Age 59. Am I too old to have liposuction? (photo)

Question

Hello, I am a 59 y/o women. Years ago I had coolsculpting on my inner thighs, banana rolls and abdomen. I feel as though the lipo on my inner thighs resulted in Paradoxical Adipose Hyperplasia but I can't say for sure. As my photos will attest, coolsculpting had no effect...IMO it made the area worse. I understand that removing fat will result in sagging skin, especially at my age. Is there anything that I can do to improve this? Would lipo with skin tightening be an option?

Arif Eroglu, MD · Answer

CoolSculpting-type cryolipolysis can cause excessive hardening of fat tissue and increased vascularization in the treated area. Although the fat may seem easily accessible from the outside, performing liposuction in these areas can be challenging. The extraction of fat becomes more difficult, and the risk of bleeding is higher. Even with Vaserlipo technology, removing the fat can be complicated. As a result, the expected outcome from liposuction may not be as satisfactory as anticipated. It is important to consider this when choosing your treatment.

Finny George, MD · Answer

Hi, thank you for sharing your question. It’s hard to assess skin laxity through photos but liposuction with skin tightening should address any of your concerns.

Raffy Karamanoukian, MD, FACS · Answer

Body contouring procedures have become increasingly popular and can help men and women recontour their body in adulthood. If you have stubborn areas of fatty accumulation that are more resistant to diet and exercise, you may be a candidate for body sculpting liposuction performed at Kare Plastic Surgery in Santa Monica. Liposuction remains one of the most popular procedures in cosmetic surgery and allows patients to slim and toned their waist line, back, arms, and legs using this minimally invasive and highly coveted procedure.

Among the most common areas to have liposuction performed is the waist line and stomach area. This makes liposuction an excellent alternative to a tummy tuck or mini tummy tuck. If you have had fluctuations in weight, you may benefit by recontouring the waistline and abdomen using liposuction. Patient with excessive skin in the lower abdomen from childbirth or from excessive weight loss may not respond well to liposuction because the extra skin will continue to hang. In these patients, and abdominal plasty procedure is preferred.

Best, 
Dr. Karamanoukian 
Realself100 Surgeon

Daniel Barrett, MD · Answer

Dear peakdog,

it is hard to tell for sure without an examination. Your age is not a contraindication for surgery. If you are considering surgery, I would suggest you consult a board-certified plastic surgeon. Only after a thorough examination, you will get more information and recommendations.

Daniel Barrett, MD
Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

Chet Mays, MD · Answer

Thank you for your inquiry! We would love to sit down with you in person and discuss your concerns and your options. Schedule a consultation with a Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon to assist you in reaching your goals!

Emmanuel Mallol Cotes, MD · Answer

Thanks so much for your inquire, 
as long as you're in good health! Many people in their 50s and 60s undergo the procedure successfully. However, there are a few important factors to consider

If your skin is loose, liposuction alone may not give the smoothest results. Some people combine it with a skin-tightening procedure like a tummy tuck. Maintaining a stable weight and a healthy lifestyle will help you keep the results long-term. If you're in good health and have realistic expectations, liposuction can still be a great option

Sincerely, 
Dr. Emmanuel Mallol

Gary M. Horndeski, MD · Answer

Your age is not a contra-indication to liposuction.  Liposuction removes only the fat but the skin may hang afterwards.  You may benefit from surgical excision as well as liposuction.

Best Wishes,

Gary Horndeski, M.D.

David Hansen, MD · Answer

Liposuction would do great for you and the idea of getting skin tightening at the same time is the only option for almost everyone.  It is easy and does work well but bodytite, morpheus and quantum are the best safe skin tightening methods around.

Jeffrey M. Darrow, MD · Answer

While liposuction can decrease the volume of the excess fat underneath your skin, it will not change the quality of your skin. With each passing decade, the quality of everyone’s skin gets less elastic with less snap-back.  Therefore, you have to temper the expectations of people who are in their 40s and 50s about what results they can achieve from liposuction. Being too aggressive with liposuction can leave  contour irregularities that are very difficult to fix.  The skin tightening modalities, which are presently on the market give underwhelming results, so can’t be expected to give tight skin.  Your overall shape and contour appears to be very good and if you are accepting of some slightly loose skin, a volume reduction could be accomplished with liposuction. Best wishes.

James Knoetgen, III, MD · Answer

Great question — and you're definitely not alone in asking this! The short answer is no, 59 is not too old for liposuction, especially if you are in good overall health and have realistic expectations. However, there are some important things to consider, particularly in your case with possible Paradoxical Adipose Hyperplasia (PAH) and your concerns about skin laxity.
1. Addressing Paradoxical Adipose Hyperplasia (PAH)
PAH is a known, though rare, complication of CoolSculpting, where the treated fat actually grows instead of shrinking. It can result in firm, lumpy areas of fat that do not respond to diet, exercise, or further non-invasive treatments. The most effective treatment for PAH is usually liposuction or sometimes surgical excision, depending on the severity.
Since you're not 100% sure you have PAH, it would be smart to consult with a board-certified plastic surgeon who is familiar with post-CoolSculpting complications. They can do an in-person assessment and confirm whether you are dealing with PAH or just stubborn fat and skin laxity.
2. Liposuction at 59 — What to Expect
•	Fat removal itself is not age-limited. However, skin elasticity tends to decline with age, so the skin’s ability to “snap back” after lipo will likely be reduced.
•	You’re correct that removing fat from areas like the inner thighs, banana roll, and abdomen could leave behind some sagging skin.
•	That’s why many surgeons combine liposuction with skin tightening procedures, especially for patients in their 50s and 60s.
3. Options for Skin Tightening with Lipo
There are several ways to improve skin tone after liposuction, including:
•	Renuvion (J-Plasma) — This is a very popular minimally invasive skin tightening treatment often done alongside lipo. It uses radiofrequency (RF) energy combined with helium plasma to contract and tighten skin.
•	BodyTite — Another RF-assisted liposuction (RFAL) technology that can shrink and firm skin while removing fat.
•	Morpheus8 Body — This is a non-surgical option that uses microneedling with radiofrequency to tighten skin. It’s often done in the months following liposuction to further enhance results.
•	Surgical options (if skin laxity is significant) — In cases of severe sagging, a thigh lift, tummy tuck, or other skin excision procedures may be necessary to get the smoothest result.
4. What’s Realistic at 59?
You can absolutely improve your shape and contour with lipo + skin tightening, but it’s important to set realistic goals. A skilled surgeon will:
•	Tailor the procedure to your skin type and age.
•	Combine techniques (lipo + skin tightening) to get the best results.
•	Be honest about the potential need for more invasive skin removal procedures if tightening alone isn’t enough.
5. Next Steps
•	Consult with a plastic surgeon experienced in treating PAH and working with older patients.
•	Ask about combining liposuction with skin tightening tech like Renuvion or BodyTite.
•	If your skin is already quite loose, consider whether a lift might be a better option (thigh lift, mini tummy tuck, etc.).

Age 59. Am I too old to have liposuction? (photo)

Answers (13)

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