Am I A Good Candidate for Liposuction?

Liposuction can be a wonderful way to reduce stubborn pockets of excess fat and create a shapelier body contour. It is minimally invasive, with a relatively short recovery period, and results are permanent if you maintain a healthy lifestyle and stable weight.

The best way to learn if you are a good candidate for liposuction is to visit Dr. Michael Will for an in-person consultation. Call Will Surgical Arts today at 301-874-1707 to schedule your initial consultation.

The Ideal Liposuction Candidate

The best candidates for liposuction are those who:

• Are at or near their goal weight
• Are confident in their ability to maintain a stable, healthy weight
• Have stubborn areas of fat that haven’t responded to diet and exercise
• Have sufficient skin elasticity

Liposuction is not a weight loss procedure, so the closer you are to your goal weight, the better your results will be. You will not lose a significant amount of weight after having liposuction, but you can drop a pant size or two.

Liposuction results can be permanent if you maintain a healthy lifestyle. However, if you gain a significant amount of weight, you risk losing your results. This is why it’s so important to be able to maintain a healthy, stable weight.

You may not be a good liposuction candidate if:

• You are looking for a quick and easy way to lose weight
• You are a heavy smoker
• You are considered technically obese, with a BMI of over 30

While overweight men and women can benefit from liposuction, if you are obese, Dr. Will may suggest that you lose some weight on your own before undergoing liposuction. Liposuction can help to create a better body contour that in some cases can motivate significantly overweight patients to eat healthier and do more exercise. However, elective surgery can be dangerous if your BMI is too high.

Smoking is also a contraindication to elective plastic surgery. Smoking significantly increases your risk of serious complications from surgery. You may still be a candidate if you are able to quit smoking for two weeks before and after surgery, though.

Do You Need Liposuction or a Tummy Tuck?

People are often confused about the difference between liposuction and a tummy tuck. A tummy tuck is a much more invasive procedure than liposuction, but it also nets much more dramatic results. You are probably a good candidate for a tummy tuck if you:

• Have loose, separated abdominal muscles (this is common after childbirth)
• Have a significant amount of excess skin (common after childbirth or massive weight loss)

A tummy tuck addresses loose abdominal muscles and excess skin, while liposuction does not. A tummy tuck can also get rid of much more fat in the abdominal area than is possible with liposuction (although, again, it is not a tool for weight loss).

Liposuction can be combined with a tummy tuck for more comprehensive results than a tummy tuck alone can accomplish. The tummy tuck flattens the stomach, while liposuction addresses other areas such as the flanks, bra bulge, thighs, or back.

Dr. Will can help determine which procedure is best for you during your consultation.

Schedule Your Liposuction Consultation

If you are interested in liposuction, call Dr. Will today at 301-874-1707 to schedule your consultation. We serve patients in Urbana and surrounding areas.