How Many Areas Can Be Liposuctioned At One Time?
Nearly everyone is bothered by one “problem” area of excess body fat that they would like removed with liposuction. But what if you have two, or three, or even five problematic areas? Is liposuction able to treat multiple areas at one time? In this blog post, Dr. Alexander Ereso explains whether it is possible to address more than one problem area in a single liposuction operation.
Other Factors Are More Important than Number of Treatment Areas
Most plastic surgeons are more concerned with the total volume of fat and fluid removed than the number of treatment areas. The general rule is that not more than five liters of fat should be removed in a single operation when performed on an outpatient basis (that number can be removed from one large surface area or several smaller surface areas). Higher volume liposuction can be done in certain circumstances, however, safety may become compromised. When treating patients of a healthy weight that simply want a bit of sculpting and shaping, it is highly unlikely that five liters of fat needs to be removed (even if multiple areas are treated).
Operating time is another important consideration – the longer the patient is under general anesthesia, the higher the risks. No more than six hours on the operating table is the general rule of thumb. Again, if the surgeon is removing a small amount of fat from multiple small areas, it is unlikely the operation will take longer than six hours.
As long as they meet these criteria, many liposuction surgeries address several problem areas at once. In fact, there are benefits to doing so – primarily the cost savings to the patient and that it requires only one recovery period.
Suitable Candidates for Liposuction
Wondering whether liposuction is right for you? Without meeting you, it is difficult for our doctors to tell whether you are a suitable candidate.
In general, good liposuction candidates are individuals that:
- Are not overweight
- Have tried to sculpt problem areas with diet and exercise (and been unsuccessful)
- Have relatively elastic/firm skin
- Are healthy and free of any serious medical conditions that could compromise the healing process
The best way to verify that you are a suitable candidate is to schedule a personal consultation. The surgeon will examine your body, inquire about your specific areas of concern and ask you to describe your ideal results before confirming that liposuction is the appropriate method of treatment.
Contact Our Liposuction Surgeon
The information in this post is for educational purposes only and does not represent formal medical advice. If you are interested in pursuing liposuction for multiple “problem” areas, you should personally consult with our doctor to learn more.
Schedule your appointment by contacting Alexander Ereso Plastic Surgery and Aesthetics either by phone at (650) 964-6600 or by sending us an email.
