Do I Need To Lose Weight For Shoulder and Hip Surgeries?

Q: Dr. Eppley, I’m a transwoman, and due to some mix of genetics and terrible luck, I’ve had little to no fat redistribution or bone changes even though I started HRT at 15 and have been on it for 10+ years 🙁

My figure has broad shoulders and extremely narrow hips, both of which have been a constant pain point. I’m looking to increase the hip/shoulder ratio, either via hip implants, shoulder shortening, or some combination thereof.

Note that I am about to engage in a fairly intensive diet program, so I am likely to lose weight in the near future. Unsure if that will affect things, but seemed worth mentioning.

A:Thank you for your inquiry and sending your pictures. In consideration of shoulder narrowing  surgery and or hip augmentation a patient’s body size and weight are important considerations. I do not know what your current height and weight is, which would be useful to known, but certainly any amount of weight loss is going to be favorable in your case. The question is not whether  you may benefit from these surgeries but, at your current weight, how successful will they be both from an aesthetic standpoint as well as limiting the risks associated with this surgery (which are a greater consideration in an implant based surgery like Pelvic Plasty than it is for an autologous procedure like clavicle reduction osteotomies).

Dr. Barry Eppley

Plastic Surgeon