Am I a Good Liposuction Candidate?

Liposuction is one of the most popular forms of cosmetic surgery in the United States today. While the surgical process was not designed as a massive weight loss method, it can do amazing things to help patients slim down isolated pockets of excess fat.

Still, not everyone with body fat is a good candidate for liposuction in Portland, OR. Below, we've compiled a list of the top factors that make someone a good liposuction candidate.

If you have been considering liposuction for yourself, read over the list to find out if you might be ideal candidate for an eligible liposuction candidate.

What Makes a Good for Portland Liposuction Candidate ?

You are bothered by localized deposits of excess body fat.

This is the number one complaint of people who get liposuction: They want to reduce pockets of excess body fat. These pockets may be in numerous places on the body, including the:

• Abdomen
• Thighs
• Buttocks
• Upper arms
• Upper back
• Flanks (lower back and sides)

You are healthy and don't have any serious medical conditions.

Patients seeking the benefits of liposuction should be in good physical health overall. This means no active infections or serious illnesses or diseases that may complicate recovery or put the patient in danger during surgery. Dr. Aghayan will perform a physical examination and may order additional lab tests or scans to be sure each patient is in adequate health before getting liposuction surgery.

You are a nonsmoker.

Smoking can put patients at risk, especially during recovery. Liposuction patients should be nonsmokers. If you smoke and want to get liposuction, talk to Dr. Aghayan about quitting long-term or at least for the period before getting surgery.

Your skin elasticity and relatively firm.

Liposuction can have dramatic effects on the skin. It will be tugged and manipulated in all different ways during the procedure.

Because of this, it is important that your skin elasticity is enough to bounce back after being stretched and contoured. This doesn't mean that your skin has to be super taut, firm, and wrinkle-free. But it should be fairly elastic, especially in areas like the tummy where skin can often become lax.

You are within 10 to 15 lbs. of ideal body weight.

Liposuction is not a solution to lose weight . It is a way to get rid of stubborn fat that is hard to lose with normal weight loss methods. Those who are significantly overweight or obese will not be good candidates for liposuction because it simply will not provide the results they're looking for.

If you have a high BMI (body mass index) and are considering liposuction, it may be a better idea to try to lose weight through diet and exercise. Once you are within 10 to 15 pounds of your goal body weight, liposuction will be a better option and can help you drop those last few pounds.

You've tried to lose areas of subcutaneous fat through diet and exercise but have had a hard time.

The best candidates for liposuction have already tried to drop those last few pounds on their own — through healthy dieting and physical activity — but their success has been limited or have fat resistant issues.

It is true that some people are fat resistant to even the strictest diets and the severest workout plans. If you are within 10 to 15 lbs. of your goal weight and haven't been able to get rid of fat pockets with your current eating and workout plan, liposuction can help permanently reduce that last bit of bulk.

You understand Dr. Aghayan's recovery instructions and will follow through with proper care after the procedure.

How you handle your recovery from liposuction can make or break your results. Ideally, you will know and understand all elements of Dr. Aghayan's plan and will study it well and follow it through. If you do, you will be left with amazing liposuction results you can be proud of.

You have a positive outlook, and your expectations are realistic.

Lastly, be sure you are prepared for this surgery and have a healthy outlook — both mentally and emotionally. It's important to be in good health before liposuction, but your mental health is equally critical.

While this procedure can definitely give you a boost of energy and self-confidence, plastic surgery is never the answer to all of someone's problems.

Choosing Your Liposuction Options

At your liposuction consultation appointment is where you'll be able to discuss your liposuction options with Dr. Aghayan. Be sure to have an idea of what you are looking to get out of surgery before attending this appointment.

In addition to a brief physical examination and a discussion of your medical history, you will also have time to engage in the following discussions regarding your surgery:

Selection of Where on Your Body You Want Liposuction

Where would you like to slim down? Most men and women are interested in reducing excess body fat on their abdomen, flanks, upper and lower back, sides, thighs, upper arms, and/or buttocks. However, liposuction can be performed on even more locations on the body as well, so be sure to be honest with Dr. Aghayan about what exactly you're looking for.

In many cases, Dr. Aghayan will be able to make recommendations for you as well. Some patients come into their consultation appointment not knowing exactly where they want liposuction but simply knowing that they would like to slim down overall.

Another option that is related to slimming down and liposuction is a Brazilian butt lift or a fat transfer breast augmentation. In both of these procedures, liposuction is used to extract fat from the body. This fat is then processed and reinjected into the body where the patient wants to add volume.

For instance, many women — and men as well — are interested in adding volume and plumpness to their hips and buttocks. In this case, Dr. Aghayan can slim their abdomens with liposuction and then reinject the extracted fat into the hip area to create more of an hourglass figure.

Option of Combining Liposuction With Other Cosmetic Procedures

If you have any other areas on your body that you would like to improve, do not hesitate to bring this up with Dr. Aghayan. Liposuction is a surgical procedures that is often combined with other procedures.

