Whether liposuction is the right decision for you depends on a number of factors, and will require a consultation with a medical professional – it’s not something that can be fully answered in an article. What we can do is provide you with information on what liposuction is, who is a good candidate, and what liposuction can and can’t achieve so that you can get a better understanding of whether it’s something you want to do. Ultimately a consultation with a qualified surgeon is going to be required to know whether you’re a candidate and whether liposuction is right for you.
Are You A Candidate, and What Are Your Goals?
We can separate the question “Is lipo right for me?” into two main parts – whether you’re a good candidate for lipo, and whether lipo will achieve the results you want. A good first step is asking yourself, “What do I hope to accomplish by having lipo?” While a surgeon can tell you whether you’re a good candidate for the procedure, the larger question of whether lipo is the right choice for you depends on what you’re hoping to achieve. Some patients may be good candidates, but have unrealistic goals – for example, achieving a specific waist size, developing visible abs, or other goals that liposuction alone cannot achieve.
BMI and Liposuction
There is no maximum BMI limit for liposuction (BMI doesn’t really tell the full story about someone’s body fat) and we won’t turn you away for a consultation because of BMI numbers. However, lipo is generally going to be better suited for those who are at a healthy weight, and you’ll see the best results when it’s combined with diet and exercise.
Liposuction is not a substitute for weight loss, and though there have been some reported health benefits, liposuction is a cosmetic procedure. It won’t improve high blood pressure, diabetes, or cardiovascular disease.
Is Liposuction Right for You?
As we’ve already mentioned, the best way to determine whether you’re a candidate is an in-person consultation with a trusted surgeon – that’s the first step. However here are some general guidelines and things to think about as you’re considering liposuction.
Liposuction may be right for you if:
- You’re in good health and within about 20lbs of your ideal body weight.
- You want to reshape specific parts of their body by eliminating stubborn fat.
- You have firm, elastic skin and healthy muscle tone.
- You’ve tried nonsurgical methods like diet and exercise, but still have some stubborn areas of fat that just won’t go away.
- You have a healthy body image and positive outlook, but want to make some changes to your body shape.
Liposuction may not be right for you if:
- You have loose, saggy skin or poor skin elasticity.
- You have a diastasis recti (a post-pregnancy bulge created by abdominal muscle separation).
- You want to eliminate cellulite. Liposuction is not a treatment for cellulite.
- You are obese, actively gaining weight, or are looking to change your entire body. Liposuction is not a replacement for diet and exercise, and your results will not be as good if you continue to gain weight after your procedure.
- You have a negative body image and are wanting to “fix” yourself with liposuction. Liposuction is a tool to achieve a desired result – it won’t make an unhappy person happy.
These are just guidelines and there will be some exceptions and gray areas. For example, some surgeons may not perform liposuction on patients with some loose skin, but others might be willing to. In these cases it’s important to have an understanding of how things like loose skin may impact your results, and make sure that will still achieve an outcome that you’ll be satisfied with.
Scheduling a Consultation
Again, the best way to understand whether you’re a good candidate for liposuction is to take a consultation with one of the qualified surgeons at Houston Lipo Center. We offer free in-person consultations at our office in Houston.
Schedule a consultation for liposuction in Houston Texas at our Heights office – or give us a call today (713) 987-3028 for any additional questions.