Do I Need to Lose Weight Before I get Liposuction?
Conveniently located to serve the areas of Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C.
Posted on January 5, 2017 under Liposuction
Cosmetic Surgery Associates, with offices in Bethseda, MD, and McLean, VA, provides a range of cosmetic and reconstructive procedures. Patients looking for plastic surgery in Virginia or Maryland may consider a consultation with Dr. Dean Jabs or Dr. Franklin Richards, who are board-certified plastic surgeons with more than four decades of experience between them. Apart from innovative treatment approaches for breast augmentation, Dr. Jabs and Dr. Richards also provide other cosmetic procedures such as liposuction.
Dr. Jabs is a recipient of the Physician’s Recognition Award from the American Medical Association. With more than 25 years of experience in cosmetic surgery in Maryland, Virginia, and other areas, Dr. Jabs is in a position to provide safe and effective treatments with the best results. Dr. Richards was voted President of the National Capital Society of Plastic Surgeons in 2002 and is the Chief of Plastic Surgery at Suburban Hospital in Bethesda, MD. He is also a fellow of the American College of Surgeons (FACS).
Liposuction
Liposuction or lipoplasty is a fat reduction procedure to reshape targeted areas of the body by removing excess fat tissue. It can help enhance body contours and improve overall proportion. Liposuction is usually well-suited for people who are in fine health and maintain a fair level of body fitness, but still suffer from disproportionate contours and unwanted fat deposits in specific areas. Such a condition may usually occur due to heredity factors, and not really due to a lack of weight and diet control on the part of the patient.
The liposuction procedure is commonly applied to treat stubborn fat deposits in various areas of the body, including the abdominal area, hips, buttocks, thighs, back, neck, arms, chest, inner knee, calves, ankles, chin, and cheeks. Depending on the unique needs of a patient, a plastic surgeon may advise liposuction as an independent procedure or may recommend it in combination with other procedures such as tummy tuck, breast lift, or facelift.
Is it a Weight Loss Procedure?
One of the common misconceptions about liposuction is that it is a weight loss procedure. However, the fact is that liposuction is not designed as a weight loss procedure, but it is meant to reduce excess fats in specific pockets of the body. It enhances contours and body balance and proportion, but may not reduce weight in any significant way. A plastic surgeon may recommend other surgeries that are specifically designed for weight loss, while liposuction may be used as an add-on surgery in such cases later on to improve contours.
Good Candidates
Liposuction is usually a recommended procedure for men and women whose body weight is close to the normal weight according to their height. If such an individual suffers from stubborn fat deposits that fail to respond to exercise and diet, liposuction may be an effective solution. A sparkling or suitable candidate will have a clear idea that liposuction is not a substitute for a balanced diet and regular exercise.
The general health of the candidate should be clean, with no such medical condition that may obstruct healing or pose a risk during the surgery. The candidate should ideally be a non-smoker or should stop smoking for several weeks before and after the procedure, in accordance with the surgeon’s instructions. Patients with drug allergies, previous surgeries, and a family history of certain diseases may have to be evaluated carefully. Realistic expectations and clear goals from the surgery will help a candidate achieve satisfactory outcomes from liposuction.
Losing Weight Prior to Surgery
Liposuction is best suited for patients with average body weight, and having superb skin elasticity and muscle tone. Patients with body weight up to 30 percent higher than the ideal weight may be accepted for liposuction. However, excessively overweight or obese patients may first have to lose weight before they can be considered for this procedure.
The weight should have stabilized to a normal level for a considerable period of time before the surgery. In such cases, the surgery may have to be combined with a body contouring procedure to remove excess loose skin resulting from major weight loss. It is usually an intelligent idea to lose weight through natural means such as a balanced diet and a fitness and exercise program under the supervision of a professional.
Liposuction at Cosmetic Surgery Associates
Cosmetic Surgery Associates in Bethseda, MD and McLean, VA provides the latest cosmetic treatments. Patients looking for plastic surgery in Maryland or Virginia can consult with Dr. Jabs or Dr. Richards, who are board-certified surgeons. For cosmetic surgery in Virginia or Maryland, a range of treatment options, including liposuction are available at Cosmetic Surgery Associates.
Our Plastic Surgery Associates team includes Dr. Franklin Richards, Dr. A. Dean Jabs, and Dr. Keshav Magge. Each of our plastic surgeons is board-certified, and together they have over 60 years of combined experience. Drs. Richards, Jabs, and Magge are all highly qualified in procedures for the face, breast, and body, and pride themselves in providing excellent results through our state-of-the-art, Quad A certified operating centers
