Abdominoplasty & Your Weight
Boston Cosmetic Surgery Specialist - Dr. Moss
Dr. Moss feels that all patients deserve the best possible result. He always strives to make every patient as informed as possible on any issue that could affect her result. The following information is provided to patients who are overweight and are concerned as to how this will affect their abdominoplasty result.
This information is not a replacement for a consultation and examination with Dr. Moss. Its purpose is to help you decide whether or not you want to lose weight before you have your abdominoplasty surgery.
What is Abdominoplasty Surgery?
An abdominoplasty is a surgical procedure to correct a protruding or sagging abdomen. During abdominoplasty surgery, excess abdominal skin and fat is removed. In addition, Dr. Moss usually corrects weakened abdominal muscles that may have separated. The overall goal is to provide a patient with a flatter, firmer abdomen.
Who are Candidates for Abdominoplasty Surgery?
Most patients for abdominoplasty surgery fall in to one of two categories. They are either women who have had children or women who have lost large amounts of weight. Many times the patient falls into both categories. We also see women who have sagging abdomens due to the aging process. It is inevitable that skin starts to sag with age.
What Should I Weigh?
The following table was provided to Dr. Moss by Blue Cross/Blue Shield. Dr. Moss also suggests that you discuss what you should weigh with your primary care physician. This will help you decide if you want to lose weight.
Height |
Ideal Weight |
| 4'10" | 115 |
| 4'11" | 117 |
| 5' | 119.5 |
| 5'1" | 122 |
| 5'2" | 125 |
| 5'3" | 128 |
| 5'4" | 131 |
| 5'5" | 134 |
| 5'6" | 137 |
| 5'7" | 140 |
| 5'8" | 143 |
| 5'9" | 146 |
| 5'10" | 149 |
| 5'11" | 152 |
| 6' | 155 |
- Visit the USDA Food Pyramid website for information about nutrition.
How does being overweight affect my having abdominoplasty surgery or the result?
Patient Safety
First let's talk about how being overweight can affect your safety during surgery. Any patient who's BMI (Body Mass Index) is over 40 runs a higher risk for a pulmonary embolus (a blood clot that goes to the lung and is life threatening). In addition, obesity can cause other problems, such as diabetes, that can also complicate a patient's surgery. Another consideration is that often times being overweight can simply lengthen the time of surgery and therefore the length of time a patient needs to be under anesthesia.
To calculate BMI in adults: weight in pounds divided by height in inches. Divide once again by height in inches. Multiply by 703.
Normal BMI = 18.5 to 24.9
Overweight BMI= 25 to 29.9
Obese BMI=30 and greater
Aesthetic Result
Concerning the aesthetic result that a patient can receive from an abdominoplasty, the following is true:
- The closer a patient is to her ideal weight, the better the aesthetic result will be achieved.
- An abdominoplasty will reduce or eliminate the hanging abdominal skin and fat (often called a panniculus).
- It will not improve one's thighs or buttocks.
- If you are overweight and your main problem is your abdomen, then you should see an improvement.
- If you are at your ideal body weight (or just a little over) with your primary problem being sagging abdominal skin and fat, your overall appearance after an abdominoplasty should be much improved.
This patient was at appropriate weight. Note the bulge of
true abdominal wall from pregnancy that was corrected.
Same patient from front. Typical abdominoplasty scar.
Scar should fade with time.
Dr. Moss' Experience with Overweight Abdominoplasty Patients
Many women whom Dr. Moss performs abdominoplasty surgery on are overweight. In fact, with today's prevalence of obesity, Dr. Moss performs abdominoplasty surgery on as many overweight patients as those with ideal body weight.
Some patients are just a little overweight and some are significantly overweight. However, in all instances the patient either could not lose any more weight or made the personal choice not to lose weight before having an abdominoplasty. Dr. Moss would not consider performing abdominoplasty surgery on any patient with a BMI over 45.
Another factor that Dr. Moss considers when deciding on whether to operate on an obese patient is whether or not there are any other issues that could affect safety such as diabetes, hypertension, or whether the patient is a smoker. In other words, it is the whole picture that Dr. Moss looks at before making a decision whether or not to operate. Any patient that Dr. Moss determines to be at higher risk would require either a medical or cardiac clearance before surgery.
Dr. Moss has before and after pictures of patients who are overweight and those who are not. Please view these pictures as you think about whether or not you want to lose weight before you have abdominoplasty surgery.
Making Your Own Decision
When making a decision to have abdominoplasty surgery or lose weight first the patient needs to ask herself the most important question:
What is it that really bothers me? Is it my weight or my sagging abdomen?
If it is your weight, you need to address that problem. Dr. Moss suggests that you see your primary care physician for guidance.
If it is your sagging and bulging abdomen, then you need to make a decision as to whether or not you want to make the effort to lose weight first, before you have this surgery. Dr. Moss recommends that you make a serious effort to lose weight if you have not already done so.
By serious effort, Dr. Moss means that you should see your primary care physician and request a referral to a nutritionist. You need to accept the fact that your diet is not healthy and you need the advice of a professional. You should also ask for your doctor's guidance on exercise, and then with his/her blessing engage in a program of exercise that is right for you.
If you cannot lose weight, Dr. Moss will consider you for abdominoplasty surgery. If he feels that he can improve your appearance safely, he will allow you to schedule surgery.
My Appointment with Dr. Moss
When is it appropriate to see Dr. Moss for a consultation for abdominoplasty surgery?
Dr. Moss wants to consult with patients for abdominoplasty surgery when they are at the weight they want to be at for surgery.
Dr. Moss examines all patients during their consultation, and the consultation is based on this examination. It makes no sense for Dr. Moss to spend valuable time reviewing surgery with a patient when it will only have to be reviewed again when this same patient loses weight.
Patients often mistakenly think they "are making progress" with their weight problems by setting up an appointment with Dr. Moss. In fact they are deceiving themselves if it is their weight that really bothers them. If a patient is bothered by her weight, then Dr. Moss recommends that she see her primary care physician first. Once she has lost the weight that bothers her (or has lost as much as she feels she can), she should then call Dr. Moss for an appointment.
Dr. Moss provides complete consults for patients, including an examination. He always shows before & after results.
Dr. Moss provides complete consults for patients,
including an examination. He always shows before & after results.
I've Decided I Don't Want To Lose Weight or I Can't Lose Weight
If you have decided that you can't or don't want to lose weight before having abdominoplasty surgery, please call Dr. Moss' office to discuss setting up an appointment. Dr. Moss will see you; however, he might require a medical clearance from your primary care physician or a cardiologist to ensure your safety during surgery.
This patient chose not to lose weight. She was satisfied
with her weight. She was bothered by the sagging portion of
her abdomen. She was very happy with her result.
I've Lost the Weight I Wanted To
Congratulations!!! When you have lost the weight, please call and we will set you up for a consultation. Please note that with the loss of weight you might actually need this surgery even more. However, with your effort you stand to get an even better result than you would have otherwise.
This patient chose to loose weight before surgery.
She was very happy with her surgical result.
Tummy Tuck Photos
Click on the photos below to see additional or larger photos for each patient.
More Tummy Tuck Information:
Read abdominoplasty articles written by Carla and Dr. Moss in our tummy tuck blog.
Or, learn more about Body Contouring:
Return to main Procedures page or click on a link below to learn about other Body Contouring plastic surgery procedures:
Call us at 508.747.1322 or 781.337.2421
