Liposuction is a cosmetic procedure that removes fatty tissue from the body. It’s often used to reduce the appearance of cellulite, but it can also be used to treat a variety of other conditions.
It’s one of the most popular cosmetic procedures in America, with more than 1 million procedures performed per year. Liposuction has become increasingly popular in recent years as more people are seeking ways to improve their appearance and self-esteem.
Liposuction for the elderly is becoming an increasingly common procedure as well. As people live longer and healthier lives, they’re staying active later into life than ever before. This can lead to changes in body shape that may not be desired or healthy. While there are many ways to lose weight, liposuction can help you reach your goals faster and with less effort than dieting alone.
Liposuction will not only remove fat but also help tighten skin and muscles around areas like arms and thighs where fat has been removed. This helps give you a smoother contour without needing additional surgeries such as tummy tucks or breast lifts later on down the line!
Right here on Cosmeticsurgerytips, you are privy to a litany of relevant information on liposuction after 60 years old, liposuction age limit, liposuction cost, and so much more. Take out time to visit our catalog for more information on similar topics.
Liposuction For Elderly
Liposuction is a surgery that permanently removes fat. It is not a good alternative to dieting. Ideal liposuction candidates are older than 18, in good general health and already undergoing a healthy diet and exercise regimen. Liposuction primarily is performed on the:
- Abdomen
- Hips
- Outer thighs
- Inner thighs
- Inner knees
- Back
- Flanks
- Buttocks
- Neck
- Upper arms
What to expect after the procedure
Following the procedure, the treated area is bandaged and a compression garment placed over it. The compression garment is worn for one to two weeks. Sutures, unless they are absorbable, are removed five to 10 days after surgery. Post-surgical issues include:
- Pain, which may last as long as two weeks, is usually managed by a prescription or over-the-counter medicine.
- Bruising lasting up to two weeks.
- Swelling lasting two weeks to two months.
- Numbness lasting several weeks.
- Possible drainage in the treatment area, depending on the surgical technique.
Most patients can go home the day of the surgery, though they will need to have someone else to drive them home. Patients receiving general anesthesia are generally discharged at a later time. Post-operative mobility is limited, depending on the procedure. Patients can resume normal activity several days to several weeks following surgery, depending on the procedure.
Final results will be apparent one to six months following surgery, depending, in part, on how quickly swelling subsides.
How to prepare for the procedure
Before the procedure, an ASDS dermatologist will review the patient’s medical history. This is the time for the doctor and patient to discuss expectations, potential risks and outcomes of the procedure. In addition:
- No blood-thinning drugs should be taken for at least two weeks prior to surgery.
- Smoking must be avoided for at least two months prior to surgery.
Possible Risks
Like any surgery, liposuction carries certain risks beyond temporary and minor side effects. Though rare, serious complications can occur. These include:
- Allergic reaction
- Infection
- Skin damage
- Tissue damage
- Skin necrosis
- Puncture of an internal organ
- Contour irregularities
- Blood clots
- Toxic reaction
- Fluid imbalance
Ten common misconceptions about liposuction
Liposuction is one of the most frequently performed cosmetic surgical procedures in the United States and around the world. This is somewhat surprising, considering how many misunderstandings about it persist. Listed below are the ten most common liposuction misconceptions we hear as plastic surgeons, and what the actual facts are:
Liposuction can help you lose weight
The reality is that most patients only lose about two to five pounds in total. The best candidates, in fact, are generally within 30 percent of a healthy weight range and have localized fat pockets they would like to reduce.
Liposuction can treat cellulite
Cellulite is not simply an irregular pocket of fat – it occurs when subcutaneous fat pushes connective tissue bands beneath the skin, causing those characteristic dimples and bumps. Because liposuction is only able to remove soft, fatty tissue (and does not directly affect the skin or other tissues), the fibrous connecting bands causing cellulite are not altered.
Liposuction is not for “older” people
Any patient who is in good health and has had a positive medical examination may safely receive liposuction. A lack of firmness and elasticity (both of which commonly decrease with age) may compromise the skin’s ability to re-drape over newly slimmed, reshaped contours. Poor skin quality is one of the main contraindications to liposuction.
Liposuction is dangerous
While every surgery carries an element of risk, liposuction techniques have become increasingly sophisticated. If performed by an experienced and board-certified plastic surgeon, and if the patient follows all appropriate postsurgical instructions, liposuction can be as safe and successful as any other surgical procedure.
Liposuction will fix lax skin
The appearance of a double chin or a heavy tummy may involve some degree of sagging skin with reduced elasticity, as well as excess fat. In such cases, your surgeon may recommend a skin tightening procedure instead of (or in conjunction with) liposuction, as liposuction alone may result in a deflated appearance.
