What is a Body Mass Index (BMI)?
A person’s Body Mass Index (BMI) is a measure of body fat based on their height and weight and applies to both men and women. It evaluates the relationship between an individual’s height and weight and is the recommended method for diagnosing obesity. It is not, however, a direct measure of excess body fat.
Your BMI is classed into four separate categories:
Underweight = <18.5
Normal weight = 18.5 – 24.9
Overweight = 25 – 29.9
Obesity = BMI of 30 or greater
Keep in mind that fat and muscle also weigh different amounts. If you have an excess of muscle (ie. Bodybuilders), this may also affect your BMI.
Why BMI Matters for Surgery
When you are being considered for surgery, your BMI is something that is considered. An optimal BMI range is between 18.5 and 24.9 as surgical procedures have less risks within this range.
When you have a higher BMI, you are a higher risk of:
- Blood clots (specifically in your legs)
- Infection due to delayed healing
- Complications under general anesthesia
Many clinics and surgeons will not perform elective surgery on patients with a BMI that is over 30, as the risks increase the higher your BMI goes. Any surgery that is done on a patient with a BMI of 30 or higher is typically done in the hospital due to the increased risks.
Being at an optimal BMI prior to surgery also impacts your overall results. People who are already at their ideal weight and healthy BMI tend to have more optimal results.
How We Can Help
At Macleod Trail Plastic Surgery, our patient’s health and safety is always our primary concern. While we are able to work with our clients to help them achieve their goals, we will not move ahead with surgeries that are unsafe for our patients and that is why your BMI is always considered when we discuss surgical options.
Our private, state-of-the-art surgical facility is located in the Macleod Trail Plastic Surgery building in Calgary. We use this facility solely for our cosmetic patients and are able to provide superior safety and specialized care. That being said, if our surgeons do choose to move ahead with a surgical procedure on a patient that is deemed a higher risk due to their BMI or other health concerns, there is the potential to move their surgery to a designated hospital to ensure that patient receives the highest level of safety and care.