What % Body Fat Do I Need to Avoid Liposuction During a Body Lift?

I do a lot of Body Lift operations and i think about this as a sculpting or shaping session.  i will use whatever modality necessary to create the shape that the patient wants.  Sometimes that means liposuction even for very slender people.

For instance (and this is a common occurrence for me), the fat pad in the lower back or flank region is quite resistant and difficult to lose even after gastric bypass surgery.  if i am trying to give someone a nice silhouette, it may be in our best interest to suction that area in order to achieve that result. 

i have also seen many people who are very thin all around except, perhaps, for their knees.  For some it's the inner thgihs, but it could be anywhere.

So, don't be so fixated on your body fat analysis.  Lose what you can in a healthy manner.  Then when your weight is stable, come to see one of us for body contouring.

It's not unusual to develop loose, saggy skin after massive weight loss. When this situation arises, your body fat percentage is far less important than the amount of loose skin and it's location.Your pictures suggest that you would benefit from a lower body lift. This could be followed at a later date by an upper body lift combined with breast reduction surgery. Despite your best efforts to optimize your condition preoperatively, many patients still need fine tuning with liposuction.If you're considering massive weight loss surgery, it's important to consult a board certified plastic surgeon. This surgeon should be able to formulate a treatment plan that addresses your anatomic findings and achieves your aesthetic goals.

Dear Chase,
Congratulations on your weight loss!  Great job!  Typically, plastic surgeons do not operate on numbers or specific body fat percentages; we operate on body areas that need to be restored.  To obtain the best possible result from your 360 body lift, I would suggest appropriate diet, exercise and have a stable weight for 4 months.  These factors are far more important than percentage body fat.  Most of my 360 body lift patients do not need liposuction during their procedure.  Typically, rather than use liposuction, I excise areas of fat.  Good luck with your weight loss journey.  Sincerely, Dr. Katzen