In 2024, liposuction was the top cosmetic surgery performed. It’s a highly sought-after procedure since it removes unwanted fat from the body.

It might seem like patients range from all backgrounds and ages, and that anyone can walk into a clinic and receive liposuction. However, there are various requirements to determine if you’re a good candidate, and that includes your age.

So how old do you have to be to get liposuction? What other things should you know about liposuction requirements? Find out more by reading on.

How Old Do You Have to Be to Get Liposuction?

If you’re asking about the legal age limit for liposuction, then there’s no real official number. 

With that said, most surgeons will follow professional guidelines and ethical considerations when they decide who’s a suitable candidate for liposuction. In general, candidate ages will fall between 18 and early to mid-60s.

However, there’s more to determining the right age for liposuction, so let’s go into more detail below.

Lower Age Limit for Liposuction

In most countries, the legal age for undergoing surgery without parental consent is 18. But even within the United States, the lower age limit varies.

Basically, these laws are in place because teenagers’ bodies are usually still developing; at 18, the process is typically finished. For liposuction, this means that fat distribution has stabilized enough to predict lasting results. Also, you can give legal, informed consent for surgery as an adult.

However, surgeons are still cautious with teen parents. Even if patients meet the legal age and/or have parental consent, medical professionals usually prefer patients to be in their early 20s before considering any sort of cosmetic procedure, unless there’s a medical necessity.

This is because even though fat distribution has stabilized, there may still be hormonal shifts during late adolescence that can affect where your body stores fat. If you do liposuction too early, then the results can be “undone” by these changes.

There’s also the psychological part of things. For instance, many body image issues are influenced by temporary social pressure or self-esteem struggles, which are likely to resolve in the near future without the need for surgery.

Plus, cosmetic procedures have permanent results. You must be psychologically ready; patients’ decisions have to be self-motivated and based on realistic expectations.

Special Cases Where Liposuction Is Done Under 18

It’s rare, but liposuction has been done on patients under 18.

For example, a teen may have lipedema, which is a chronic fat distribution disorder that can cause pain, swelling, and mobility issues. Or they may need post-trauma reconstruction, where uneven fat deposits are removed after an injury. Another issue may be congenital conditions; a teen may have fatty growth abnormalities that cause functional and/or emotional distress.

In these cases, parental or guardian consent is mandatory. In addition, a psychological evaluation is recommended for the patient. Most importantly, the surgeon has to document that the liposuction is done primarily for health and function, not just aesthetics.

Upper Age Limit for Liposuction

As for the upper liposuction age limit, it’s a bit looser. There’s no official “maximum age,” and healthy individuals who are in their 70s or even 80s can be good candidates for this procedure. Do note that surgeons assess older patients more cautiously, as age can complicate surgery in older adults.

You might already be aware that older adults have looser skin. This is because skin loses collagen and elastin over the years, and this makes it harder for the skin to retract smoothly after fat removal. As a result, there may be sagging after liposuction, so combining it with skin tightening or lifting procedures is recommended.

Liposuction after 60 years old also comes with a slower recovery process. Circulation slows and cellular repair processes become less efficient with age. This means that it may take longer for the following to disappear:

• Bruising
• Swelling
• Incision healing

In addition, older patients are more likely to have chronic conditions that increase anesthesia risks and slow healing. Conditions of concern include:

• Heart disease
• Diabetes
• High blood pressure
• Lung conditions

If you have to take medications (such as blood thinners, diabetes medications, or certain heart drugs) for those conditions, then these can further complicate surgery and recovery.

Key Factors That Matter More Than Age

If you’re interested in liposuction, “How old do you have to be for plastic surgery?” shouldn’t be the question you’re asking. Instead, it should be, “What key factors make me an ideal candidate for liposuction?”

The first is your overall health. You must be cleared by your primary care physician, have no uncontrolled chronic illnesses, and have a healthy BMI (generally 18.5-30). Ideally, you should be a non-smoker who eats a balanced diet and gets regular exercise.

Not only should you have a healthy BMI, but your weight should also be steady for at least 6-12 months. Keep in mind that liposuction isn’t a weight-loss method; instead, it’s for shaping and contouring, so you should be near your goal weight (within 30%).

Your skin quality is important too. Elastic and firm skin will contract better post-procedure. If you have loose skin, then the surgeon may recommend a lift or tuck with liposuction.

Lastly, but most importantly, you should be mentally and emotionally ready. A good candidate will view liposuction as an enhancement, not a cure for deeper self-esteem issues. And you should have self-driven motivation, understanding both the benefits and risks.

See If You’re a Good Candidate for Liposuction

Now you have a rough age range for the question, “How old do you have to be to get liposuction?” In general, patients can be as young as 18 or as old as 70.

What’s more important is that you’re healthy, have elastic, firm skin, and have an excellent mindset. Combine these factors with an outstanding plastic surgeon, and you’ll have great results.

Contact us now to discuss liposuction if you’re interested and think you’re a good candidate. Dr. Valdez is a board-certified surgeon with certifications from prestigious organizations, such as the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS).