Who is Eligible to have Liposuction?


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Liposuction is not a suitable treatment for everyone. For example, your treatment expectations may not coincide with the actual treatment or your medical history may complicate the surgery. You should be open with your surgeon about your medical history and any medications that you are on as they could cause serious complications in the surgery.

Expectations of Liposuction

If you expect that liposuction will cause you to lose a lot of weight on a permanent basis it is not the treatment for you. Liposuction is not a weight loss technique; it is about re- shaping the body to give it a sleeker appearance. If you undergo liposuction expecting to lose weight, not only will you be disappointed but also it is also likely that you will gain weight after treatment causing you to put more fat back on the treatment area. As a result of this liposuction is not eligible for those who want to lose weight and you should consider other options such as an abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) or a gastric band.

Weight and Liposuction

People who are overweight or obese are not normally eligible for liposuction. This is because the amount of fat that can be removed by liposuction is limited. Therefore, if you have large amounts of fat liposuction will be ineffective. If too much fat is removed this can cause severe complications, which can be fatal. It is also likely that if a large amount of fat is removed you will be left with excess skin. As a result of this if you are overweight or obese you should consider other treatment options such as a gastric band or an abdominoplasty.

Medication and Liposuction

If you need to take anti- coagulants, (blood thinners) it is unlikely that you will be able to undergo liposuction, as you would lose too much blood during the procedure. If you are taking anti- coagulants and want liposuction, you should speak to your GP, as it is likely that you will need to stop taking your medication. You must not stop taking your medication without the advice and knowledge of your GP.

Medical Conditions and Liposuction

Certain medical conditions may make you ineligible for liposuction as they could cause serious complications to develop as a result of the surgery. If you have any circulatory conditions or heart disease you are not the ideal candidate for liposuction as the trauma caused by treatment could cause your condition to worsen. You are also at risk of developing complications during liposuction if you are diabetic and as a result of this it is unlikely that you will be eligible for surgery.

Liposuction and Skin Condition

Although liposuction is the removal of the fat beneath the skin and very little damage is done to the skin, the condition of your skin is vital to assessing your eligibility. If your skin has lost its elasticity then you are not a suitable candidate for liposuction. This is because your skin will not be able to mould to the shape of your new body and as a result, you will be left with flaps of excess skin. This means that the older you are the less likely you are to have liposuction.

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