I am 18 years old and I’m a female. For the past 4 years I’ve been on medication because of my depression and I’ve noticed that I’ve gained ALOT OF weight. My doctor put me on a “diet” but yet nothing is working. I’ve worked out and eat smaller portions of my food. STILL nothing. I was wondering could I get liposuction? (not sure if my insurance would cover it thought?)
0 Answers
Dr. Ellen Janetzke wrote on :
Unfortunately that is a common side effect of antidepressants and liposuction is for contouring, not weight loss. Your insurance would not cover the cost either. I would keep working on that diet and exercise and with your primary doctor. There are more “medical” ways to help with weight loss now including weight loss surgery. You could consider looking into a weight loss center affiliated with a local hospital for this help as well. Some hospitals have what is called a Bariatric Center that should be very helpful to you also. Good luck to you!
Dr. Janet Turkle wrote on :
Liposuction is not a weight loss treatment. Liposuction is best for diet and exercise resistant fat in those who are within a reasonable range of their ideal weight. Liposuction is considered a cosmetic procedure and would not be covered by insurance. Many medications can cause weight gain. Work with your physician to see if there is another medication you can take that does not have the same weight side effect. You might also consider seeing a physician for a medical weight loss program. Ask your doctor for a referral. Good luck!
Dr. Ronald Stefani wrote on :
I understand your frustration but liposuction is not a weight loss alternative. It is a body contouring technique aimed at localized areas of fat excess needing to be shaped. I would recommend a return to your doctor to investigate other weight loss options.
Regards,
Dr. Stefani
Dr. Gustavo Galante wrote on :
Weight gain is a common side effect of many of the anti-depressive medications. Liposuction is always an option, but one must be evaluated to see if they are good candidates for this procedure. Losing weight takes a lot of work, and it does not happen quickly. It is best to try conservative methods (i.e. diet and exercise) prior to considering surgery. It is very unlikely that an insurance company will cover liposuction for this reason.