With the obesity epidemic in the United States affecting children as much as adults, it is understandable that parents are looking for alternatives to help their children lose weight. Many people have even elected to go with liposuction as a way to help their children loose some of the excess fat they are carrying. While there may be some plastic surgeons who would consider doing the procedure on a child, it is very rarely a viable, or even helpful, option for most kids.
Liposuction procedures work by removing excess fat from difficult areas such as the abdomen, buttocks, hips and thighs. Liposuction is a very common procedure among adults and can be quite beneficial, particularly for those patients who have worked hard to slim down and tone up their bodies, but are having difficulty with a few key areas.
Liposuction is not ideal for patients who are looking to lose a large amount of weight, whether that patient is a child or an adult. Adults seeking liposuction should understand that no more than 12 pounds of fat should be removed during any single liposuction procedure. During most liposuction procedures, surgeons only remove 3 –5 pounds of fat on average.
Liposuction is not a weight loss surgery. Liposuction sculpts the body and removes discrete fat deposits. The result is an improved contour of the patient’s body. It is a very safe, outpatient procedure for adults, but most plastic surgeons do not offer liposuction as an option for children. While risks or side effects of liposuction are typically minimal and mild for adults, much greater complications can emerge for younger patients with developing bodies.
Fact is, child liposuction is a dangerous substitute for exercise and improved diet. While the surgery can help adults get rid of excess fat deposits, children actually go through growth periods in their lives where they sometimes need a little excess fat, meaning that a child liposuction procedure could pose more harm in the future than help in the present. Simply put, liposuction can only succeed when the patient has achieved a stable point physically, requiring some body contouring but not anticipating any major changes in weight or growth.
Overall, as with most plastic surgery procedures, children should only consider liposuction as a possible future option, assuming that traditional means of fat reduction are not successful into their adult years. Adults who are looking to tone and sculpt trouble areas are always the best candidates for liposuction, and because it is a relatively safe and simple procedure, most are quite satisfied with their decision.
To schedule a consultation with a licensed surgeon offering Liposuction in your area, or to gather more information on child liposuction and its alternatives, contact us today at 866.471.8873 or via the form on this page.
Find out the facts at a consultation with Sono Bello's Salt Lake City location.
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