After Liposuction How Much Weight Can You Lose?


Written by Virginia Surgical Arts on .
After Liposuction How Much Weight Can You Lose?
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Key Takeaways:

  1. Average Weight Loss: Liposuction typically results in the loss of about five to eleven pounds of fat. It’s important to note that the primary goal of liposuction is body contouring, not significant weight loss.
  2. Purpose of Liposuction: The procedure is designed for removing stubborn fat in specific areas, reshaping the body rather than reducing overall body weight significantly.
  3. Fat Removal vs. Weight Loss: The fat cells removed during liposuction do not regrow, but gaining weight post-procedure can lead to the development of new fat cells in treated areas.
  4. Realistic Expectations: Liposuction is most effective for individuals close to their ideal body weight and is not a solution for obesity or a substitute for weight loss through diet and exercise.

Not feeling satisfied with how your body looks when you stand in front of a mirror is an experience shared by many men and women. Losing weight in certain areas, like your stomach or thighs, can be difficult and leaves many unsatisfied even after major weight loss. If you have stubborn fat and want to know how lipo can help you, contact the professionals at Virginia Surgical Arts at 757-430-7690. Our office specializes in Smartlipo®, a revolutionary technique of removing stubborn fat and tightening your skin via laser technology.

How Much Weight Do You Typically Lose With Liposuction?

before and after comparision of liposuction

While most people lose an average of five (and up to 11) pounds of fat after liposuction, weight loss is not the ultimate goal. The goal of liposuction is stubborn fat removal for body contouring, cleaning up those areas that just don’t seem to respond to diet and exercise, so you can look and feel the way you want.

While losing five pounds from diet and exercise might not seem to make a significant difference in your shape because it’s evenly distributed, losing five pounds of fat through liposuction will reshape the areas of your body that have been bothering you, shaving off inches and improving your comfort in your skin.

Your surgeon will calculate your body mass index, or BMI, before approving you for liposuction. Knowing your BMI can help your provider determine how much fat can be safely removed and help you establish realistic treatment goals. Surgeons will not approve patients who are underweight before the procedure or who will be underweight after the procedure.

Stubborn Fat vs. Vital Fat in Liposuction Procedures

While some fat in your body may be excessive and unnecessary, other fats are vital or essential. Vital fats play an important role in your overall health and well-being; they give you energy, support cell growth, protect your organs, keep your blood pressure and cholesterol down, and help your body absorb the nutrients it needs.

Liposuction aims to eliminate stubborn, excess fat in problem areas while preserving healthy fats. Everybody needs some fat, and removing all fat isn’t a realistic goal. Instead, your board-certified surgeon will target unwanted fat without risking your long-term health and well-being.

Will Fat Cells Grow Back After Lipo?

The fat cells removed from your body during lipo will not return, but new fat cells can return to the treated area. If you have liposuction surgery, plastic surgery like a tummy tuck, or another weight loss procedure, unwanted fat will return if you gain weight later. The best way to prevent fat from returning to the treatment area is to maintain a healthy diet and physically active lifestyle after your liposuction procedure.

Choosing whole foods and a diet rich in fruits and vegetables can help you maintain the look you achieve through your Smartlipo® body contouring procedure.

Where Can This Procedure Be Used?

woman measuring her waistline

The most common treatment area is the abdomen, but liposuction can treat almost all areas of the body. In fact, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved it for use on knees, ankles, neck, face, hips, arms, abdomen, lower back, bra area, under the buttocks, love handles, breasts, and thighs.

At Virginia Surgical Arts, we can safely treat more than one area at a time, which means we can tackle multiple problem areas in one session. Visit your plastic or cosmetic surgeon to develop a treatment plan that can be completed in a single procedure. Many patients have their love handles, abdomen, and lower back done in a single appointment, for example, to achieve their treatment goals with the shortest recovery time.

What Are Some of the Misconceptions of Liposuction?

Patients often express that they have not explored liposuction because they had misconceptions that led them to believe they were not eligible for the procedure. Let’s address those common misconceptions so you can make an informed decision about your next steps.

Lipo is Not for Older People

Age is not a qualifying or disqualifying factor for liposuction. Providers who perform cosmetic procedures like this will conduct a thorough assessment to ensure each patient is healthy enough to 1) safely undergo the procedure and 2) achieve their desired results. The likelihood that a patient will meet those criteria can decline with advancing age, but a healthy lifestyle can make liposuction safe despite advanced age.

Results Are Immediate

You will not leave Virginia Surgical Arts with your dream body after your liposuction procedure. Like any surgical procedure, there is downtime and recovery time. While you will have less fat volume when you leave, you will notice bruising, swelling, and soreness that can take several days to subside. You will see final results several weeks or even months after your procedure.

Only Women Can Have Lipo

Both men and women want to look and feel great in their skin. At Virginia Surgical Arts, we see both men and women seek out liposuction and other cosmetic procedures that help them get rid of fat deposits, feel younger, and build confidence. It’s important that we continue to promote accessibility to services for all people.

Any Surgeon Can Perform Lipo

Legally, all surgeons can perform liposuction, but your results will depend on your surgeon’s knowledge, experience, and skill in cosmetic procedures like liposuction. For the best results, seek a surgeon board certified and / or fellowship trained in cosmetic surgery.

Should I Get Liposuction or a Tummy Tuck?

Liposuction produces the best results in patients with subcutaneous fat and good elasticity. If you have excess skin in the treatment area, you may have low elasticity, and you likely won’t achieve the results you want through liposuction. While a tummy tuck is more invasive and requires incisions, it’s much more effective in treating patients with extra skin.

Will I Be a Good Candidate for This Procedure?

During your initial consultation appointment, your surgeon will conduct a thorough examination, including a review of your medical history and your treatment goals and expectations, to determine whether you are a good candidate for liposuction.

The best candidates for body sculpting through Smartlipo®:

  • Are not underweight now and will not be underweight after the procedure and recovery are complete
  • Do not smoke now or are willing to quit smoking well in advance of their liposuction procedure
  • Are in good health overall — liposuction requires your body to respond and do some of the work
  • Understand the recovery time and guidelines and are willing and able to comply
  • Willing and able to follow all of the pre-operative and post-operative instructions provided
  • Have realistic expectations about their experiences during and after surgery, including end results

Additionally, liposuction is not an ideal weight loss method. This procedure is designed to remove up to eleven pounds of fat — five on average — and is not designed to address obesity. Rather, liposuction is a cosmetic surgery designed to contour your body. Overweight or obese people are not ideal candidates for liposuction; it’s safest for those at the top of a healthy weight.

Ready to See What Smartlipo® Can Do for You?

Are you ready to find out what your body can look like with a little minimally invasive help? Contact the team at Virginia Surgical Arts today to schedule your initial consultation appointment, where you will find out whether you’re a candidate for Smartlipo® and what to expect.

Written By Virginia Surgical Arts