While plastic surgery is well regulated and organized across the United States, there are certain practices and laws that differ slightly from state to state. Many patients choose their plastic surgery city for convenience, cost, or to be operated on by a specific surgeon they admire. But depending on the procedure you want done and your plastic surgery goals, unique legislation from state to state is also important to consider.
Below we go over how plastic surgery laws differ from state to state:
1. The Amount of Fat you can Have Extracted with Liposuction Differs
In some states, the amount of fat a patient can have extracted during liposuction differs. For example, in Florida, only 4000cc of fat may be removed during liposuction, which equals approximately 7-8 pounds or 3.5 liters. Additionally, if a patient is having more than one procedure, such as a Brazilian butt lift (BBL) and a tummy tuck, only 1,000cc of fat may be removed. This is done for the patient’s safety and to ease the patient’s comfort during recovery time. In Texas, the legal limit of how much fat can be removed from a patient’s body during liposuction is 5,000cc. Patients who are on the thinner side and don’t want too much fat removed may be more inclined to choose Florida as their plastic surgery destination. Patients who are looking for more dramatic results may be more inclined to choose a state like Texas for their plastic surgery procedure.
2. The Amount of Prescription Pain Killers you can be Prescribed Differs
Before your plastic surgery, your surgeon will send you home with a prescription for an opioid narcotic painkiller like Vicodin or Percocet. Because of the addictive nature of these drugs, the amount of pills your doctor can prescribe you with is limited from state to state. In Florida, the legal amount of painkillers your surgeon can provide you with for your recovery time is 12 pills. You can find out the unique legislation on narcotic prescriptions by contacting your plastic surgery clinic in the city of your choosing. If you are still in severe pain after completing the prescribed dose of prescription painkillers during your surgery recovery period, you may visit your primary care doctor to see if you are eligible to be prescribed additional pills.
3. The Body Mass Index (BMI) Limit for Patients Differs
While this is more of a rule that is determined from clinic to clinic rather than by statewide legislation, it is important to note what the body mass index limit is at your plastic surgery clinic of choice. Body mass index is a figure that is calculated with your weight and height. You can calculate your BMI by inputting your height and weight at this link. At Mia Aesthetics, BMI (Body Mass Index) for all surgeries except tummy tucks and combo procedures must be lower than 34 upon arrival for surgery. BMI for tummy tuck and combo procedures must be 32 or less. This is because operate on patients with a higher BMI poses more health and safety risks for the patient. Additionally, at higher BMIs, surgical results may not be as favorable. If your BMI is higher than 31, you can look into other plastic surgery clinics or consider implementing some lifestyle changes to lose some weight and be as healthy as possible before plastic surgery.
In Conclusion
There are various differences between plastic surgery legislation from state to state. Many of these laws are now well known or publicized often, which is why prospective patients should be sure to ask their plastic surgery clinic questions key questions before having their procedure done. Three areas of plastic surgery that often differ from state to state are the amount of fat that can be extracted during liposuction, the amount of painkillers prescribed for recovery, and the BMI limit a surgeon will operate on. Be sure to make sure you are OK with the legislation on these points, and you will be well on your way to achieving the body of your dreams!