We always try to ask at least these two questions during your initial phone conversation. The first is “Are you at a consistent or goal weight?” The second is “What is your BMI?” We have a few different reasons for asking these questions.
1. It keeps you safe.
If you have a BMI that is over 30, your risks during surgery can substantially increase. In order to provide the safest care, this is something that is required. When you call, you can tell us your height and weight and we will calculate your BMI and let you know where you stand.
2. It can affect your final results.
If you are still trying to lose weight, we would highly recommend holding off on surgery. Because procedures like tummy tucks are meant to remove excess skin, losing more weight after surgery can cause the stomach to appear loose again.
3. It can alter the surgical plan.
If you plan to lose more weight before having surgery, it may not be in your best interest to schedule a consultation just yet. There are many different techniques Dr. Diederich can use to provide you with your goal outcome and those are very specific to your personal anatomy. For example, liposuction is something that would vary greatly depending on how much excess fatty tissue you may have and how that is affected with weight loss.
4. Surgery is not a weight loss method.
Cosmetic surgery is really there to fine tune the work that you have already put in to your body. If you’ve had a child or excessive weight fluctuation, Dr. Diederich can repair your abdominal muscles. If you’ve lost a lot of weight, he can remove the excess skin from your abdomen, arms, legs, etc. Liposuction can remove stubborn pockets of fat that don’t respond well to diet and exercise. Surgery is not meant to remove a large percentage of fat cells.
Call 618-288-7855 to schedule a consultation!
If you are 5-10 pounds from your goal weight, go ahead and give us a call. If you plan on losing more than that, we recommend waiting to schedule a consultation as Dr. Diederich’s surgical plan would likely change. We are more than happy to answer any questions you may have over the phone. However for a full consultation, it would be more convenient for you to wait until you are at your goal weight.
Leave a Reply