But it’s also true that liposuction can be a life-changer for patients. “It’s been used as a spring board for people who want to change their lifestyle,” says Dr. Doft. “It can make a major change in a couple of hours, and when they look in the mirror, they feel confident and good and are more likely to exercise after and eat properly, and live a better life. I think, particularly after COVID, a lot of people are looking for that better life, and they need that springboard to get started. I’ve watched my patients go through it, and it’s been really nice to see—they start exercise programs and eat better and become more active.” It can help them get over that mental hurdle that might keep someone from starting to work out, for example. “If you don’t feel great about yourself, going to the gym can be pretty intimidating,” says Dr. Doft.
The people getting liposuction right now are typically Gen Xers—patients aged 40 to 54 got 45 percent of all liposuction procedures in 2023, according to the ASPS. “It’s right around the time when people say, ‘Wow, I used to just drop the weight off, or get in shape by going to the gym for a week.’ But as time goes by, bodies metabolize fat differently,” says Dr. Williams. “I’m a Gen Xer, and we’re a generation that came of age with plastic surgery being more acceptable—we’re more conscious that we can [have liposuction to] get contour improvements.”
There’s also the fact that menopause typically starts in your 40s or 50s (the average age of menopause is 51). “We hear patients say all the time that they feel like they were able to control the way they wanted to look with diet and exercise [before menopause], and something is different now and they need a jump start to break through,” says Dr. Williams. “Smaller operations like liposuction are a nice way to get back on track.” (The recovery for liposuction tends to be quick—patients usually return to work in less than a week, and wear compression garments or get lymphatic massage for two to three months, says Dr. Williams. But it doesn’t interfere with their daily activities. The average cost of liposuction is $3,518 per treatment area, according to the ASPS.)
Liposuction’s relatively quick downtime and reliable results have made it “a powerful offering: ‘I have two weeks [off], I want to get results.’ It becomes a compelling option for lots of people,” Julius Few, MD, a board-certified plastic surgeon in Chicago has previously told Allure.