What should I think about if I have liposuction?

Only Board-certified surgeons should perform liposuction surgery. The best patient candidates have localized fat deposits that are resistance to both diet and exercise. Favorable areas include: the abdomen, hips, flanks, medial and lateral thighs, lateral breasts. These are areas that often have good skin tonicity and will contract reasonably after sculpting. Post-operative compression garments are vital to help reduce swelling and contour the skin. I place my patients in 6 weeks of post-operative garments for compression. Remember, liposuction is NOT a substitute for diet and exercise and should be done with the patient close to their ideal body weight. 

Liposuction should be done only by a doctor who has special training in liposuction and surgery of the skin and in how to respond to complications during surgery. You will also be at less risk for complications if liposuction is not done at the same time as other cosmetic procedures.

If you are trying to lose weight, liposuction is not a substitute for exercise and a balanced diet. In fact, most cosmetic surgeons agree that the best candidates for liposuction are healthy people who are at or close to a healthy weight but who have stubborn fat deposits that do not respond to exercise.