Many people who are overweight turn to plastic surgeons for a solution. There is a misconception that liposuction and body contouring are for obese patients, but that is not true. In general, plastic surgery should be pursued by people in good health: most plastic surgeons recommend a BMI below 30 for those seeking treatment. This is due to the potential complications of surgery and unfavorable outcomes. People with obesity should first consider weight loss options such as diet, exercise and bariatric surgery. Once their BMI is within an appropriate range, plastic surgery becomes a suitable option.
Obesity in Gulf Countries:
Nine Arab countries have some of the highest obesity rates in the world, according to a World Health Organization report published in 2016. The prevalence of obesity in Bahrain is 29.8%; Saudi Arabia and Kuwait have even higher rates of 35.4% and 37.9% respectively. Speculated reasons are the high consumption of fast food and sugary beverages, sedentary lifestyles, and lack of exercise. The Middle East and North Africa region also has the highest rate of increase in diabetes in the world, likely due to economic development, genetic risk and low exercise. These factors have made bariatric surgeries very popular in the region; both men and women turn to treatments such as gastric bypass and sleeve gastrectomy for weight loss.
Health Risks of Plastic Surgery:
Obesity increases the risk of many co-morbid conditions, such as diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular disease and hypertension. It also makes plastic surgery more dangerous, as potential complications can be deadly. During the procedure, deep vein thrombosis or blood clots that go up to the lungs are a risk factor. After the surgery, obese patients are more likely to suffer from heart attacks and wound infections. Since the aesthetic outcome of the surgery is unfavorable, many plastic surgeons refuse to operate on patients with obesity.
Recommendation:
People who are overweight often turn to plastic surgeons for a weight loss solution, but this is the wrong step as the health risks are high. They should first aim to lose weight through diet and exercise, with bariatric surgery as another option for weight loss. When their BMI is within an appropriate range (below 30), they can then pursue plastic surgery to obtain the changes they desire.
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