There is a common misconception that you can have lipo for weight loss. Unfortunately, that isn’t the case at all. Liposuction is purely a body contouring procedure. The amount of weight you’ll lose, if any, is minimal. The surgeon only removes a few liters of fat during the surgery. That volume equates to only around a maximum of eight pounds. Therefore, although you may lose a little weight after the procedure, it isn’t a significant amount. In fact, surgeons don’t recommend liposuction for people who need to lose weight.
Can I Have Liposuction If I’m Overweight?
It’s essential to be aware that an ideal candidate for lipo is at or near their ideal BMI. If they are too overweight, surgeons don’t recommend surgery. Not only would the outcome not be as impressive as they’d hoped, but there are also more potential risks. If you’re overweight during surgery, you have a higher chance of experiencing slower healing and infections.
Furthermore, if you’re overweight, it’s best to avoid lipo until you’re close to your ideal body weight. That will ensure that you don’t lose or gain weight after surgery. Doing so could negatively affect your result and mean you need another procedure in the future.
Also Read: Is There Such a Thing as Weight Loss Lipo?
Will I Look Slimmer After Liposuction?
Although the scales may not shift significantly after lipo, rest assured that your shape will improve. You’ll look more contoured and taut with a better silhouette. Your clothes will fit more comfortably and will look better on your figure. You’ll also look slimmer and more toned. As a result, you’ll no doubt feel far more self-confident after your procedure.
Should I Lose Weight Before Having Lipo?
If you want liposuction, you should be at or near your ideal weight. Nevertheless, you shouldn’t go on a crash diet to reach your weight goal just before having surgery. That is a mistake that some prospective patients make. However, it’s a bad idea to take any drastic action to shed pounds rapidly.
You need to be able to maintain your new weight. That is very difficult if you drop dress sizes in a short timeframe by following an extreme weight loss plan. Crash dieting is likely to lead to weight gain once you stop following your eating plan. It’s even possible to regain more weight than you had to lose in the first place. If you have already undergone liposuction surgery, it’s likely that the weight gain will negate the benefits. You’ll therefore need to undergo a further procedure to restore the outcome in the future.
For this reason, surgeons suggest you should maintain your weight for at least six months before having liposuction surgery. That will ensure that you are able to live a healthy lifestyle in the long term. You won’t spoil the result of your procedure by failing to maintain your BMI at a consistent level.
You cannot have lipo for weight loss, but it’s an excellent body contouring procedure when you reach your target weight. Call or email the ArtLipo team today to find out whether you’re a good candidate.
Dr. Thomas Su, is the owner and cosmetic surgeon of Artistic Lipo. He has led our full-time clinic specializing in awake-only liposuction since 2007. Dr. Su began his medical career in internal medicine, practicing that until 2005, when he began to provide a full spectrum of non-invasive cosmetic procedures.
