Liposuction: Q&A

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Can Lipo Improve my Silhouette and Reduce my Dress Size?

I had lipo 8 years ago on my stomach, knees and thighs. I was 6/8 before and 4/6 after. I love the new contour of those areas even after gaining weight after my baby. Now I’m 8/10 and hope for 6/8 after lipo. Most of the weight gain showed up in my torso. I used to have slim arms but now I can pinch a lot of fat. I also developed back rolls and big hips. I'm considering lipo in those areas and also the knees again. Judging by my description and pictures do I have realistic expectations?

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29 Doctor Answers | Asked by NeutralGround in Brooklyn, NY

Doctor Answers (29)
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It can definitely help, but the key is outlining your goals

Liposuction, in all its forms, can certainly help you achieve these goals, but the key is to set out realistic expectations and discuss them with your surgeon. How your skin will react to the suctioning is variable and depends on you and your healing ability, your surgeon, and to some extent the technology used (laser, ultrasound, etc) although I think many surgeons get outstanding results without the aid of the newer technologies. In the end, you need to find a surgeon you can get to... more

Liposuction can creat a curvy figure.

Liposuction or liposculpture performed by an experienced board certified plastic surgeon can creat a beautiful figure in women with curvy "hour-glass" figure.

Liposuction may reduce dress size

Liposuction can reduce your dress size. However, liposuction works best on isolated trouble areas. In other words if you have large hips and a narrow waist then after liposuction of the hips you can wear a size that matches your waist. Large volume liposuction can be done, but there are safety issues to consider. In general, liposuction is a refining tool, not a weight reduction tool.

Computer imaging not realistic

Having performed over 700 laser liposuction cases (laser combine with traditional tumescent liposuction) our practice over the last three years, the answer to your question is simple. Liposuction almost always reduces size (it removes the fat). The skin retraction is variable, even in the best of hands, and to promise a patient more than this would be irresponsible. It is best to look at before and after pictures from the surgeon you wish to have performyour procedues, not computer... more

It is possible

What I tell my patients is that you need two things for liposuction to be successful: fat, and skin that retracts/redrapes after the fat is removed. You should expect to see great improvements.

Absolutely.

Hi! You can expect dramatic improvement in shape and in the rolls, and size reduction. You have experienced the good liposuction effect already. In our plastic surgery practice in Manhattan -- and in any responsible practice -- we don't promise perfection or that the rolls will completely "go away". And, of curse, liposuction is not the way to lose weight. But that's not what you are asking. I think your expectations are realistic. As with all surgery, it's got to be done right... more

Revision Liposuction

Patients frequently request liposuction to improve body contour so their clothing will fit better. In most cases, this can be accomplished with excellent results, providing the patient is a good candidate for the procedure. Liposuction works best when patients have localized collections of fat. It’s important to remember this is not a weight loss procedure, but instead, a procedure that addresses problem areas. In addition, the quality of the patient’s skin is of... more

Reducing with Liposuction

Were those photos taken by your board certified plastic surgeon with imaging software? While imaging software can do a good job at giving an "estimate" of results, I caution you to think that your results will exactly mimic a computer's prediction of your results. Your primary goal should be as close to goal weight as possible prior to your treatment, which will help create the best results. Further, after performing Vaser lipo at my Cleveland area plastic surgery practice, my patients... more

Liposuction is for isolated areas of fat

Liposuction is most effective for refining isolated areas of the body that are difficult to tone through diet and exercise; it is not a weight loss procedure. That being said, it's not uncommon to go down a size or two after surgery since liposuction removes fat. It's difficult to say what your dress size will be after surgery. Liposuction could eliminate "back rolls" and give you a smoother, more proportional body contour, as long as you have good skin elasticity. Be sure that you choose a... more

Liposuction to improve silhouette and reduce dress size

Thank you for sending the photos. Remember it is much easier to photoshop a picture than to achieve the same result in a real human. Having said that, I think that you may be a good candidate for additional liposuction. One would need to give you a proper exam for a final determination.

Liposuction Can Work For The Areas You've Marked

The areas that you have circled in your picture can certainly be treated with liposuction, as long as the fat there is "pinchable" and it's not mainly comprised of excess skin - but it seems that you already understand that since you've had liposuction performed before and know what to expect. Liposuction can remove the excess fat, but it cannot treat loose skin (you'll need a lift to do that). You may find that a particular liposuction method is recommended for a particular area. For... more

Jerome Edelstein, MD

13 reviews

Toronto Plastic Surgeon

Lipo can definitely improve your silhouette

Liposuction is ideal for sculpting or reducing fat at particular problem area such as your tummy (abdomen), sides, back rolls, arms, thighs and even the neck. So lipo can definitely improve your sillouette. Though ideal for contouring, liposuction may not necessarily reduce your dress size. There are just too many factors which determine your dress size. If you have to buy a larger dress size to accommodate your large breasts, a breast reduction by liposuction or... more

Can Lipo Improve my Silhouette?

Thanks very much for your question. The short answer is Yes. The toughest areas to help will be the area on your back over your latissimus muscle. That area tends to be more fibrous and doesn't respond as well as areas lower on your back. Hope this helps.

Can Lipo Improve my Silhouette and Reduce my Dress Size?

Liposuction can cause you to go down in dress sizes because it removes fat. In some patients the shape is also drastically changed. Liposuction is not, however, a weight reduction tool and one should be close to their ideal weight and stabilized prior to undergoing liposuction.

Can Lipo improve Silhouette and Reduce the Dress Size?

For an individual who is not over weight/obese and is concerned about accumulated fat resistant to diet and exercise liposuction is the treatment of choice.For a person who had liposuction before, liposelection (ultrasonic liposuction ) is more effective especially in the inner thighs and arms.Some reduction in dress size is expected and the silhouette will definitely improve.

