Is Liposuction a Weight Loss Tool?

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Losing your unwanted fat in a simple doctor’s office visit seems like a dream come true. But is it really the solution to weight loss?

Liposuction has long been the gold standard for fat reduction. However, despite its popularity, there are still many misconceptions about the treatment, mainly that it can be an alternative to natural weight loss. 

This simply isn’t true. Liposuction is neither a replacement for a healthy lifestyle nor a weight-loss tool. Instead, this procedure is a body sculpting treatment that can remove pockets of diet- and exercise-resistant fat for a body contour that wows!

Let’s talk about what liposuction can do, its limitations, and whether this popular procedure is right for you.

What Can Liposuction Do?

You’ve likely heard of liposuction. After all, it’s one of the top plastic surgery procedures in the United States.

You may even know someone who has had the procedure, and afterward, they had a noticeably tighter and more sculpted body. It probably seemed like a dream come true to you.

But liposuction is not actually the same thing as weight loss. 

Liposuction involves a qualified plastic surgeon making a small incision in the area where you need fat to be removed. A sterile instrument — called a cannula — is then inserted, moved back and forth to loosen the unwanted fat cells, and removed from the body using suction.

With liposuction, fat is reduced from key areas to sculpt your physique and remove persistent fat deposits, but there are limitations to how much fat can be removed at one time. 

Let’s talk about those now.

What Can’t Liposuction Do?

Liposuction cannot:

• Make you lose weight and keep it off.
• Keep you from ever regaining fat.
• Remove the appearance of cellulite and dimpled skin. (Although, it may improve it slightly as the fat underneath is removed.)
• Take the place of diet and exercise.

How Much Fat Can Be Removed During Liposuction?

The amount of fat you can have removed from your body during liposuction will depend upon your health, the area you operate in, and other factors.

The maximum anyone should have removed is three to five liters of fat (roughly 10 to 11 pounds). However, most patients will have less fat than this removed. 

A higher amount of fat removed during liposuction is associated with more post-surgery risks. So be sure to ask your plastic surgeon what they recommend.

Remember to keep your expectations realistic. You should expect a tighter, firmer, and slimmer appearance in the area(s) where you have liposuction. You will not have a whole new body.

What Parts of the Body Can Have Fat Removed With Liposuction?

Many parts of the body can benefit from liposuction. These may include the:

• Abdomen
• Face
• Neck
• Upper arms
• Waist
• Hips 
• Buttocks
• Back
• Thighs
• Knees
• Calves
• Ankles 

Remember that the total amount of fat you can safely have removed during liposuction is limited. Do not expect to have all of these areas addressed all at once. If you are overweight over most of your body, your best bet is to lose weight before liposuction or any other body sculpting procedure.

Should Your Weight Be Stable Before Liposuction?

Your best liposuction results will come from being at a healthy BMI and stable weight.

If you plan on losing significant weight — say, with weight loss surgery — liposuction may not be right for you yet. You will want to see how your body looks and feels after your weight loss surgery so your plastic surgeon can strategically map out your liposuction procedure.

What if You Gain or Lose Weight After Liposuction?

It’s best to wait until you have lost all or most of the weight you plan to lose before having liposuction. And you shouldn’t plan on letting go of healthy eating and exercise habits after liposuction.

Your body will continue to shift as you gain and lose weight. While fat cells removed during liposuction are permanently gone, other fat cells in the area can become larger when you gain weight.

And, of course, when you gain weight, you can gain fat volume in other parts of the body.

How Can You Maintain Liposuction Results?

You know we’re going to say it — but we’ll say it anyway.

The only way to maintain fat loss results is to stay at a stable weight and make sure you are healthy overall.

While the fat cells that have been removed won’t grow back, other fat cells in the area can “fill out” if you adopt or revert to unhealthy habits. 

Do You Have Any Questions About Cosmetic Body Contouring?

If you want to find out whether you are a candidate for liposuction or other body contouring procedures, schedule a consultation with Dr. Bonaldi and his team by calling (775) 238-3051. 

You may also fill out our online contact form for more information.