Am I a Good Candidate for Liposuction?

Every year, thousands of Americans undergo liposuction to slim down and finally eliminate stubborn areas of fat. In fact, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons lists liposuction as one of the top five cosmetic surgeries in the United States.

As a minimally invasive procedure, liposuction uses small incisions and special “suctioning” technology to remove stubborn fat in many areas of the body, including the:

• Belly
• Buttocks
• Arms
• Thighs
• Flanks
• Waist
• Knees
• Ankles
• Back
• Chin and neck

Each treatment is customized based on the patient’s goals and other factors.

Even though liposuction can be an effective way to improve your contours and let you look and feel more toned, it’s not always the best choice for everyone. 

As leading providers of liposuction in Reston, Virginia, Soheila Rostami, MD, Joseph Davidson, MD, and the team at Rostami OPC offer these tips to help you decide if liposuction is what you’re looking for, or whether another treatment or approach might be a better option to help you achieve your goals.

You’re near your ideal weight

Liposuction helps refine your contours, especially in areas that don’t respond to diet and exercise. But it’s not meant to remove a lot of fat. To get the best results possible, you should be within about 30% of your ideal body weight before your procedure.

You don’t have underlying health issues

Liposuction is a safe, time-tested procedure with very limited risks, but like any other procedure, it’s not completely risk-free. If you have underlying health issues, like a heart condition or a condition that affects the way you heal, liposuction might not be the best choice for you. 

Be sure to review your medical history with your doctor during your initial consultation so any potential risks can be identified.

Your skin has plenty of elasticity

Once stubborn fat is removed, it’s not uncommon for the skin in the area to look loose or “saggy.” If your skin has good elasticity, it eventually remodels itself to your new contours. 

If your skin doesn’t “bounce back” the way it did in your younger years, however, you might need a different type of treatment to tighten up your skin in the treatment area.

You don’t smoke

Smoking affects your circulation, and it contributes to inflammation, too. People who smoke may not heal as well following liposuction, so ideally, you should stop smoking a few weeks before and a few weeks after your liposuction visit.

You should be committed to a healthy lifestyle

Although liposuction removes fat cells permanently, gaining weight can still interfere with your results in the future. Committing to a healthy eating plan and regular physical activity is important for maintaining your results and continuing to enjoy those slimmer contours.

Find out if liposuction is right for you

If you’re near your ideal body weight but you’re still plagued by stubborn areas of resistant fat, liposuction could be just what you need to finally achieve your aesthetic goals. 

To learn more about liposuction and other options that slim down body bulges, call 571-568-8716 or book an appointment online with the team at Rostami OPC today.