Am I too thin for liposuction?

Question

I am 5'5 and 125 pounds. I want to get liposuction on my stomach, my slight muffin top, my banana roll beneath my butt, and my arms. I am worried I am too thin and will get bumps and ridges if I undergo this procedure. What do you think?

David Hansen, MD · Answer

You are a good candidate for the micro canula tum. liposuction which can really sculpt the areas you need done easily.

Ross Blagg, MD · Answer

Your body appears to be proportional, so I would recommend a less invasive procedure if you want to tone certain areas. Nonsurgical fat reduction treatments, such as CoolSculpting®, can provide the results you're looking for. Consult with a board-certified plastic surgeon to learn about all of your options.

Kenneth Hughes, MD · Answer

The goal of liposuction is to remove fat in those areas which accumulate despite diet and exercise, thus recalibrating the fat stores in a more favorable fashion. Liposuction results are highly surgeon dependent.  If you find a very experienced surgeon, there should not be contour issues even in thinner patients.   I will say that sometimes healing is not perfect, and some results are clearly not technique related.Kenneth Hughes, MD, Board Certified Plastic SurgeonLos Angeles, CA

Alex Campbell, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question.  The ideal liposuction candidate has localized fat deposits and quality overlying skin without significant excess skin or skin damage.  Fat can then be removed to strategically sculpt the body and accentuate feminine curves.  The skin then retracts over the new shape to give the final result. You appear to be a good candidate for liposuction contouring of your abdomen, waist and back to give you a more lean appearance and to maximize feminine curves. That said, you definitely have to choose your surgeon correctly and make sure that he/she has the training and experience to meet your goals with absolute safety.  A key quality indicator is Board Certification by the American Board of Plastic Surgery.  Don’t settle for less than a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon with specialized expertise in this procedure.

Richard G. Reish, MD, FACS · Answer

Hello and thank you for your question. Based on your photograph, you are a
great candidate for waistline contouring liposuction of your abdomen, flanks,
and lower back.  This can greatly improve your overall shape with a
smaller waist.  Make sure you specifically
look at before and after pictures of real patients who have had this
surgery performed by your surgeon and evaluate their results.  The most
important aspect is to find a surgeon you are comfortable with. I recommend
that you seek consultation with a qualified board-certified plastic surgeon who
can evaluate you in person.
Best wishes and good luck.
Richard G. Reish, M.D.
Harvard-trained plastic surgeon

Jason Emer, MD · Answer

You appear to be a candidate for liposuction. For best results, I recommend a hi definition procedure like VASER liposuction. I use VASER HI DEF with ThermRF and fat grafting to get the most fat removal, skin tightening, contour and definition. This combination will give you the most toned result. I recommend getting a formal evaluation with a hi definition physique expert. Best, Dr. Emer

John L. Burns Jr., MD · Answer

For thin patients such as yourself it is important to be conservative and use a very fine cannula to remove the fat.

Jonathan Amspacher, MD · Answer

Your pictures show that you are in good condition and have a minimal amount of excess fat.  If you have a minimal amount of skin laxity you may be better off considering a less invasive means of treatment such as cool sculpting.  The less invasive modalities don't make as dramatic of a difference but you don't appear to need a dramatic amount of volume to be removed.  They would have less down time and no surgical scars.  I don't perform cool sculpting but I would think that you would be the ideal candidate for the minimally invasive procedures because you have minimal correction needed.  Liposuction is a more powerful tool and makes more dramatic improvements when patients need larger amounts of correction and it can be more specifically targeted in some cases.  If you do choose to do liposuction you would want to make sure that the person that you choose does SAFE lipo 3 step technique to help limit the risk of contour deformities.  When you are very thin it is easy to see any areas that are not evenly redistributed after surgery.  The SAFE lipo technique is more work for the doctor performing it but it will give the best chance at an optimal outcome by equalizing the remaining subcutaneous tissue after the procedure. The most important thing is to have realistic expectations.  If you want an improvement in contour these things can help but if you want to reach perfection you may be disappointed with the outcome.  Best of luck on your journey

Patricia A. McGuire, MD · Answer

Liposuction is not a weight loss procedure, it is for shape change, so anyone with localized areas of fat can be considered a candidate. You are correct that you are at risk for contour irregularities, especially if too much fat is removed. Neither you or your surgeon can influence how your skin will tighten after liposuction.  You need to see a plastic surgeon with a lot of Liposuction experience before considering the surgery. I would probably recommend CoolSculpt for you because of the small amount of fat that you have to give the lowest risk of skin irregularity. 
I am similar weight to you and have had liposuction and CoolSculpt and have been happy with the results.

Tania Medina de Garcia, MD · Answer

Hello dear!!
  
Thanks for the question and provided information as well. 
  
Based on your photos you are a good candidate for a liposuction with BBLl, and i think you'll get very good results.
  
The fat transfer, often called Brazilian butt lift has become extremely popular because it allows your plastic surgeon to transform your entire shape. You improve your waist, hips and of course your buttock, to give you a beautiful heart shape.
  
I recommend you to make an appointment with a board plastic surgeon for a good evaluation and to talk about your goals.
  
Good luck :)

Am I too thin for liposuction?

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