How Much Can You Weigh to Get Liposuction?

Since first being introduced in 1974, liposuction has become one of the most popular and safest surgeries used for body contouring. Often liposuction is used in conjunction with plastic surgery to obtain a certain cosmetic appearance. Liposuction is not a weight loss alternative and is not to be confused with procedures such as gastric bypass surgery or lap band surgery.

What is Liposuction?

• Liposuction is a procedure by which fat cells in the body are surgically removed. This procedure uses a suction tube called a cannula which simply sucks the fat cells from a designated part of the body, usually the abdomen, hips, buttocks or thighs. The tube is inserted into tiny incisions beneath the skin. Most procedures are done under a local anesthesia or IV sedation by a skilled liposuction surgeon.

Ideal Candidate

• Liposuction is for those who are of normal weight, but have stubborn areas such as thighs, upper arms or the tummy that do not respond to diet and exercise. The ideal candidate will have good skin tone and elasticity, no history of diabetes, blood clots, or restricted blood flow. Age, weight and overall health also play a part in successful liposuction. Obviously, a consultation with your surgeon to discuss your health is in order before proceeding.

Risks

• As with any surgery, there are always risks. There can be unexpected reactions to anesthesia, possible infection or bleeding. Obviously the more areas of the body that are being treated at one time, the more the risk involved. Because of the nature of the procedure, there can be an uneven removal of the fat cells causing a bumpy appearance of the skin. This can also occur when there is poor skin elasticity. Sometimes temporary nerve irritation, and temporary or permanent numbness can occur in the area. Complications are always a possibility.

Cost

• There are many factors that affect the cost of liposuction. In addition to the surgeon's fee, there is also the cost for the operating room, anesthesia and lab fees. Also, different parts of the body have different costs. The more fat that is removed, the more cost that is incurred. Unfortunately, health care insurance companies will rarely cover any of the cost for liposuction. Therefore, the cost for the procedure must be paid by the patient.

Post Surgery Lifestyle

• While there is no guarantee that you will not regain some fat cells after the procedure, you can certainly help maintain your new appearance through lifestyle choices. It is important to embark on a program of regular exercise and maintain a healthy diet. This will also improve your overall health. The results of liposuction are usually permanent if you maintain your weight.