Budget cuts for our defense department and more stringent enforcement of fitness standards among military personnel have resulted in a new trend among our nation’s troops. Many solders, particularly in the Army and Marine Corps, have been undergoing liposuction in order to meet fitness standards. This trend, commonly referred to as “military lipo,” is being performed to help military personnel meet the “tape test,” an assessment that evaluates the ratio of circumferences of a person’s neck and waist in order to determine their body fat percentage. According to the tape test, a larger waste is typically associated with a higher body fat percentage. Most of the members of the Armed Services seeking military liposuction are in their mid-30s or 40s. For these people, liposuction may be their only hope to trim the few inches off their waste necessary to pass the tape test. In most instances, these people are in excellent shape; however, they simply have a few stubborn areas of fat in their abdominal region which makes it difficult to get the results they need for the tape test. Service members who do not pass the tape test must spend months in a vigorous exercise and nutrition program. In addition, failing this test for the first time may impact a service member’s ability to earn promotions. Subsequent failures can result in discharge from the military. In order to undergo liposuction, military personnel must get permission from their commanders since the liposuction recovery time may impact their ability to be ready for an upcoming mission. To learn more about how liposuction can help you eliminate stubborn pockets of fat which have been resistant to diet and exercise, please contact Philadelphia liposuction surgeon Dr. David Bottger today.