Most people who are obese opt to undergo cosmetic surgery procedures thinking that they can lose weight significantly. However, there are underlying complications that a patient is exposed to.
Over the years, there are plenty of studies conducted to see the complications that the obese patients are prone to. Up to this date, there is still an ongoing debate. Obesity has been related to postoperative complications that include a 5 times higher rate of heart attack, 7.1 times higher rate of wound infection, and 1.5 times higher rate of urinary tract infection. Not only that. Obese patients are at a higher risk of pulmonary disorders like sleep apnea and hypoventilation syndrome or breathing slowly.
Generally, we use BMI to determine the amount of visceral fat. This is the fat around the internal organs that have been proven to have a major role in postoperative complications. When it comes to cosmetic surgery, one of the main concerns with obese patients—and this has been shown in multiple studies—is problems of wound dehiscence or wound opening after surgery, wound healing problems, and wound infection. There is no question that the more obese you are, the more likely you are to have wound healing issues and complications.
In my practice, I always advise my obese patients with above 30 BMI reach a BMI that is on the healthier scale. It has been determined that it can actually increase the risk of prolonged recovery, poor wound healing, and blood clots. Combining cosmetic surgery with a healthier diet and decreasing your weight is of paramount importance when it comes to having a successful cosmetic surgery. Only then can we further assess if the patient is already a qualified candidate, what procedures will best suit the patients, the pre-surgery preparations and the post-operative care and instructions.
