215lbs, diabetic - am I a good candidate for liposuction?

Hello, liposuction is not a weight loss method. In liposuction, 5-6 liters of fat can be removed at a time. Therefore, it is important to be close to your ideal weight before this operation. Otherwise, if your diabetes is under control, you can safely have the operation. However, once you lose some weight, your diabetes will become more regular and your healing process and outcome will be better.

Thank you for your question regarding whether you’d be a good candidate for liposuction, despite being a diabetic and weighing 215 pounds. First, I would suggest you try to lose as much weight as possible. This will help to control the diabetes and lead to a better plastic surgery outcome. However, if it’s impossible to lose weight and if your diabetes is stable, you can consider abdominal liposuction. Liposuction is ideal for patients who have isolated areas of fat. Liposuction targets fatty deposits. Before any surgery is contemplated, however, you need to be medically cleared by your internist and be sure that your hemoglobin is within normal limits and your blood sugars are controlled. I hope this helps.

Sincerely, Dr. Katzen. (“Verified” Plastic Surgeon, President of the American Society of Bariatric Plastic Surgeons, certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, Fellow of the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, American College of Surgery, and International College of Surgery and member of the American Society of Plastic Surgery, American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery and RealSelf Hall of Fame.)

If your blood sugars are well controlled and you have no other medical problems, you can likely proceed with surgery. Healthy people at their ideal weight with a BMI of 30 or less should have the best overall recovery from lipo, but some of this will depend upon the surgical technique and adherence to postoperative protocols. Liposuction will allow you to have stubborn fat resistant to exercise and diet removed from unwanted areas. If the waist was smaller at one time, the waist can likely be reduced to those same measurements or smaller provided the muscular and fascial integrity has remained the same.

You need a formal evaluation by an expert in body shaping and contouring to determine what is best. You will likely need to lose weight first before undergoing any cosmetic procedure to get the best outcome. For best results, it is recommended to be at your ideal or stable weight before getting a sculpting liposuction procedure. Liposuction is not a weight loss procedure; rather, it is for sculpting, defining and removing problem areas that cannot be removed with weight loss, diet and exercise alone. If skin is very loose before surgery, then it will need to be removed: tummy tuck/abdominoplasty for lower abdominal skin; breast lift for excess breast skin; and/or a brachioplasty for loose arm skin. In the meantime, I recommend getting a formal evaluation with a bariatric doctor or dietitian. Best, Dr. Emer​

Having controlled diabetes should not prevent you from having plastic surgery. However, your surgeon will request that you obtain labs and medical clearance prior to surgery to ensure you are a good surgical candidate. I recommend locating a board certified plastic surgeon to discuss your options.