Liposuction Candidates

All candidates for liposuction should have realistic expectations of the results that can be achieved through the procedure and should be in good physical and mental health. The best candidate is someone who is in excellent health, is within 25 pounds of his or her ideal body weight, and has deposits of fat that have not responded to diet or exercise.

General Requirements for Liposuction Surgery

• Patients should be at least 18 years old.
• Pregnant or lactating women cannot have liposuction.
• Individuals with certain health problems may not be good candidates for liposuction.
• Anyone who is taking blood-thinning medication such as aspirin, ibuprofen, or any non-steroidal anti-inflammatory must discontinue use of the medication before and after surgery.
• Lidocaine anesthesia is used in liposuction, and those with lidocaine allergies will be unable to undergo the procedure.

Realistic Expectations

Liposuction should not be expected to help you lose a substantial amount of weight, nor can it eliminate stretch marks and cellulite from the skin. Liposuction can only remove small, localized concentrations of fat. In most cases, 10 pounds of fat or less will be removed from the treated area. If you expect liposuction to dramatically change your appearance, you will probably be disappointed. The ideal liposuction candidate is already at a healthy weight, but is interested in subtle body recontouring.

Because liposuction removes fat but does not tighten skin, patients with good skin elasticity will experience the most aesthetically pleasing results. Older patients typically have less elastic skin than younger patients.

Medical Problems

Prevailing health conditions may prevent you from being a good liposuction candidate. Chronic ailments like heart and lung diseases, diabetes, and high blood pressure could cause a less-than-desired aesthetic result. Therefore, those that suffer from these diseases are advised against undergoing liposuction.

It is also important to remember that patients who are immuno-compromised or suffer from diabetes, poor blood circulation, or heart or lung disease should not undergo liposuction. If you have recently undergone other surgery in the area you would like to treat, you should wait until the area has healed before considering liposuction.

Schedule a Liposuction Consultation with a Surgeon in Your Area

The ideal candidate for liposuction is informed about the benefits and risks of surgery and has discussed the procedure extensively with his or her doctor. The first step toward a successful outcome is finding a liposuction surgeon with whom you feel comfortable. Find a liposuction doctor in your area to learn more about the individualized benefits liposuction may offer you.