Who Is a Good Candidate for Liposuction?

Liposuction, sometimes referred to as lipo, is one of the most popular aesthetic procedures on the planet. At Sule Facial Plastic Surgery Clinic in Dallas, TX, we are proud to offer this procedure because we believe strongly that everyone should feel self-confident. However, surgery isn’t right for everyone. Today, we’re taking a look at who generally qualifies for this procedure and answering some of the most frequently asked questions about the surgery process.

Who Is a Good Candidate for Liposuction?

Someone With a Normal Body Mass Index

As a general rule of thumb, you can expect to be considered a good liposuction candidate if you have a normal body mass index. It is important to understand that this is a fat removal procedure rather than a weight loss procedure. The closer you are to your goal weight, the more likely it is that lipo will be both safe and effective for you. If you don’t know your BMI, you can plug your height and weight into an online calculator to find out.

Someone With an Overweight Body Mass Index 

Another general rule is that you will qualify for liposuction if you have an overweight body mass. However, you need to come in for an initial consultation to verify this procedure will be effective and safe for you. If you have too much excess fat in an area of concern, this procedure may not provide satisfactory results. If you suffer from obesity, there is a strong likelihood that you don’t qualify for surgery.

Someone Who Is Free From Chronic Conditions 

There is an excellent chance you will be considered a good lipo candidate if you are free from chronic conditions. However, there is still a possibility that you will qualify even if you suffer from certain chronic conditions. For example, you will be considered a poor fit for this procedure if you suffer from uncontrolled diabetes. On the other hand, if your diabetes is well-managed, you may qualify for surgery.

Someone Who Doesn’t Plan To Become Pregnant

We want you to feel satisfied with the results of your procedure. For this reason, lipo may not be appropriate for you if you want to get pregnant later. The results of this procedure are considered permanent because your body can’t grow new fat cells once you reach a certain age. However, it only removes a percentage of the fat cells in the treatment area.

The fat cells that remain in the treatment areas can still expand to store fuel for future use if an excessive amount of calories are consumed. Most pregnancies result in weight gain, and a lot of pregnancies result in fat gain. 

Someone Who Has Enough Excess Subcutaneous Fat

Other Frequently Asked Questions Answered

How Much Weight Loss Can I Realistically Expect?

Even though lipo is not a weight loss procedure, you can expect a drop on the scale after surgery. How much weight loss you can expect after surgery depends on a number of factors, like the number of areas you are removing fat from, how much subcutaneous fat you have in your areas of concern, and your weight.

If you are already at your goal weight and just want to improve your contours a bit, you may only have a pound or two of fat removed during your procedure. If you are very overweight and targeting several large areas, you may be able to lose closer to 10 or 11 pounds of fat. During your initial consultation, we will advise you on how much fat can be removed safely in a single session and how much fat you have to be removed.

Can I Lose More Weight After Surgery?

Yes, you absolutely can lose more weight after surgery. However, you may not want to try losing weight during the first couple of months post-op. Your diet is a critical component of the recovery process, and you may find it a little hard to lose weight and get all of the nutrients you need to recover quickly from surgery.

What Nutrients Should I Focus on Getting After Surgery?

Protein is the most important macronutrient for rapid surgery recovery. Protein is made up of amino acids, and your body breaks down the protein into its components during the digestion process. These amino acids are used to serve a number of roles. Three of them in particular are used to create collagen, a very special type of protein that plays an integral role in helping your skin heal itself.

The most important micronutrient you need to focus on consuming during your recovery period is vitamin C. This micronutrient, like protein, is essential for collagen. You need an adequate supply of it to fuel your existing collagen and produce more.

How Much Water Should I Drink After Surgery?

Hydration is another key component of the recovery process. Your urine should be pale consistently if you want your incision sites to heal as quickly as possible. Some people only need to drink six to eight cups of hydrating fluids, like water and black tea or coffee, daily to remain hydrated. Other people need to drink closer to 16 cups of hydrating fluids daily.

Two of the most significant factors affecting how much you will need to drink every day are your body mass and activity level. As a general rule, the more you weigh, the more water your body will need to keep itself healthy. Also, as a general rule, the more active you are, the more hydrating fluids you will need to drink every day. However, exceptions apply. For example, you may not need to drink as much water and tea if you eat lots of produce and broth-based soups.

How Much Should I Exercise After Surgery?

You should try to get at least 30 minutes of gentle cardio most days during your recovery period. Cardiovascular exercise is essential for your cardiovascular health. A strong cardiovascular system will facilitate a rapid recovery because it transports nutrients, oxygen, human growth factors, and much more to the incision sites so your skin has the ingredients it needs to heal itself. 

It is more important that you get gentle aerobic exercise consistently than the specific aerobic exercise you get. For example, a slow bike ride over a minuscule grade, a stroll through the neighborhood, and an easy yoga session will all get your blood flowing better and support the health of your cardiovascular system.

Can I Get Vigorous Exercise After Surgery?

You will not be able to get vigorous exercise for the first six to eight weeks following your procedure. Your body requires a lot of energy to heal itself after surgery. Also, it is vital that you do not elevate your blood pressure too much during the first couple of months of your recovery.

For this reason, it is important that you also avoid some other things, like taking hot baths or showers. The hotter you are, the more you can expect your blood pressure to increase. Also, you should not lift anything weighing more than 10 pounds.

How Much Should I Sleep After Surgery? 

You should do your best to get nine consecutive hours of sleep nightly after surgery.