According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons® annual Plastic Surgery Statistics Report, 347,782 patients had liposuction surgery in 2023. That makes this ever-popular procedure the most requested and performed plastic surgery for a third year in a row. With results that can lead to more toned-looking arms, a trimmer waistline, and slimmer thighs, it’s no wonder that so many people turn to liposuction to remove the stubborn fat that doesn’t seem to budge, even with diet and exercise. However, just as with any plastic surgery, it is important to clearly understand what liposuction surgery can and can’t accomplish to ensure you achieve your desired results. Here are seven realistic expectations to have if you are considering recontouring your body with liposuction surgery.
“Liposuction surgery is an excellent option for patients who have exhausted the methods of diet and exercise to lose weight but are still bothered by stubborn pockets of fat,” explains Dr. Michael Philbin, a board-certified plastic surgeon and partner at Edina Plastic Surgery. “Fat loss resistance in areas of the body like the upper arms, abdomen, hips, and thighs is quite common. This may be due to congenital conditions, pregnancy, hormonal weight fluctuations, and a slower metabolism that frequently accompanies aging. In many cases, liposuction may be the only treatment to help patients reshape their bodies, but it’s important to have realistic expectations of what the surgery can accomplish.”
#1 – Liposuction is for contouring your body. It’s not a weight loss procedure.
Will you lose weight with liposuction surgery? Maybe a little. Is liposuction a practical weight loss method? Absolutely not.
“When you think of liposuction surgery, think of contouring and redefining the shape of the body by removing fat – not weight loss,” advises Dr. Philbin. “ Liposuction is not an alternative to dieting, exercise, or a healthy lifestyle. You should only use liposuction to remove fat resistant to those methods, mainly after achieving your ideal weight and fitness level.”
#2 – Loose skin and cellulite don’t disappear after liposuction.
Although we all wish it wasn’t true, including your plastic surgeon, liposuction does very little to improve the appearance of cellulite and has zero impact on skin elasticity or texture.
“If loose skin and cellulite are your main concerns, you may be a better candidate with a plastic surgery that ends with ‘lift’ or ‘tuck,’ says Dr. Philbin. “Liposuction is not a treatment method for cellulite since that condition is caused by banding between layers of skin and fat and not the subcutaneous fat itself, and, in fact, liposuction may make cellulite worse. If you have excess skin on your abdomen or thighs, procedures like tummy tuck and thigh lift will be your best option to achieve firmer, smoother, and more taut skin.”
#3 – Liposuction may not be the only procedure you need to achieve your desired result.
If you want sculpted, lean upper arms, or a smooth, flat tummy, you may need more than liposuction to reach your goal.
“I know how disheartening it can be when a patient hears that they may need more than one procedure to achieve their goal during a plastic surgery consultation,” says Dr. Philbin. “The truth is, your plastic surgeon is NOT trying to upsell you, they are actually trying to paint a realistic picture of what you will need to get the result you want. We want you to be ecstatic with your final outcome, and that means we have to be very up-front and transparent about what it will take to get you there. If you have loose, hanging skin on your abdomen from dramatic weight loss or pregnancy and you have stubborn deposits of fat in this area, liposuction alone will not get you the best outcome. Your surgeon will most likely recommend liposuction to remove fat and reshape the abdomen with a tummy tuck to remove and tighten excess skin. The same scenario often plays out with arm lift surgery and thigh lift. If you have both excess fat and skin in an area of your body, chances are that you will need both liposuction and the surgical removal of loose skin to achieve the look you’ve envisioned for your body.”
#4 – There are common side effects after liposuction surgery.
Liposuction may be minimally invasive compared to many plastic surgeries, but that doesn’t mean it comes with zero side effects.
“Most patients experience some bruising, tenderness, itchiness, and swelling for the first week or two after liposuction,” says Dr. Philbin. “Many also experience some numbness that can last for months. You must follow your post-procedure instructions, including wearing the proper compression garments, after your surgery to mitigate the risk of any complications, ensure you heal properly, and enjoy a fast recovery.”
#5 – Your results will be jeopardized if you gain a lot of weight after liposuction.
Look at liposuction surgery as an investment in yourself that you need to protect. How? By staying healthy and as close to your ideal weight as possible after surgery.
“If a patient gains weight after liposuction surgery, less fat will accumulate in the areas treated with liposuction, but the remaining fat cells in those areas can still grow larger,” explains Dr. Philbin. “That means you can still gain fat in the same areas and compromise your results. I strongly encourage my liposuction patients to use their surgery as motivation to commit to a healthier lifestyle after surgery that includes exercise, eating well, managing stress, developing great sleep architecture, and staying as close to their ideal weight as possible to enjoy awesome longevity of their surgery results.”
#6 – YOU play the biggest role in maintaining your liposuction results.
If you want to enjoy your liposuction results for as long as possible, you need to hold yourself accountable for maintaining them and appreciate the role you play in your final outcome. See this responsibility as empowering, not intimidating!
“I can’t tell you how many patients I’ve seen months after liposuction surgery that have completed WOWED me,” says Dr. Philbin. “Not only did they follow their recovery protocol to a T, but they also embraced healthier lifestyles than they led before surgery. To have a patient return looking more contoured and shapelier from liposuction but also more defined and lean from the weight lifting they’ve been doing or the clean diet they’ve implemented is just so impressive! Patients with this mindset don’t just enjoy superior results from liposuction surgery; they transform their entire lives. I may be their plastic surgeon, but in these cases, they’re the ones inspiring me!”
Are you interested in reshaping your body and your confidence with liposuction surgery? Schedule a complimentary consultation with Dr. Michael Philbin or another board-certified plastic surgeon at Edina Plastic Surgery to discuss your goals! Start your journey by calling (952) 234-6145, texting (952) 925-1765, or CLICKING HERE!
