While liposuction is one of the most well-known cosmetic surgeries available, you may be unsure whether the procedure is right for you. Dr. Stephen T. Greenberg can help you determine if you are a good candidate for liposuction. At his Long Island, NY, practice, Dr. Greenberg and his team will walk you through the details of the procedure and the factors that make a good candidate, including skin elasticity, overall health, and anticipated expectations. To learn whether liposuction is right for you, contact us today.

Benefits and Limitations

Ideally, liposuction is used to remove localized deposits of fat that do not respond to diet or exercise. These deposits are typically located in the neck, upper arms or armpits, chest, abdomen, waist, hips, thighs, inner knees, and ankles. In some cases, liposuction is used to shape facial features, particularly chubby cheeks or jowls.

While one benefit of liposuction is its powerful ability to sculpt your body’s contours, it is not intended as a treatment for obesity, and cannot significantly reduce a patient’s weight. The procedure produces the best results when used to refine a patient’s shape. It cannot cause a significant drop in clothing size, nor can it replace exercise or diet.

Candidacy Factors

Liposuction candidates should be relatively fit, and within 30 percent of their ideal weight. The effects of the procedure are permanent, as long as your weight does not fluctuate. Patients should not plan to lose a significant amount of weight, or become pregnant after surgery. Any weight loss should occur prior to liposuction.

Having firm, elastic skin also plays a role in the success of liposuction. The more elastic your skin, the more likely your skin will shrink into place after liposuction and leave you with smooth, natural-looking results. Since skin elasticity often reduces with age, older patients may not experience optimal or desired results. However, many patients with reduced skin elasticity are satisfied with their results.

Dr. Greenberg will guide you through the potential outcomes of various liposuction strategies, to ensure that you have realistic expectations for the procedure.

As with all surgical procedures, pre-existing health issues can undermine results and increase the risk of complications. Patients who suffer from illnesses or medical conditions such as diabetes, cardiac arrhythmias, or seizure disorders could experience impaired healing.

Since the effects of smoking can significantly affect your ability to heal, non-smokers are at a much lower risk of developing complications. Furthermore, if you take any medications that increase the risk of bleeding such as aspirin or NSAIDs, you may need to stop taking them for a specified amount of time prior to your surgery. Dr. Greenberg will review and discuss your medications with you.

Evaluating Your Candidacy

During your initial consultation, Dr. Greenberg will determine your candidacy based on a number of factors, including your medical history, skin elasticity, and overall treatment goals. He will guide you through the potential outcomes of various liposuction strategies, to ensure that you have realistic expectations for the procedure. If liposuction is not the best match for your goals, Dr. Greenberg may recommend alternative cosmetic procedures, such as bariatric surgery or a tummy tuck.