“Is liposuction right for me?” That’s a question plastic surgeons often hear from patients considering the fat reduction treatment. What makes someone a good candidate for liposuction at our Long Island, Westchester, or Manhattan, NY, plastic surgery practices depends on several factors.
Many men and women can benefit from liposuction, which is why it’s one of the most popular cosmetic procedures performed each year in the U.S. But it’s not the appropriate option for everyone. In this blog post, we’ll list 4 reasons why someone is a good candidate for liposuction and describe 2 reasons why it may not be the right choice.
Reasons Why Liposuction Is Right for You
Understanding why a person is considering cosmetic surgery of any kind is an important part of a plastic surgeon’s job. Knowing a patient’s motivation is essential with liposuction. That information helps the surgeon determine if the procedure can produce the patient’s expected results or if they would be better off pursuing a different option.
Here are 4 reasons to get liposuction:
Immediate, long-lasting results: Nonsurgical alternatives to liposuction, such as SculpSure®, reduce fat gradually and produce less dramatic outcomes than liposuction. They are a good option for patients with slight, stubborn bulges who don’t want to undergo surgery. Liposuction, however, is a great choice if you want a significant change to the contours of your body.
It reduces fat in virtually any area of the body: The versatility of liposuction is another reason for its popularity. Many people associate the procedure with reducing abdominal fat or getting rid of love handles, but it’s suitable for much more than that. Liposuction is an option for patients who want to reduce the appearance of a double chin, sculpt leaner thighs, minimize back fat, or treat almost any other area with excess fat.
Pockets of fat persist despite working out regularly and following a healthy diet: Women and men frustrated that their diligent fitness efforts don’t work on isolated fat bulges can get a confidence boost from liposuction.
Your goal is targeted fat reduction, not weight loss: One of the most common misconceptions about liposuction is that it’s a weight loss procedure. It is better to think of it as body contouring surgery. Even patients who undergo large-volume liposuction won’t lose much weight.
Liposuction Isn’t for Everyone
Not all people who have excess fat are good candidates for liposuction. These are 2 reasons liposuction may not be for you:
The amount of fat you want removed exceeds what’s considered safe: Despite the technological advances in liposuction techniques that have made it easier to remove greater volumes of fat, removing too much fat is a risk to patient safety. The generally accepted limit is 5 liters during a single operation. It’s important that patients understand that liposuction removes blood, fluid, and electrolytes in addition to fat.
Loose skin in the treatment area: The key to successful liposuction results is that a patient’s skin retains enough elasticity to “shrink-to-fit” the new contours. If the skin is too loose, removing fat from the area will lead to disappointing results because the skin will sag even more. Liposuction is also not effective if cellulite is in the treatment area. Patients with loose abdominal skin often combine a tummy tuck with liposuction.
Schedule a Complimentary Consultation
The best way to know for sure if liposuction is for you is to request a complimentary consultation at one of our locations using the online form. Or call us at (914) 423-9000 to schedule an appointment at Newman Plastic Surgery & Laser Center in Manhattan (NYC), Westchester, or Long Island.
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