The most fundamental step in a cosmetic surgery procedure such as liposuction is to determine a patient’s candidacy. Until the patient is deemed fit and appropriate for liposuction, they cannot be cleared for this surgery. The surgeon will closely examine various aspects before recommending liposuction to the right candidate.
Dr. Kristi Hustak is a board certified female plastic surgeon providing liposuction and other body contouring procedures. During the initial consultation process, Dr. Hustak will evaluate the candidacy and give her best advice to a patient. She provides liposuction to patients in Houston, Texas, and surrounding communities.
Who is an Appropriate Candidate?
A suitable candidate for liposuction plastic surgery procedure will be a healthy adult with stable body weight ranging within 25 pounds of their ideal weight, and who is unhappy with the stubborn fat pockets in certain areas of the body that do not respond to diet and exercise.
Candidates who want to undergo procedures such as tummy tuck, breast reduction, mommy makeover or body lift may also sometimes benefit from liposuction to achieve more targeted results.
Who is Not a Candidate?
The following people should avoid liposuction surgery:
- A woman who is pregnant or breastfeeding
- A person with a health condition that could interfere with surgery or healing
- Smokers who are unable to quit the habit for at least the time period stipulated by the surgeon
- Patients who are advised by a physician against discontinuing certain prescription medications that could adversely impact the surgery
- People with a known allergy to lidocaine, a local anesthetic commonly used in liposuction procedures
Liposuction for Teen Candidates
In rare situations, the surgeon may approve the candidacy of a teen for liposuction surgery, particularly if they have undergone a major weight loss and are bothered by one or two lingering fat pockets. The teen’s health status, age, emotional makeup and self-esteem will be assessed to determine candidacy in such cases. Teen candidates may have self-esteem issues that can be addressed with a limited contour correction with liposuction.
Liposuction for Adult Candidates
Age limitations are not specifically outlined for liposuction, but the adult candidate should have a reasonably good level of health and fitness to sustain the surgery and anesthesia. Some candidates may have to undergo a few tests or consult with their physician to be more confident about their candidacy for liposuction.
An apparent degree of skin elasticity in the affected area must be present in order to achieve optimal results with liposuction. The patient should know that liposuction is not a skin tightening surgery, and only a fat reduction procedure. However, a candidate may be accepted if they are willing to combine liposuction with a body lift procedure to address skin laxity.
Skin laxity concerns are more pertinent for older patients seeking liposuction. Experienced female cosmetic surgeon Dr. Hustak receives patients from Houston, Texas, and nearby areas for liposuction surgery.
Reasonable Expectations
A decent candidate for liposuction will be realistic about the results. Liposuction is not a weight loss procedure, and will not remove wrinkles, cellulite or stretch marks. Only about 10 pounds of excess fat may be removed from a localized site.
For more information on procedures and treatments provided by board certified female plastic surgeon Dr. Kristi Hustak please call us to schedule a consultation at 713.322.7265 or click here. Offices in Houston, Texas.
