It’s Procedure Day: Are You At A Suitable Weight For Surgery?

Pure Plastic Surgery is a Miami-based plastic surgery practice that was launched in 2018 by acclaimed surgeon Dr. S. Alexander Earle. Dr. Earle is an Ivy League-educated, double board-certified plastic surgeon with vast experience in both reconstructive and aesthetic surgery.

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Liposuction, tummy tuck, or Brazilian butt lift (BBL). Three different procedures with one commonality, their pre-operation weight assessment. Before undergoing any elective surgical procedure, your doctor must ensure that you are fit enough to undergo surgery. Here Haute Beauty sat down with Haute Beauty expert Dr. S. Alexander Earle to get the pre-op weight requirement facts.

What is the ideal weight for surgery?

Your Body Mass Index (BMI) is the relationship between your height and weight. For a Brazilian butt lift (BBL), we don't necessarily look at weight, but we have requirements for BMI. Regarding the three procedures mentioned before, these are the numbers that we ensure our patients are in line with.

BBL: Minumum 22 BMI/ Maximum 30 BMI
Liposuction: Minimum 19 BMI/ Maximum 30 BMI
Tummy Tuck & Mommy Makeover: Minimum 19 BMI/ Maximum 32 BMI

What are the risks to surgery when you are over the ideal weight?

At Pure Plastic Surgery, you will be weighed and your BMI will be calculated throughout various stages of the process, including the day of surgery. When you are over the BMI requirements, you have a greater risk of complications during and after surgery, including pulmonary issues and infections.

Do you ever have to turn someone away from a procedure because they are overweight?

Safety is very important, and we have a checklist that we provide to our patients that goes beyond weight and BMI. We have had to delay and cancel surgery due to a patient not meeting our BMI requirements. If a patient does not meet our health and safety requirements, we will consult with their primary physician to see if there are steps the patient can take to work toward their goals.

Are there any procedures where weight does not matter?

Weight, as it correlates to BMI is always a factor with any surgery. We don’t focus so much on weight but on overall health and patient safety.

For more information, visit Dr. S. Alexander Earle's social media: