Who is a candidate for liposuction?

An ideal candidate for liposuction is someone who is in overall good health and concerned with stubborn fat deposits that don’t respond to diet and exercise.

Other than being an adult, there isn’t a hard and fast rule when it comes to the age of a liposuction candidate. In fact, the younger you are the more skin elasticity you have, which can help improve your results. We’ll get into why the state of your skin matters a bit later. 

You likely already know, but in case you don’t…

Liposuction is a cosmetic surgery that permanently removes fat from a targeted area of the body.

There are different types of liposuction, but the preferred method at Amelia Aesthetics is tumescent liposuction, which is typically performed under general anesthesia and uses a thin tube called a cannula to remove the fat. 

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Because you can’t spot-treat excess fat with diet and exercise, liposuction is a great tool to help add shape to areas that naturally store more fat, often thanks to genetics.

You can learn more about how it all works with the full Liposuction video series in the free Bustmob Academy app. 

Can anyone get liposuction?

It’s tempting to try this magical, permanent cosmetic procedure in all areas of the body. But unfortunately, not all people, areas, and types of fat make for good lipo candidates. 

The type of fat you have matters when it comes to liposuction. 

Subcutaneous fat, the squishy fat on the outside of the body that you can touch, can typically be permanently removed with liposuction.

Areas like the thighs, stomach, double chin, flanks, and back are all really common.

The hard fat, like a barrel belly, is made up of visceral fat around the organs and can’t be treated with this surgical procedure. Think about it. Do you really want someone poking around your organs with a cannula? 

Your plastic surgeon will tell you what areas you’re a candidate for during your one-on-one consultation. But it’s nice to get an idea of what areas you could be eligible for before you get your hopes up. 

Learn more about liposuction treatment areas in the free Bustmob Academy app. 

It’s important to keep in mind that liposuction isn’t a weight loss tool. 

In fact, the final results aren’t really even measured in terms of your body weight.

Your plastic surgeon will typically remove around 70-80% of the fat cells in a treatment area, which doesn’t exactly translate to pounds. 

Of course, the exact amount of fat for each person will vary depending on your anatomy and goals.

Liposuction is better used to contour and add shape, rather than lose weight. Typically, the closer you are to your goal weight, the happier you are with your results.

If you have loose skin, liposuction alone may not be right for you. 

If you notice skin laxity or loose skin, liposuction alone could actually make that area look a little worse, if we’re being honest. The areas that respond the liposuction the best are areas that have that youthful, elastic skin. 

Hey, we’re here to set realistic expectations with the facts! You wouldn’t want to get excited about an area only to find out that area isn’t great for liposuction.

The good news is that if you do have skin laxity in an area like the abdomen, for example, there is a solution–the tummy tuck. 

A tummy tuck removes that loose skin, repairs any muscle separation (aka diastasis recti), and at Amelia Aesthetics, includes liposuction of the core and flanks, leaving you with stronger, tighter, toned core. 

Are there requirements to get liposuction?

Most board-certified plastic surgeons will have some general requirements both before and after your procedure. 

Before your procedure, you may be asked to:

• Have a medical evaluation and BMI check 
• Avoid smoking, vaping, and nicotine products
• Stop taking birth control, anything containing Aspirin, and supplements two weeks prior to surgery
• Fill and pick up any prescription medications prior to surgery

After your procedure, you’ll likely be asked to:

• Avoid submerging in water (i.e. swimming and bathing)
• Stop heavy lifting and exercise
• Stay hydrated
• Incorporate light movement every 2 hours when awake

Of course, each surgeon and practice will have their own protocols based on your unique procedure, anatomy, and lifestyle. Always check with your surgeon before adding or removing anything from your pre-op and post-op plan.

Hey, looks like you’re researching liposuction. We can help.

The free Bustmob Academy app has 170 videos just like the one above to make your plastic research clearer, easier, and more accessible. 

Jenny Eden, founder of Bustmob, and Gretta Nance, lead educator for over 20 years at Amelia Aesthetics, break down the complexities and confusing language of plastic surgery into bite-size, bing-able videos–covering everything you need to know BEFORE your consultation. 

In the Liposuction procedure series, you’ll get the low down on recovery time, costs, the risk of complications, myths about body contouring with liposuction, and a lot more. 

Don’t go into your consultation overwhelmed and in the dark. Be empowered and informed so you can be in the driver’s seat. 

Why would we work so hard to make it easy for you? Because that’s kind of our thing–we believe in transparency and empowerment, without the sales pitch.

We created the Bustmob Community to give you a safe and supportive space to connect with other women on their plastic surgery journey, which paved the path for our other incredible free resources like the Bustmob GoalFinder and our Bustmob Academy series. 

Hope it helps!