Common Reasons for Liposuctions in Charlotte

Liposuction is a procedure that uses suction to remove fat from targeted areas of the body. Other names that liposuction is known by include body contouring, body shaping, and lipoplasty. Liposuction targets stubborn fat deposits that are resistant to diet and exercise, but it is not a weight loss method.

The best results are achieved by people who have reached their desired weight but still have small fat deposits that create an imbalanced body shape. During your consultation with our board-certified plastic surgeon, Dr. Jeffrey Ditesheim, he will discuss some common reasons for liposuction in Charlotte and answer your questions to help you reach an informed decision.

Common Reasons People Choose Liposuction Surgery

Liposuction offers many benefits in the hands of a qualified plastic surgeon who can customize the procedure to meet your needs and goals. The following are just some of the common reasons that people in Charlotte consider liposuction:

Body Image and Contouring

Your body image is how you perceive your physical appearance. Having a positive body image promotes greater self-acceptance and self-confidence. However, a negative body image contributes to low self-esteem, anxiety, or eating disorders. Body contouring procedures like liposuction can help adjust your physical appearance to meet your aesthetic goals. This is a healthy way of addressing stubborn areas of fat that have resisted healthy dieting and exercising. It prevents you from resorting to an unbalanced means of addressing your cosmetic concerns.

Stubborn Fat Deposits

Not all fat in your body is the same. Some areas of your body are more resistant to losing fat despite your efforts with healthy dieting and exercising. These pockets commonly accumulate around the abdomen, thighs, hips, and upper arms. Several factors play a role in how fat is distributed and why some areas are more resistant.

These factors include genetics, hormonal changes, aging, and medical conditions. Procedures like liposuction treatments can help address these resistant fat deposits and may be done independently or in combination with other surgeries. For example, you might consider liposuction in combination with a tummy tuck to reveal a smoother, more toned abdomen.

Pregnancy

Pregnancy and breastfeeding can change a woman’s body, sometimes permanently. During pregnancy, fat deposits are added to help support the growing baby and nourish the mother. However, after the baby is born, not all women can easily lose extra fat deposits in their back, along their bra line, abdomen, hips, and thighs. Despite diet and exercise, these fat deposits sometimes don’t budge. Liposuction can help restore your pre-pregnancy body, especially when combined with other techniques.

Significant Weight Loss

After significant weight loss following bariatric surgery or other techniques, you may have excess skin that requires surgical removal. However, it’s also not uncommon to be left with fat deposits in your abdomen, upper arms, and back that have resisted your best efforts. When excess skin removal is combined with liposuction, it reveals the results of all your hard work.

Health Conditions

Liposuction is primarily a cosmetic procedure, but in certain circumstances, it can help alleviate some health conditions. For example, gynecomastia is a medical condition in which men develop excess fat in the breast tissue, causing enlarged breasts. Lipedema causes painful fat buildup in the legs and arms and lipomas are benign fatty growth.

Each of these conditions responds well to liposuction. Removing excess fat can help improve mobility and body proportion and reduce the discomfort associated with the condition. While insurance companies do not commonly pay for cosmetic procedures, when those procedures are considered medically necessary, you may receive some coverage. It is worth speaking with your insurance provider to determine the required documentation for prior authorization.

Added Benefits of Liposuction Surgery

While these are some common reasons that people in Charlotte choose liposuctions, there are added benefits. For example, liposuction surgery is permanent and long-lasting. The fat cells removed during the procedure are not regenerated. This means that if you maintain your weight, the results will only be altered by the aging process.

Liposuction uses very small tubes or cannulas to suction out fat. This leaves minimal scarring compared to other types of cosmetic surgeries. The procedure is minimally invasive and can target specific areas of your body like the:

• Abdomen
• Bra line
• Lower back
• Hips
• Thighs
• Upper arms

The improved silhouette and body proportions make it easier to find clothes that fit and, in turn, improve your self-confidence.

Are You the Right Candidate?

Before choosing liposuction, Dr. Ditesheim will determine if you are the right candidate. The optimal candidate for liposuction must be in good general health without any underlying health conditions that could increase the risk of complications during surgery or affect the outcomes of the procedure.

Liposuction is not a weight loss option so you must have achieved your desired weight and been stable for several months. Liposuction is most effective when you have resistant fat deposits in specific areas of your body, such as:

• Under your chin
• In your upper arms
• On your abdomen

You must have realistic expectations of the results. While it can significantly improve your body shape, it’s not a substitute for healthy life choices. Although fat deposits are permanently removed, significant weight gain can cause fat in those areas to grow again and alter the results.

Finally, candidates who get the best results also have good skin elasticity. After fat deposits have been removed, the skin must rebound to accommodate the new body shape. Without good skin elasticity, you could be left with excess sagging skin.

Call to Schedule Your Liposuction Consultation in Charlotte

Call our office today and schedule your consultation with Dr. Ditesheim to learn more about the reasons people commonly request liposuction in Charlotte and determine if you are a good candidate for the procedure.