How Much Fat Can You Lose With Liposuction?

Are you relatively happy with your weight but unhappy with your current aesthetic? Do you feel like you could eat well and exercise for the rest of your life and not achieve your desired contours? If so, you’re not alone. At eSSe Plastic Surgery in Fort Lauderdale, FL, we offer liposuction, a body contouring procedure that has been used for decades to help people safely and effectively sculpt their ideal bodies.

It is important to understand the distinction between a fat removal procedure, like liposuction, and a weight loss procedure. Lipo is not designed to facilitate massive weight loss. However, weight loss will occur as a result of the procedure. To help you determine whether lipo is right for you, we’re taking a closer look at how much weight you can expect to lose. Read on to learn more.

How Much Fat Can You Lose With Liposuction?

You shouldn’t be surprised if you lose between three and five pounds with liposuction. However, it is vital that you keep in mind individual results vary. If you are already at your ideal weight, you may only be able to lose a pound or two. On the other hand, you may be able to lose 10 or 11 pounds if you are at the high end of a healthy weight or overweight. The size of your problem areas and the amount of subcutaneous fat in those areas also influence results.

Where Can This Procedure Be Done?

Lipo can be used to remove unwanted fat from virtually any region of the body. Commonly, women use this procedure to eliminate excess thigh, butt, and stomach fat. Men often use lipo to remove excess fat from the chest, chin, and back. However, you must keep in mind that there must be the right amount of unwanted fat in the area of concern. If there is too little or too much fat in a given region, you may not be satisfied with your results.

How Long Do the Results of Lipo Last?

On paper, the results of liposuction are permanent. People who undergo this procedure are usually at least 25 years of age. During this procedure, a small incision is made and a cannula is inserted into the incision. Through the cannula is passed a suction device that removes a percentage of the fat cells in the treatment area. The human body stops being able to grow new fat cells at the age of 25, so there will always be fewer fat cells in the area.

However, you should keep in mind that the fat cells in the area that are not sucked out can still expand to accommodate more excess energy. In other words, if you consume more calories after your procedure than you need to maintain your weight, there is a chance that your treated area will become larger. Where you gain weight when you consume too many calories can be affected by stress, but it is most predominantly affected by genetics.

How Do I Maintain My Weight After Lipo?

To maintain your weight after lipo and ensure you remain satisfied with your new and improved contours, you need to know how many calories your body needs for fuel. Plug your height, weight, age, and activity level into an online BMI calculator to see how many calories are required. Then, track the calories that you consume throughout the day.

If you feel like you don’t have time to track every calorie you consume, that’s okay. Track your weight weekly to make sure you’re not gaining weight consistently. If you are, eat less or move more. People can gain five to 10 pounds after lipo before noticing a change in their appearance.

Am I a Good Candidate for This Procedure?

You will probably be considered a good lipo candidate if you are a relatively healthy adult with excess fat that will not budge despite a well-balanced diet and regular exercise. However, you can’t know for sure whether this procedure is right for you until you attend an initial evaluation. For instance, even if you are healthy and worried about excess fat, you will be considered a poor fit for this procedure if you are nursing or trying to become pregnant.

To verify that this procedure will be safe for you, we will discuss both your health history and your current health. We will also review all post-op care instructions with you. It is imperative that you are willing and able to comply with all post-operative care guidelines to qualify for this procedure. We will verify that lipo will be effective for you by discussing your cosmetic goals and evaluating your areas of concern.

What Post-Op Care Guidelines Will I Have to Follow?

One of the most important post-operative rules you must follow is to not smoke or drink alcohol. It will take a while for your skin to heal itself after your procedure and alcohol and tobacco products will slow the healing process considerably. Another very important recovery step you must follow is to not exert yourself too much physically. Excessive physical exertion will elevate your blood pressure too much and slow down your recovery.

With that in mind, it is important that you are mobile to qualify for this procedure. You will be exhausted for one to three days post-op, but once you start to feel fairly rested, you should go for regular, moderately paced walks. Walking regularly goes a long way in supporting your circulatory system, and a strong circulatory system goes a long way towards rapid recovery.

What Medical Conditions Will Preclude Me From This Procedure?

There are a number of medical conditions that will preclude you from this procedure. For instance, you will not qualify if you have heart problems and need to take NSAIDs daily. Discontinuing the use of NSAIDs is one of the most important preparation steps you must take, and you must be able to follow all preparation steps to qualify. Also, you will be disqualified from lipo if you suffer from bleeding disorders.

It is also important to note that being free from chronic conditions is not enough to qualify you for this procedure. It is incredibly important that you do not suffer from an acute illness at the time of your procedure. For instance, your surgery will need to be postponed if you have an active infection at the time your procedure is scheduled. It is important that you are not ill when you get lipo because your body requires a lot of energy to recover from illnesses.

Will I Need to Fast Before My Procedure?

We will advise you on whether you need to fast before your procedure during your initial consultation. There will be no need to fast if you will be administered a local anesthetic and intravenous sedation before your operation. On the other hand, if you will be given a general anesthetic, it is absolutely imperative that your stomach is empty at the time of your operation.

Therefore, you will need to go eight hours pre-op without eating any solid food. You will also not be permitted to drink anything other than clear liquids during this time. Furthermore, you will need to go two hours without drinking anything at all, including clear liquids. For clarity, clear liquids include such beverages as water, unsweetened tea, and apple juice. Pulp-free coconut water is also acceptable. You will be given general anesthesia for large areas.

Find Out Today Whether Lipo Is Right for You

If you are at or near your goal weight, there is a good chance that lipo will be a good fit for you. If you’re near your goal weight, you may only be able to lose a pound or two. However, you can improve your appearance significantly by removing up to four-fifths of the subcutaneous fat in the area of concern. On the other hand, it is possible to lose between 10 and 11 pounds safely if you have quite a bit of weight to lose.

If you think your self-confidence would improve if you could remove excess fat from targeted areas, lipo may be right for you. To find out for sure, contact us today at eSSe Plastic Surgery in Fort Lauderdale, FL to schedule your initial consultation. We will discuss your health history, current health, and goals to verify that this procedure is a good fit for you. We can’t wait to meet you and help you finally achieve the body of your dreams.