Can Lipo Improve my Silhouette and Reduce my Dress Size

Yes it can as it was originally intended to do but one must be realistic in her goals. It is best to discuss your goals with a board-certified plastic surgeon prior to surgery. During the consult the surgeon will be able to tell you what to expect for your type of body frame. Then the two of you can discuss what will be possible with liposuction.

Lipo Results

If liposuction is performed by an experienced board certified plastic surgeon you will have the best result. Liposuction is a surgical technique that plastic surgeons have used since the 1970’s to remove local, unwanted fat deposits. The most commonly addressed areas of the body are the abdomen, flank, back, chin/neck, arms, thighs, and legs. Using a cannula (a long, hollow, metal instrument) and rubber tubing under negative-pressure, the surgeon removes the unsightly fat, permanently... more

Liposuction to reduce dress size

Liposuction properly performed not only reduces inches, but sculpts the body to a more harmonious proportions. The patient can definitely reduce dress size, assuming there is excess fat to be contoured during surgery. On your back it appears that the rolls also have some loose skin. Make sure that your surgeon uses appropriate lipo-sculpting technique on those areas, such as ultrasound lipo, etc. so that there is some skin contracture. If improperly performed you... more

Liposuction does improve silhouette and reduce dress size

Liposuction can definitely improve your appearance by recontouring areas where there is excess fat. It is important to remember not to use liposuction as a means of weight loss though. It is very important that you try to maintain a healthy lifestyle (i.e. diet and exercise) after liposuction surgery so that you get the full benefits of the surgery.

Absolutely

Liposuction was really designed for the exact purpose you're describing-focal areas of fat. All of the areas that you describe are very accessible for liposuction. The posterior flank/hip region, if thoroughly removed of fat will make the biggest impact. On thing that you must keep in mind is that your bony pelvis may be wider now after pregnancy. So although your waist and back may be a size 8, the pelvis may prevent this. You have a nice overall shape that just needs a little... more

Liposuction best for sculpting your silhouette and proportions

Liposuction (all forms) is best for sculpting and shaping your body. Liposuction (all forms) are not primarily skin tightening procedures. Your photos underestimate the result that you should be able to achieve in your waistline and buttock area. A good liposuction surgeon should be able to sculpt this area better than you have in your photos. Your knees, arms and upper back results are realistic. Your back fold results are likely too optimistic but difficult to predict up front... more

Liposuction to remove unwanted fat

Liposuction is a technique used to remove unwanted fat. Liposuction, in your case, is appropriate to remove unwanted fat in the flanks, love handles, hips, thighs, buttocks, and posterior torso. These areas have a hormonal pattern of fat deposition and are thus ideal for liposuction. In terms of realistic goals, liposuction will work appropriately to remove fat in these areas, however, an experienced surgeon will rarely guarantee success based on dress size. You should strive for safe... more

Liposuction will help, but talk to your plastic surgeon

Liposuction is a great tool for body shaping. Improvement in the current exam is the key to a realistic expectation. You will have an improvement in the areas that you outlined. A complete removal of these rolls like the picture you showed is not realistic. In any case a board certified plastic surgeon will be your best choice, make sure you voice all your expectations to him. Best of luck!

Lipo can help your silhouette, but skin tightening required on your back

Liposuction can definitely help your silhouette. The major issue for you will be the skin tightening of the loose folds on your back. In my experience, regular liposuction will not give adequate skin tightening of the folds on your back beneath the bra line. The newer laser liposuction can tighten skin and would be what I would use especially on the back. The problem is that this technique is very new and you are going to have trouble finding an experienced surgeon who uses the new laser... more

Liposuction is a good choice to improve your silhoutte

Sculpting and shaping is what liposuction does. The contouring you have simulated on your photo should be possible with liposuction, with good improvement over the back, hip, and medial knee. Diet and exercise will also help you reach you dress size goal, however the folds along the back are likely to stay even with the weight loss. The fold along the back is accentuated by the loss of skin elasticity with your weight fluctuation, and the fact that there is a point of adherence of the back... more

Liposuction can help you

You are a good candidate for liposuction. The only area of concern is your waist line and you will to find a plastic surgeon that can do this. Do your homework and get consultations and make sure your doctors are board certified plastic surgeon.

Kamran Khoobehi, MD

28 reviews

New Orleans Plastic Surgeon

Smartlipo (laser assisted lipo) can help improve the torso (back, flanks, hips) & arms

I feel that you are a good candidate for liposuction, and for the most part your goals are realistic. I use Smartlipo MPX which is laser-assisted liposuction that uses 2 wavelengths of laser light, blended at different strengths to not only contour fat, but also tighten the skin. Skin tightening has always been a significant limitation to the result of liposuction and what I would do is use Smartlipo to tighten the skin in the areas where you have the back folds (flank area) and also in the... more

Super Def Lipo is likely your answer

There are many options available today that were not possible when you underwent your initial procedure. We are very excited about our proprietary technique of VASER Super Def UAL. This approach uses a solid probe ultrasound that melts away the fat while preserving the structural components of the tissue. It also tightens the skin in ways that were not possible in the past. You may have heard of good results with Smart Lipo, Laser Lipo, Vaser Hi Def, or Ultrasonic Lipo. All these procedures... more

Realistic expectations with liposuction

I do not think these expectations are realistic, especially with a history of prior liposuction. Back rolls respond best to weight loss. Hopefully the skin will respond well. If this were the patient's baseline weight, a conservatively better result might be attainable but not the perfectly smooth and tight skin shown in the after rendition.