Liposuction rids the body of unwanted fat in areas that are resistant to diet and exercise. While liposuction is considered a body contouring procedure and not a weight loss cure, it can provide changes as well as remove larger areas of localized fat. In fact, liposuction can alter the way you look and feel about yourself. When making the decision to undergo liposuction, psychological reasoning is a big influence on the patient.

Some people with excess fat have insecurity issues with their body shape and size. They may lack self-confidence or have poor self-image issues. In other cases, a woman may have had a more contoured shape that was lost after pregnancy or weight gain. Many women in this position have qualms about their weight gain and desire to regain their pre-pregnancy figure.

Many people feel that liposuction is a way to achieve contentment and develop more confidence. A recent study published in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Journal confirmed that liposuction may improve self-esteem and confidence in certain individuals. The research included an interview with 360 mainly female patients with an average age of 42 years. Of the patients, 219 underwent liposuction while 13 patients strictly had a tummy tuck and 128 had both liposuction and a tummy tuck. The interviews occurred four months after the procedure and targeted both physical and psychological aspects of the surgery. The results showed that 89% of the patients reported they gained more self-confidence and self-esteem after they had liposuction.

A patient who is not content with areas of the body may visit a cosmetic surgeon to “fix” the areas of concern. It is the job of the surgeon to assess the patient physically and mentally to ensure that the patient has an understanding of the procedure and what it can do for him or her. The physician should also be candid with a patient who has unrealistic expectations of what to expect from the procedure and might be disappointed with the results and become depressed. In addition, it can take some getting used to when a patient sees their reflection in a mirror. Their self-image has been altered and this can impact the psyche.

Some patients may have difficulty adjusting to the psychological impacts these surgeries manifest which could alter their lifestyle and overall health. Consequently, a preliminary assessment or screening is usually done to determine if a patient is psychologically fit for liposuction surgery. Patients who are under a lot of stress, or are highly emotional, may not be mentally and physically prepared for surgery. The screening is generally a casual discussion between the patient and surgeon about results and expectations. This discussion is intended to protect patients from the possibility of misguided ideas about what liposuction can do for their body and save them from psychological issues which may negatively affect the patients.

-SP