Liposuction
Who is a candidate
for liposuction?
Candidates for
liposuction should meet certain requirements to make sure their procedure is
effective and safe. Candidates who qualify for a liposuction procedure include:
- Adults with an
average or slightly above-average weight.
- People who have
firm skin with elasticity (high in the elastin protein) and a good muscle tone.
- Adults who have
good overall health.
- People who have
pockets of fat that don’t respond well to diet and exercise.
- Nonsmokers.
- People with
realistic goals for the outcome of the procedure.
These are common
qualifications that healthcare providers evaluate before recommending
treatment. Your provider will let you know if liposuction is right for you.
Who might not be a
candidate for liposuction?
Certain factors could
cause a liposuction procedure to be unsuccessful or pose a threat to your
overall health. You might not be a candidate for liposuction if you:
- Are underweight.
- Have a BMI over
25.
- Have a serious,
life-threatening health condition or a condition that can make healing
difficult.
- Have unrealistic
expectations for the procedure.
- Have poor skin
quality.
- Liposuction alone
can’t improve saggy, loose skin. This is common after significant weight loss.
If your goal is to get rid of loose skin, your healthcare provider might
recommend liposuction along with excess skin removal.
Can older adults
get liposuction?
Age usually isn’t
a factor that your provider needs to consider when discussing liposuction.
However, people over the age of 65 may have skin that’s less firm or has lost
some elasticity.
Can men get
liposuction?
Yes. People of any
sex can undergo liposuction. For men or people assigned male at birth,
healthcare providers may recommend liposuction to treat some types of
gynecomastia or enlarged male breast tissue.
Why is liposuction
done?
You might consider
having a liposuction procedure if you:
- Tried dieting and
exercising for several years and certain areas of your body don’t respond or
refuse to shrink naturally.
- Want to smooth out
fatty bulges on your body.
- Want a permanent
body modification.
- Can dedicate four
to six weeks for your body to recover after surgery.
Can liposuction
help with obesity?
Liposuction isn’t
a weight-loss solution and it doesn’t treat excess weight or obesity. Most
people choose to have a liposuction procedure to remove unwanted fat from
certain parts of their body. Liposuction isn’t a full-body weight-loss method.
While the treatment is permanent, your body can regrow fat where you had it removed.
Everyone’s body is
unique. You might follow a nutritious diet and exercise regularly but still
have trouble losing weight. If you have excess weight, talk to your healthcare
provider about weight management treatment options to help you reach your goals.
How common is
liposuction?
Liposuction is one
of the most common plastic surgery procedures. In the United States, more than
200,000 liposuction procedures happen each year. Around the world, liposuction
represents between 15% and 20% of all plastic surgeries.