Q. Will doctors do hip and/or knee replacements on morbidly obese people without mandating that the patient lose weight before the surgery?
Doctor Answer is medically reviewed by SecondMedic medical review team.
Yes, doctors can do hip and knee replacements for morbidly obese patients without mandating that the patient lose weight prior to surgery. The decision to perform these surgeries is ultimately up to a doctor's discretion based on their assessment of the individual case and determination of whether they think that the surgery will be successful regardless of the patient's weight.
Studies have shown that hip and/or knee replacement surgeries on morbidly obese patients are generally successful in providing long-term pain relief, improved functionality, and better quality of life outcomes - even when the patient has not changed their diet or engaged in any exercise programs before or after surgery. It is important to note however that sustaining such improvements often depends on ongoing lifestyle changes made post-surgery such as keeping a healthy diet and an active lifestyle as this will help promote healing, reduce risk for complications down the line, and optimize results from treatment.
Ultimately it is important for all patients considering joint replacement surgery - regardless of their bodyweight - to talk with their doctor about what goals they wish to achieve from the procedure so they can make informed decisions about how best to proceed.