Mukta
Bariatric Dietician & Content Writer
Candidate Criteria for Liposuction and Patient Selection Process
What is Liposuction?
Lipo meaning lipids or Fats and suction is suctioning out. It is a technique in which adipose tissues or fat cells from the body’s specific areas like thighs, hips, stomach, buttocks, neck and arms are removed via vacuum suction.
Liposuction reshapes specific areas of the body through a process known as contouring. During this procedure, fat cells are permanently removed from the body using suction.
Types of Liposuction:-
Suction-assisted liposuction – This is the most frequently used method, it involves the insertion of a mixture of saline solution and medicine into the body cavity to help remove fat through suctioning.
UAL- Ultrasound Assisted Liposuction – Metal rod is inserted in the fat deposited sections of the body causing the fat cells to loosen up and then break down thus easing the suction.
LAL- Laser Assisted Liposuction – A laser is put in through a small cut that breaks down the fat deposits then via tub fat is extracted.
PAL- Power Assisted Liposuction – Thin tube that vibrates back and forth is sent in the fat deposits which helps to remove the fat more precisely and quickly.
Who all are eligible for liposuction?
Not all candidates are eligible for liposuction, trained personnel are required to identify the ideal candidates.
Criteria for Liposuction include-
Criteria for liposuction is based on various factors including age, medical history, presence of any disease condition, weight status, type and location of fat tissues present, elasticity of skin, patients opinion on liposuction surgery.
Age
Generally the individual must be above 18 years of age to be considered eligible.
Comorbidities
Should not be suffering from any chronic illness that might hinder wound healing.
A thorough medical evaluation is necessary to check for any medical condition like diabetes, heart diseases, immune disorders to avoid any post surgery complications.
Weight
Individuals should have a stable weight history at least 6 months prior to surgery
BMI should be within 30% of ideal BMI range (25 to 29.9 kg/m2). Liposuction works best for the ones having stubborn fat deposits for a longer duration of time that did not respond to diet and exercise.
Fat deposits
As explained above, liposuction works on specific localised fat deposits rather than generalised obesity. Individuals must possess localised fat deposits in the areas of the thighs, hips, stomach, buttocks, and arms from which fat can be suctioned out.
Skin health
Individuals having elasticity of skin and fairly good muscle tone get to see good results. Individuals having firm and elastic skin are more likely to have visible results post fat removal. Poor skin elasticity can lead to sagging skin or loose skin post liposuction.
Smoking
It is not recommended for individuals who smoke frequently or use e-cigarettes to undergo surgery. They should quit smoking at least 4 weeks prior to the surgery to minimise the risk of healing complications.
Outlook towards surgery
It’s important to understand the possible results and limitations of liposuction. People should have realistic expectations about what liposuction can do for their bodies, aiming for body contouring rather than major weight loss.
Additionally, it’s important to evaluate if someone has Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) through a questionnaire. People with BDD often have persistent concerns about their body image and appearance, and they may have high expectations and numerous questions following surgery
Patient selection process:-
The patient selection process must include consultations, medical evaluation, physical evaluation and safety assurance of the individual. Considering all the above mentioned criteria is essential along with-
Medical evaluation- Detailed medical history to check for comorbidities, ongoing medications, underlying medical condition, diagnostics test and biochemical parameters assessment.
Physical examination-To check for weight, fat deposits, muscle tone and skin elasticity of the body.
Discussion of options- the technique that is to be used for surgery like tumescent, ultrasound assisted etc. should be discussed beforehand with patient
Setting achievable goals and knowing patient’s expectations
Acceptance of patient- If the individual is ready to work on guidelines on diet and exercise, lifestyle modifications, smoking cessation and medical adjustment then only the patient should be considered for surgery so as to avoid post surgery complications.
If or not ready to follow all the preoperative instructions.
