Who is a good candidate for liposuction?
A good candidate for liposuction should have realistic expectations about the results of this procedure as well as these basic qualities: • Average or only slightly above-average weight • Firm, elastic skin • In good overall health • Concentrated pockets of fat that do not respond well to diet and exercise Patients with poor skin quality (cellulite) are not good candidates for liposuction because they may develop skin irregularities due to under- or over-correction of localized fat deposits. Age is generally not a major consideration when discussing liposuction; however, older patients often have less elasticity in their skin and thus may not achieve the same benefits of liposuction that a younger patient with tighter skin might achieve.
• There is no definite age or weight limit for patients who are “good candidates” for liposuction. • Many liposuction patients are of average size but are concerned about localized accumulations of fat. • A good candidate usually has one or more localized accumulations of fat that can be removed by liposuction.
Good candidates for liposuction are over the age of 18, within 25 pounds of their ideal body weights, and have unsuccessfully tried to eliminate pockets of body fat through changes in diet and exercise. Candidates should be in excellent physical and mental health and should maintain realistic expectations as to what liposuction can accomplish for them. Individuals with certain medical conditions, such as heart and lung diseases, should not undergo liposuction. Similarly, individuals taking aspirin, ibuprofen, and other blood-thinning medications should refrain from doing so before and after surgery. Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding and individuals who are allergic to lidocaine anesthesia should not undergo liposuction or other body contouring surgery options.
