You went through nine months of pregnancy and watched your body change as your little one grew. Now that you have your little bundle of joy in your arms, you are working to get your body back to pre-pregnancy shape. For many women, a mommy makeover is the ideal option to get those curves back.
But, is weight loss before a mommy makeover necessary? That depends on a variety of factors. While some women may not need to drop pounds before a mommy makeover, others will need to lose weight to safely have the procedure and achieve the desired results.
What Is Your BMI?
While there is no set weight that is ideal for getting a mommy makeover, you can use your BMI to determine if you are within a safe and healthy range.
The body mass index, or BMI, is a measurement that looks at your height and weight and provides a good indication of body fat. The BMI is a ratio of your weight to your height squared. For healthy adults, the BMI range is 18.5 to 24.9. Those with a BMI of 25 to 29.9 are considered overweight, while those with a BMI over 30 are considered obese. When it comes to cosmetic surgery, such as a mommy makeover, most surgeons look closely at your BMI, with many refusing to perform surgery for people with a BMI over 30 to 35. The reason is that the greater your BMI, the higher the risk of complications during surgery and recovery.
Additional Weight Can Cause Complications
Excess weight, such as a BMI over 30, increases your risk during surgery and recovery. For example, your blood pressure may be higher than normal. You may suffer from sleep apnea, which can make it difficult to ensure you get enough oxygen and airflow during surgery. Excess weight can also increase the time of the procedure, as well as the time it takes to regain consciousness after surgery. Obesity can increase the risk of poor healing or other post-surgical complications as well.
Being Close to Goal Weight Improves Your Results
When it comes to a mommy makeover, most surgeons will want you to be close to or at your ideal weight. Does this mean you need to lose all your pre-pregnancy weight? Chances are it doesn’t, but for the best outcome, you will want to have a healthy BMI. A mommy makeover is unique to everyone as there are many different procedures you can choose from. For example, should you choose a tummy tuck and breast augmentation, you will want to be close to your ideal weight to achieve the best possible results. Losing additional weight after a tummy tuck and breast augmentation may leave you with loose skin in your abdomen and a smaller breast size than you had hoped for.
Consider Waiting until Your Family is Complete
In addition to losing weight before your mommy makeover, your surgeon may advise you to wait until your family is complete. While it is safe to have another baby after a mommy makeover, chances are another pregnancy will undo the work you had done. Between pregnancies, eat healthy and exercise to keep your weight near your ideal and once your family is complete, you will be one step closer to achieving the body contours you desire.
At Hamilton Surgical Arts, our cosmetic surgeons have over 40 years of combined experience to help you find the treatment option that’s right for you. Both Dr. Lowery and Dr. Jackson are recognized leaders in the cosmetic surgery field, providing the highest quality care in the Indianapolis area.
