been large-framed. She has had difficulty losing weight through diet and exercise. She was formerly a weight lifter and has always had large muscles. She sought improvements in her abdomen. She did not expect to be slim. She had considered weight loss surgery, but did not want to go through it. She was otherwise fairly healthy, and her goals seemed to be realistic.
Surgery
She underwent abdominoplasty with liposuction of the abdomen and flanks. This was performed in a hospital operating room with an overnight stay because of her health risks. She was considered morbidly obese ( BMI 40), and this increases risks, such as deep venous thrombosis, infection, and wound problems.
Result
She did very well postoperatively with no significant wound healing problems. She did have drains in place, which remained in for 2 weeks. After only 3 months, she had significant improvements and had lost 20 more pounds. Morbid obesity is a relative contraindication to abdominoplasty, but with proper patient selection and conservative surgery, safe, predictable, and good outcomes are possible.
Dr. Lyle offers a wide range of Tummy Tuck surgery options depending on your anatomy, excess skin and desired outcomes. The procedure could be combined with other procedures and may also remove unsightly stretch marks or past scars from c-section or hysterectomy.
Dr. Glenn Lyle is a board-certified plastic surgeon serving the Raleigh, NC community at Lyle Plastic Surgery & Aesthetics Center since 2002. With over 30 years of experience, he specializes in breast surgery and body contouring, to enhance patients’ appearance after weight loss, pregnancy, and the effects of aging.
Lyle Plastic Surgery is committed to exceptional patient care – you can read Dr. Lyle’s 5 star patient reviews on Google, Realself and Facebook.
Dr. Lyle completed his medical degree at Wayne State University School of Medicine, followed by a general surgery residency at the University of Massachusetts and a plastic surgery residency at the University of Texas Medical Branch.
He is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and is a member of both the American Society of Plastic Surgeons and The Aesthetic Society (previously American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons).
Throughout his career, Dr. Lyle has contributed to the field of plastic and cosmetic surgery through research, publications, and presentations at national meetings. His practice emphasizes patient safety and personalized care to achieve natural results.
Next Steps
To find out more about our procedure prices and costs of surgery – visit our surgical pricing page. Please note that our practice no longer takes insurance patients.
If you’re considering surgery in Raleigh NC and want personalized advice about your suitability, recovery, risks, and results, Dr. Lyle would be happy to meet with you for a consultation.
Let’s work together to help you achieve your best results – safely and beautifully. To make an inquiry or book a consultation, please fill in the contact form or call (984) 367-1110