Fat deposits removed will return after liposuction
Liposuction is “permanent,” in that once the fat cells are suctioned out, they will not grow back. However, there will still be some remaining fat cells that can grow in size and expand the area if one’s calorie intact is excessive. The best way to prevent this is to maintain a healthy diet and exercise regimen.
Liposuction is the “easy way out”
As mentioned earlier, liposuction is not a weight loss method, and maintaining ideal postsurgical results should include a general commitment to a healthy lifestyle. Liposuction (or any other body contouring method, for that matter) is targeted to streamline and contour localized areas – ideally, in someone who is within a healthy weight range.
You can get back to your routine right after liposuction
While relatively safe and frequently performed on an outpatient basis, every surgical procedure entails a recovery period, and liposuction is no exception. The most common after-effects include swelling, bruising, and soreness at and around the treatment areas. While the healing process varies from patient to patient, most should plan to take at least a week off work to rest and recover. It may be four to six weeks before a patient can resume strenuous activity or exercise.
Liposuction is only for women
Men frequently request liposuction – in fact, it was one of the top five most popular cosmetic surgeries American men received this past year, according to ASPS statistics. Common areas for treatment include the abdomen, love handles and chest.
Liposuction is always the answer to belly fat
Liposuction targets only subcutaneous fat – the kind that is located below the skin and above the muscle. An abdomen that protrudes due to fat under the muscle and around the internal organs (known as visceral or intra-abdominal fat) will not be improved with liposuction. Appropriate exercise and diet are the only effective methods to combat visceral fat.
Liposuction Age Limit
It’s a question we hear often, especially on social media. The ageing process affects everyone differently. For some patients, growing older can mean that you’re no longer a good candidate for liposuction due to things like skin laxity or other health conditions. However, the number of candles on your birthday cake alone isn’t something that will disqualify you from getting liposuction. That’s why here at Houston Lipo Center we don’t have an upper age limit – we treat each case individually.
There is no upper age limit on liposuction
Let’s talk a little bit about what makes someone a good candidate for liposuction so we can see how ageing affects (or does not affect) your ability to get liposuction. The ideal candidate for liposuction is going to be within 20-30 pounds of their ideal weight, in good general health, and has good skin laxity. They should also have reasonable expectations about their results, should not be actively gaining weight, and shouldn’t be using liposuction as substitute for weight loss.
As we age, our body goes through a number of changes, but skin laxity is the most important consideration with older patients investigating liposuction. Liposuction removes fat and can be coupled together with treatments to improve skin laxity and retraction post-surgery, but it primarily removes fat – it’s not a treatment for loose skin.
We see many patients at age 50, 60, or even older who have good skin laxity for their age. They won’t have the same glowing healthy skin as they did when they were 20, but their skin is still healthy and has enough elasticity that they can still see good results from fat removal via liposuction. Even at 60 years old, there are still many patients that are great candidates for lipo.
Everyone’s body ages differently
The biggest issue with liposuction is skin laxity. Some doctors like to say that there’s your chronological age (your actual number of years alive) and then there’s your physiological age (how old your body appears to be). If your skin is fairly tight – it does not hang and when you pinch it, it retracts quickly – then there’s a good chance you’re a candidate for lipo!
On the other hand, if your skin is loose, you may need a different procedure such as a tummy tuck or a face lift – otherwise removing fat in the area can just make loose skin more visible
While skin health always has a genetic component, there are many environmental factors that greatly impact the physiological age of your skin, such as:
- Smoking
- Dehydration (including living in drier climates)
- Vitamin deficiencies (such as Vitamin D)
- UV exposure (too much time in the sun or tanning beds)
- Stress (including traumatic events)
All of these factors cause your skin to age faster than someone else and become less able to “bounce back” after liposuction, so it’s important to take care of your body if you want liposuction in the future.
Other factors that might disqualify someone from liposuction include health conditions, especially cardiovascular disease. These diseases aren’t necessarily linked to age, but they often develop later in life as a result of both unhealthy lifestyle choices and genetic factors.
This is one of the reasons some surgeons may not accept patients over a certain age – as we age, you are less statistically likely to be a candidate. But we consider every case and don’t reject any candidate because of age. If you are in good general health and have good skin laxity, you’re very likely still a good candidate for lipo!
Lipo over 60 is possible, but adjust your expectations accordingly
Liposuction for older patients is absolutely possible, however as we’ve mentioned you should also have realistic expectations. Lipo will not give you back the body you had when you were 20 or 30 years old, and your skin retraction post-surgery likely won’t be as good or as fast as younger patients. But as long as you keep realistic expectations about the improvements to your body shape that liposuction can provide, you can absolutely get lipo at any age.
As always, liposuction is a surgical procedure and requires downtime and recovery. As you get older, that recovery can be more difficult and take longer, so make sure you plan enough time to recover.