Liposuction is a transformational procedure that can be applied nearly anywhere on the body with stunning results — if you’re a good candidate. This blog will discuss the qualities that make an ideal liposuction candidate and why it matters.
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Is Liposuction Right For You?
Liposuction is a widely popular body contouring procedure that gives patients slimmed, idealized contours through the careful removal of subcutaneous fat via suctioning it out through a cannula. Versatile, safe, and effective, liposuction gives plastic surgeons and patients the power to “spot treat” stubborn pockets of fat or smooth the body between adjacent cosmetic procedures such as a Mommy Makeover or tummy tuck. It’s also a key component of the increasingly popular fat grafting techniques used for implant-free breast augmentations and Brazilian Butt Lifts.
It seems as if liposuction can do it all — but that’s not entirely true. Liposuction is not a weight loss solution. This might seem counterintuitive, as it is a procedure that literally removes fat cells, but liposuction works best when it is performed on patients who fit certain criteria, have specific goals, and are within a healthy weight range.
What Makes a Good Liposuction Candidate?
Weight
Each surgeon will have slightly different weight recommendations for liposuction candidates based on their professional opinion and other factors, but all will agree that liposuction is not a weight loss solution. What this means is that ideal candidates have extra fat in specific areas of the body, such as around the belly, thighs, upper arms, etc., but are not looking for a full-body reduction of fat. That’s not how liposuction works, as it is a focused removal of areas of fat.
During liposuction, your surgeon makes small incisions around the treatment area, like the abdomen, for example. Through these incisions, they insert a small cannula that they maneuver beneath the skin to remove fat in that select location.
Not only is it potentially dangerous to remove too much fat, but it is also logistically improbable and can result in undesirable results.
Skin Elasticity
Another important factor for an effective liposuction result is the quality of your skin. When fat is removed from the body, there is naturally a loss of volume under the skin, leaving it slightly loose. This can be exacerbated by removing a lot more fat than is advised (another reason liposuction doesn’t work well for weight loss). Following liposuction, you’ll be given a compression garment to wear, which is essentially a tight yet flexible piece of clothing that constricts your body. This helps to reduce swelling and fluid retention, but it also helps the skin contract back tight against the tissue.
This process of the skin “snapping” back into place can be made difficult if you have poor skin elasticity, as this means your skin lacks the stretchiness that is primarily made possible through collagen and elastin — both of which reduce with age. Without skin elasticity, liposuction can result in loose, sagging skin around the treatment area, which basically negates any benefit that the slimming result can achieve.
But this doesn’t mean that older patients can’t be candidates for liposuction, especially if they are removing a small amount of fat and the surgeon is experienced. There are also non-surgical treatments that can help tighten loose skin that can be used following the procedure, or liposuction can be paired with another body contouring procedure that removes loose skin, such as a tummy tuck.
Goals
Lastly, ideal liposuction candidates have achievable goals for the procedure. They likely have a very specific area of the body that they want to be treated, such as the love handles, under the chin, or around the upper arms. Areas that are notoriously difficult to slim with traditional weight loss methods are prime treatment areas for liposuction — this is what it’s best for.
Other goals that align well with the benefits and limitations of liposuction may be to use it in conjunction with another procedure, such as a tummy tuck or breast reduction. When you combine liposuction with procedures that involve the surgical removal of skin, you can mitigate skin elasticity concerns, as your surgeon will be tightening and removing the skin anyway!
How Do I Know If I’m a Liposuction Candidate?
The best way to determine if you are a candidate for liposuction is to schedule a consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon. They will listen to your goals for the procedure, discuss their opinions about your candidacy, and even give you a quick exam to see if you’re a good fit. In the end, they want you to have a successful result as much as you do, so they’ll be able to give you an honest professional opinion before you move forward.
Key Takeaways
• Liposuction is a body contouring procedure, not a weight loss solution, and works best for patients who are close to their ideal weight with stubborn localized fat deposits.
• Good candidates have firm, elastic skin that will retract well after fat removal, as liposuction does not address loose or sagging skin.
• The procedure is not appropriate for patients with significant obesity, poor health, unrealistic expectations, or conditions that impair healing.
• Liposuction is versatile and can target nearly any area of the body where fat is disproportionate to surrounding contours, including the abdomen, thighs, flanks, and arms.
• A consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon is the most important step to determine whether liposuction is appropriate for your specific anatomy and goals.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is liposuction a weight loss procedure?
No. Liposuction is a body contouring procedure designed to remove localized fat deposits that are out of proportion with surrounding areas. It is not intended for patients seeking significant weight loss. The best results are achieved in patients who are near their ideal weight and have specific stubborn areas that do not respond to diet and exercise.
What physical characteristics make someone a good liposuction candidate?
Good candidates have relatively good skin elasticity, localized fat deposits in specific areas, are close to their ideal weight, and are in good overall health. Skin elasticity is important because liposuction does not remove excess skin — the skin must be able to retract smoothly over the newly contoured area after fat is removed.
Can liposuction be combined with other procedures?
Yes. Liposuction is frequently combined with other procedures such as a tummy tuck, mommy makeover, or breast augmentation. It is also a key component of fat grafting techniques used for natural breast augmentation and body contouring. Combining procedures reduces total recovery time compared to staging them separately.
What areas of the body can liposuction treat?
Liposuction can be performed on virtually any area of the body where localized fat deposits exist, including the abdomen, flanks, thighs, inner knees, upper arms, back, chin, and chest. Your surgeon will evaluate which areas are appropriate candidates based on your anatomy and the degree of fat present.
What makes someone a poor candidate for liposuction?
Poor candidates include patients who are significantly overweight and looking for a weight loss solution, those with loose or poor quality skin that will not retract after fat removal, patients with underlying health conditions that impair healing, and individuals with unrealistic expectations about what liposuction can achieve.
Interested in Liposuction in Northern Virginia?
Call NOVA Plastic Surgery and Dermatology today at (703) 215-9152 or fill out our online contact form to schedule a consultation with one of our experienced plastic surgeons and find out if you are a candidate for liposuction.