What Makes a Good Candidate for Smartlipo®?

Before scheduling a consultation or talking to a cosmetic surgeon, many people seeking a cosmetic treatment such as liposuction will first try to figure out on their own whether they’re a candidate for the procedure. Most of the time, a person’s candidacy for a treatment can be determined only through discussion and examination during an in-office body contouring or Smartlipo® consultation at my Coeur d’Alene office. However, there are a few guidelines that I always consider. While these points aren’t the only factors, they do help to guide our discussion and simplify the decision.
If you find the following statements to be true, you may be a good candidate for Smartlipo liposuction.

You have areas of fat that do not respond well to normal diet and exercise.

Smartlipo is not a weight loss procedure. It does, however, remove unwanted areas of fat. Often, the fat in areas including the flanks, upper and lower abdomen, arms, and thighs does not respond well to diet and exercise, no matter how much time you spend at the gym. Smartlipo can be an effective solution for these areas.

You do not have excessive loose skin.

Smartlipo is great for treating unwanted fat. And, it has the added advantage of tightening skin as well as creating shorter recoveries by decreasing bleeding and swelling. However, there is a limit to how much skin any laser can tighten. If you have experienced massive weight loss and have significant thinning, loose skin in the area you want to target, or you have significant abdominal wall muscle weakening you may have better results from a different type of body contouring procedure, such as a tummy tuck. This procedure repairs weakened muscles and removes larger areas of fat and excess skin. During a consultation, I can help you determine which treatment is best.
You can see in the before-and-after pictures below that this patient has some stretch marks, but does not have excessive skin on her lower abdomen, but does have excess fat across the entire area. The Smartlipo treatment produced a smooth, more toned abdominal area.

You can take a few days to rest after the procedure.

Smartlipo is less invasive than abdominoplasty (tummy tuck), but it still requires a few days of rest and recovery. Most patients take about 2 days off work to ensure they’re fully recovered and comfortable. You’ll still experience some swelling and soreness for a few weeks after the surgery, so it’s best not to plan the surgery immediately before any major events or vacations.

You are in good general health.

As a medical doctor and surgeon, I always put your health and safety first. It’s important that your body is strong and healthy enough to undergo a Smartlipo surgery and make a swift, successful recovery. The procedure requires local anesthesia and prescription or over-the-counter pain medication for recovery. Plus, I encourage you to maintain an active lifestyle and healthy diet after your surgery to maintain your results. We call it “protecting your investment.”

You have realistic expectations.

Everyone’s body is different, and everyone’s results are equally unique. While I can’t make you look like someone you aren’t or turn back the hands of time, I can help you achieve the best contours and shape possible at the time of your surgery. During our consultation, we discuss your goals in depth so that I have a solid understanding of the results you’re looking for. I also provide an idea of the limitations of the treatment to ensure we are on the same page. My most satisfied patients go into their procedures with realistic and reasonable expectations.
So do you think you’re a candidate? If you’re interested in finding out more about body contouring and Smart lipo and you’re from Spokane or Kennewick, WA, or other communities near my Coeur d’Alene office, ®®I invite you to contact our office for a consultation. Use our online form, and your consultation is free.