Interpreting Your BMI
The body mass index (BMI) is a measurement of an individual's weight according to his or her height. It is widely used as an indicator of the amount of a person's body fat. There are better ways to measure body fat specifically, but determining a person's BMI is fast and serves as an easy screening method.
BMI Ranges: What does your result say about you?
BMI of 18 and under: You may be underweight for your height. If your BMI is under 18, you should consult with your doctor about your overall health. Smoking, a history of poor nutrition, and eating disorders can cause a person to be underweight, and these all increase the risks of any surgery.
BMI of 19 to 24: Having a BMI in this range is considered to be good. You are in a healthy weight range. Most people who are at a healthy weight for their height are good candidates for plastic surgery.
BMI of 25 to 29: Having a BMI in this range puts you in a category generally thought to be overweight. If you are interested in a procedure such as liposuction, your surgeon might advise you to lose enough weight to be within 20-30 pounds of your healthy weight range before having surgery.
BMI of 30 to 39: A person with a BMI in this range is considered to be "obese." People with a BMI in this range are at high risk for developing weight-related health problems. Again, a person has to be within about 30 pounds of their "healthy" weight before plastic surgery.
BMI of 40 and above: A person with a BMI in this range is considered to be "morbidly obese." People with a BMI in this range carry a severe risk of potentially fatal weight-related health problems, including heart disease, diabetes, and joint problems. Morbidly obese people who fall in this range will rarely be accepted as candidates for cosmetic plastic surgery. Many plastic surgeons do not recommend liposuction for anyone more than 20 to 30 pounds over their ideal weight for their height. This approximately translates to a BMI of between 28 and 33.
For more information regarding your personal BMI and plastic surgery qualifications, call 1-800-547-0095 to speak to a DoctorsSayYes customer representative or simply complete the email form to the right.
Remember that the BMI does not take into account frame size or muscularity. Someone with a small frame is going to weigh less and have a smaller BMI that someone of the same height who has a larger frame. Muscle weighs more than fat and a very muscular person weighs more than a sedentary person of normal weight. His or her BMI is higher, but he or she may have less body fat and be in better health than the person with little muscle but more fat. However, unless you are exercising very regularly, this probably does not apply to you.
BMI and Plastic Surgery
In general, the higher your BMI is the more likely you are to have health problems that are related to your weight, such as diabetes, heart disease, and joint problems. Other problems that are often seen in people with a high BMI are asthma, sleep apnea, and gastroesophageal reflux.
Your BMI is your weight in kilograms divided by the square of you height in meters. Even If you live in Europe and are used to thinking in kilos and meters, figuring out your BMI takes a calculator. However, we have made it easy by providing a BMI calculator for you. Just enter your weight in pounds and your height in feet and inches and it will calculate your BMI.
Generally, body contouring plastic surgery procedures such as liposuction, abdominoplasty, and lift procedures (thigh lift, body lift, arm lift) are reserved for people who are within 15% to 20% (or 20 to 30 pounds) of their goal weight. These procedures are not intended as weight loss surgery. If you have these surgeries and later lose a lot more weight, you may have to redo the surgery.
Plastic surgery is not a substitute for losing weight through other means, such as diet and exercise or weight loss surgery. Generally, a person with a BMI over 30 (obese) or 35 (clinically obese) is at greater risk during any surgery. There is a greater chance of a complication from the procedure and from the anesthesia. As noted before, obesity is often linked to diabetes, circulatory problems, and other health issues, which are further complications for surgery.
 |
Calculator
to see how affordable
cosmetic surgery
can be!
