It is commonly perceived that excess body fat and being overweight is better treated by diet and exercise than having plastic surgery. And this is most certainly true. Plastic surgery is not a substitute for making one’s best effort at being at the best body weight possible and getting off those excess bulges. But the reality is that not everyone can lose all of their bulges or are even capable of dropping as much weight as they desire. For some people their genetics, their body type and their natural internal metabolic thermostat, prevent them from doing what others think may be possible. In addition, some patients have irreversible body changes (excess hanging skin and fat rolls) from pregnancy or extreme amounts of weight loss that can never be changed by any amount of exercise. (you can not work off extra skin or tighten it) These are the types of patients that truly benefit by having plastic surgery to help make new body contours and get them over the hump so to speak. Also, plastic surgeons are usually quite resistant to operating on overweight patients. Obesity is one well known contributing factor in causing complications after surgery and creating outcomes that are less than what is usually expected.
Dr. Barry Eppley
Indianapolis, Indiana