Can a 14 year old get liposuction?

There is a lot of pain for a 14 year old who weighs 240 pounds.  Liposuction is not the answer.  It is easy for us to say that she needs to lose weight but I understand the difficulty in accomplishing that goal.  I have patients tell me frequently that they can't lose weight.  Then we start counting their calories and find that they are eating much more than they realize and way more than they admit to anyone else.  There are solutions available but no quick fixes.  I recommend evaluation at a dedicated weight loss center.  Not a place that promises miracles for a price.  She needs a place that will evaluate her medically and then devise a plan for her that will work long term.  For some teens, the answer may be bariatric surgery such as gastric bypass.  Flowers Hospital in Dothan has a bariatric center.  Surgery may not be the answer for her but they should be able to direct you to the appropriate place for an evaluation.  Their number is 334-944-7095.Good luck to you and her.  I hope you can find an answer that will help her now and into the future.

Thanks for the question. There's no age limit or ideal age for Liposuction. However, patients must be over 18 years of age.

First, liposuction is not a weight loss procedure, and will not help your daughter actually lose weight. Liposuction is best for adults who have small areas of fat they can’t seem to lose. It does not cause a significant amount of weight to be lost, it contours the body for a better shape. Second, I would generally not recommend liposuction to a young teenager even if they were a good candidate, because teenage bodies go through a lot of changes and the best course of action is simply to start and maintain a healthy diet and lifestyle. Learning good diet and exercise habits at a young age is important, and will last her a lifetime. It may take her a while to lose all the weight she wants, but if she keeps up good habits she should definitely be able to get to the weight and body she wants eventually. Try a nutritionist and/or personal trainer if she can’t seem to lose weight on her own, and a therapist might be a good idea for her insecurity issues.

Being significantly overweight as a 14-year-old
is challenging both emotionally and physically. Unfortunately, there are no
easy answers, as I'm sure you've learned. Liposuction is not a weight-loss
procedure. It's designed to remove small areas of stubborn fat for patients who
are already at or near their target weights. If you haven't already done so,
make an appointment with the girl's pediatrician to discuss a comprehensive
weight-loss plan. I wish you the best of luck.

Liposuction is NOT a weight loss tool and if someone is overweight they should see a weight loss expert/nutritionist/trainer to get started on the right path to improvement.  Best, Dr. Emer.