For example, many patients combine a liposuction with a tummy tuck. Liposuction's and tummy tucks are often confused because they may be performed in the same area. Tummy tucks, as the name implies, are of course always performed on the abdomen. Liposuction can be performed on the abdomen as well.

The difference between liposuction and abdominoplasty is that liposuction removes fat, and a tummy tuck reduces excess skin and tissue. When combined, abdomominoplasty and liposuction procedure can slim the abdomen of all excess fat, tissue, and skin.

Women who are finished having children often combine a tummy tuck with liposuction and a breast surgery such as a breast lift, breast augmentation, or breast reduction. Combined, these surgeries can make up what's called a mommy makeover. Of course, patients can combine tummy tucks with other surgeries as well, including gynecomastia surgery and more.

Requirements for Liposuction Recovery

Dr. Aghayan will provide you with detailed aftercare instructions on the day of your surgery, and it is of the utmost importance that you follow through according to these guidelines. While it may take up to three months to see your full liposuction results, you should be able to see a marked improvement in swelling and other symptoms by the three-week mark — and even further improvements at six weeks.

What to Expect Right After Liposuction

Right after your surgery, it is normal to have some bruising, swelling, and moderate pain. These symptoms will go down with time, and Dr. Aghayan can also provide you with options for pain management.

Liposuction is an outpatient surgical procedure, so you'll be able to go home shortly after getting out of the operating room. Don't forget to have someone lined up to take you home, and be sure to wear the compression garments you are provided with.

What Not to Do After Liposuction

It's important not to rush things after liposuction. Be sure to take it easy for at least a week or so, so that you can give your body the time it needs to recover and heal.

During your recovery, you should wear your compression garments, drink plenty of water, and get plenty of sleep. Here are some things you should avoid after liposuction:

• Sun tanning outdoors or in a tanning bed
• Taking hot showers or baths
• Swimming
• Using saunas or hot tubs
• Drinking alcohol
• Smoking
• Lifting heavy things
• Vigorous physical activity
• Making sudden, jerky movements

What to Expect 3 Weeks After Liposuction

Many patients want to know what to expect three weeks after liposuction or thereabouts. Basically, at this time, the pain and soreness will have dissipated. There may still be some swelling near the incision sites, however, and this is quite normal. Still, the swelling will have gone down significantly by this time.

At about the three- or four-week mark, you may be able to return to light physical exercise. Of course, this will be at Dr. Aghayan's discretion, so always refer to his direct guidance where your liposuction recovery timeline is concerned.

FAQ: Liposuction in Portland, OR

Is liposuction permanent?

Yes. Liposuction is a permanent cosmetic procedure. Fat is permanently removed from the body, and generally speaking, it cannot grow back. At the same time, it is possible for someone who has had liposuction to gain weight in other areas of their body and for the remaining fat cells to swell over time.

How long does it take to recover from liposuction?

It will take several weeks before liposuction patients can return to their regular physical activities. A few days after surgery, however, patients should feel markedly better. Swelling and bruising will continue for around 10 days to two weeks.

How much weight can you lose with liposuction?

Liposuction is not a weight loss cosmetic procedure. Instead, it can help remove small packets of unwanted fat from areas like the flanks, upper arms, and abdomen. Before getting liposuction surgery, most patients must be within 10 to 15 pounds of their ideal weight.

Does Liposuction Leave Scars?

Yes, liposuction will leave small scars on the body. This will be the case with any surgery that involves incisions — no matter how small they are.

The good news about liposuction scars is that they will be extremely small, and Dr. Aghayan will make sure that the incisions are made in discreet locations so that they are hardly noticeable after healing has taken place.

One way to make sure that your scars are as hidden as possible is to follow your aftercare instructions closely during recovery. Do not go out in the sun during recovery, refrain from any extreme physical activity, stay away from hot showers and baths, and care for your incision sites as directed by Dr. Aghayan.

Is arm liposuction worth it?

Arm liposuction is common for older men and women and those who have recently lost a significant amount of weight — either naturally through diet and exercise or with surgery.

The upper arms are an area of the body where fat can often accumulate, but it can be hard to reduce with diet, depending on your body type. In this way, liposuction may be the only answer.

Can you get liposuction on your breast?

In some situations, liposuction may be used on the breasts. This is usually done when a breast reduction surgery takes place. However, more often than not, liposuction is used on the abdomen, buttocks, thighs, upper arms, upper back, and lower back.

Are You a Good Candidate for Liposuction? Find Out Today

There is only one real way to know if you are a ideal candidate for liposuction. And that's by meeting with Dr. Aghayan directly for a liposuction consultation.

Make your appointment today by giving Après Plastic Surgery a call, and start your journey toward a slimmer, more confident you!

References

https://www.plasticsurgery.org/cosmetic-procedures/liposuction/candidates

https://www.uofmhealth.org/conditions-treatments/surgery/plastic/cosmetic/body/liposuction

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/11009-liposuction