Am I A Candidate for Liposuction?
Every year, millions of Americans have liposuction treatments to finally get rid of stubborn, diet-resistant fat on their bellies, backs, and limbs. In fact, liposuction is the fourth most popular minimally invasive cosmetic surgical procedure in the United States, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.
Thanks to advances in liposuction techniques and technology, today’s liposuction surgeries can be an ideal option for women and men who want to eliminate stubborn fat deposits and improve their body contours. The key to getting the best results: choose a doctor with plenty of experience in treating your specific target area.
As a leading cosmetic surgery practice in McLean and Dulles, Virginia, Sanctuary Cosmetic Center leads the way in custom liposuction using the most advanced techniques. Soheila Rostami, MD, uses a patient-centered approach to help every patient achieve their unique goals, improving their appearance as well as their confidence.
Here’s how to tell if liposuction could be a good choice for helping you reach your goals.
How to tell if liposuction is right for you
Liposuction is a minimally invasive surgery that uses a special “suction” technology to gently remove fat in specific areas of your body. That includes areas that just don’t seem to respond to diet and exercise, including fat deposits in your:
- Belly
- Waist
- Flanks
- Buttocks
- Knees
- Back
- Arms
- Ankles
- Neck
- Chin
Dr. Rostami uses liposuction that delivers very precise results, so you can get rid of fat while also improving the lines and contour of your body.
Liposuction is very safe, but there are a few guidelines to think about if you’re considering liposuction for your “problem areas.”
It’s not intended to remove lots of fat
Unlike diet and exercise, liposuction isn’t about losing weight — it’s about fine-tuning specific areas of your body that haven’t responded to diet and exercise. Ideally, liposuction is best for women and men who are within about 30% of their ideal body weight. Not sure what that is? Dr. Rostami will be able to tell if you’re close to that goal during your initial evaluation.
You need to be healthy
Although the risk of complications is low with liposuction, it’s still surgery, and that means you need to be healthy enough to undergo the procedure and to have anesthesia. If you have a bleeding disorder or any medical issue that could interfere with healing or with the surgery itself, Dr. Rostami may suggest nonsurgical options, such as CoolSculpting® or Liposonix®, to help you achieve your goals.
You shouldn’t be a smoker
Smoking interferes with healing. If you do smoke, you should stop smoking for several weeks before your procedure and for several weeks after to give your body the tools it needs to heal properly.
Your skin should be firm and elastic
As we get older, we lose collagen and elastin, two building blocks of skin that provide firmness and tone. Once the fat is removed with liposuction, your skin should be able to reform itself to your new contours. If your skin isn’t “elastic” enough to hug those contours, you might benefit from a skin tightening treatment after your liposuction surgery.
You need to have realistic goals
Liposuction helps millions of people achieve their goals every year, but even so, it’s important to set realistic goals before your surgery. During your consultation, Dr. Rostami will review your concerns so she can tailor a treatment plan that’s optimized for you.
Liposuction is a great way to improve your body’s contours, but it’s not the only option. To learn about all your choices, call Sanctuary Cosmetic Center or book an appointment online today.