The Limits of Liposuction

Liposuction surgery can offer you a more sculpted appearance by removing excess fat from areas that do not respond to diet and exercise.

While liposuction is a safe and effective procedure for targeted fat removal, there are limits to what it can accomplish. It’s essential to go into your liposuction procedure with realistic expectations, so you are satisfied with the results.

Below is more information about liposuction and what it can and cannot do for you.

Fat Removal Is Limited By Body Mass Index

There is a long debate about how much fat can be safely removed during liposuction. Some plastic surgeons will not remove more than three or four liters of fat and fluid in a single liposuction procedure. The more fat and liquid that is removed, the higher the risk of complications.

However, more plastic surgeons today are more likely to recommend a limit on fat removal based on your body mass index or BMI. Some studies suggest that obese patients may safely tolerate more significant amounts of fat removed without a higher risk of complications.

Based on your BMI, it may be safe to remove one or two liters of fat and fluid or as much as six liters. Your surgeon will check your weight and BMI and tell you how much fat they can safely remove.

However, remember that liposuction is not a substitute for a healthy diet and exercise. Your plastic surgeon should tell you that you should be close to your ideal weight before you have liposuction.

More Is Not Always Better

Who wouldn’t want to have as much fat removed as possible in liposuction? In reality, the purpose of this procedure is to enhance your body’s contours rather than help you lose weight.

Liposuction creates subtle improvements in the shape of the body by carefully removing certain pockets of fat.

SEE ALSO: San Antonio Awake Liposuction

As noted above, liposuction is not a weight loss quick fix. You need to lose fat with diet and exercise first. If that does not give you the results you desire, then liposuction may be an option.

Also, removing as much fat as possible from an area of the body may provide a lumpy and uneven outcome. Your plastic surgeon is highly trained and experienced in this procedure and knows how much fat to remove to give the ideal result.

Excessive Fat Removal Can Result In Loose Skin

Liposuction removes excess fat, but it won’t do anything about sagging and loose skin. The degree of skin laxity you have before your liposuction is the same after. Changing weight, pregnancy, age, and genetics can lead to poor skin elasticity.

This is why your surgeon will be careful in how much fat they remove. If they take out too much, you could have loose skin that will not adhere to your new shape. The only option at that point is to have painful and expensive skin surgery to remove the excess tissue.

Also, liposuction does not remove stretch marks from pregnancy or weight changes. If you have stretch marks in the belly, a San Antonio tummy tuck can address this issue.

Liposuction Doesn’t Eliminate Visceral Fat

Liposuction removes fat from above the muscle and under the skin. A person with a stomach that sticks out from fat under the muscle is not helped by liposuction. This is visceral fat and can only be eliminated through diet and exercise.

Visceral fat pushes out on the muscles of the abdominal wall. Even if you take out fat above the muscle with liposuction, you will only have a smaller version of a rounded belly.

Your doctor can recommend a diet and exercise program that will help you eliminate visceral fat.

You Still Can Gain Weight

When liposuction removes fat from your abdomen, that fat is gone forever. The rest of your body that did not have liposuction has not changed; there are still fat cells present. If you overeat and do not exercise, you can still gain weight.

Liposuction can be highly effective, but it will not prevent you from gaining weight if you don’t maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Remember The Risks Of Removing Large Amounts Of Fat

It’s essential to keep in mind that liposuction is surgery with general anesthesia. It has risks. Removing a lot of fat increases your risk of complications.

While this procedure is usually safe, removing more fat than is recommended can lead to the following complications:

Accumulation of fluid that can affect your breathing
Blood clots can travel to the lungs or brain, resulting in death
Anesthesia reactions
Infection
Shock from dehydration
Fat embolism, which can occur if emulsified fat enters the bloodstream

Request A Liposuction Consultation

Interested in a liposuction procedure in San Antonio? Dr. Scott J Farber or Dr. Amita Shah of Hill Country Plastic Surgery can help. They will consult with you for your San Antonio cosmetic procedure today. They’ll go over the options, goals, and more to determine if you’re an ideal candidate for one of these procedures.

References

With Liposuction, Weight Should Guide Fat Removal. (2015). Accessed at https://www.webmd.com/beauty/default.htm#1
Limitations Of Liposuction. (2020). Accessed at https://www.verywellhealth.com/limitations-of-liposuction-2709852

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