How Many Inches Are Lost with Lipo?

asked 2 years ago by jersey girl 22 in New Jersey
Latest answer by Robert L. Kraft, MD
Question viewed 4,209 times
Tags: abdomen, breasts, flanks

In 5 weeks I schedualed beneilli breast lift, augmentation, and liposuction abs/flanks. I am 30 yr old, 5’6”, 135 lbs, 34B, 27.5, 36, small frame, athletic. lost approx 95lbs and kept off for 10 yrs no children yet. looking to achieve body sculpting of upper abs, above bellybutton, an area which won't go away with D&E. Flank area to make waist smaller goal 25inch. Am I unrealistic looking for 2.5inch drop after lipo?

11 answers to How Many Inches Are Lost with Lipo?

Quantitating "lost inches" with Potential Effectiveness of Liposuction

Liposuction does not directly correlate with an inherent ability to remove a X number of inches off your waist. Rather, it is a contouring tool that will plane the fat under the skin to allow the skin to drape closer to the underlying muscles. To best get an idea of how much fat it can remove off your waist , pinch the skin (and fat there) and realize you are pinching a DOUBLE fold. So, liposuction will not be able to remove more than half the amount pinched. Hope this helps. Dr. P. Aldea... more

Peter A. Aldea, MD
Memphis Plastic Surgeon

Change in inches or clothing size after liposuction

The difference before and after surgery is highly variable with liposuction. There are patients whose dress size stays exactly the same, just clothes fit much better. Often underlying muscle structure or bone structure minimizes the change in clothing size (or inches). Some patients drop 4 dress sizes, particularly patients who are shorter, heavier set and have tight skin enabling more aggressive procedures. It is better not to be fixated on a dress size or inch measurement, or you might... more

Brent Moelleken, MD
Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

Losing inches with liposuction

It is important to convey the amount of desired fat reduction in the waistline area to your plastic surgeon. What I look to accomplish in this surgery is removing enough fat to achieve an acceptable improvement. The goal reshaping the area to produce a positive change and measurements or dress sizes are not the foremost consideration in and of themselves. Body dynamics and the shape of the torso play a major role in measurements.

Robert L. Kraft, MD
New York Plastic Surgeon

Liposuction can change your shape, no guarantee of change in measurements

Liposuction should be viewed as a contouring or sculpting procedure. Removing fat between the muscle and the skin can shape areas of fullness that persist in spite of diet and exercise. It is impossible to predict how many inches you can lose with this surgery. Also, you are to be congratulated on your weight loss and on maintaining your healthy weight for 10 years! I want to make the point that often, massive weight loss leaves loose skin and that liposuction alone will not correct that. I... more

Elizabeth Lee, MD
Bay Area Plastic Surgeon

Inches are lost with Liposuction

No your goal is within reach but there are never guarantees in any surgery. I feel that you'll be able to obtain the size you wish. Regards.

Darryl J. Blinski, MD
Miami Plastic Surgeon

Loss of inches from liposuction

Liposuction should be viewed as a body sculpting procedure. Several factors determine how effective liposuction will be including your body habitus, the amount of skin elasticity you have and the amount of excess fatty tissue you currently possess. There is no accurate correlation of how many inches can be removed in conjunction with the amount of fat removed. Patients who tend to do best are those who diet and exercise and have realistic expectations of what can be achieved from their... more

David A. Robinson, MD
Munster Plastic Surgeon

Loss of inches or dress sizes following liposuction

Unfortunately there are no formulas for calculating or correlating loss of inches with volume of fat aspirated during a liposuction procedure. Your resulting inches is a complex result of factoring your musculoskeletal structures, skin laxity, and adipose tissue layer.

Otto Joseph Placik, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Unrealistic liposuction results

The metric of 2.5 inches has no real value. You need to focus more on the look you are trying toachieve. If you were to lose 3 inches but have an unacceptable look you would be very unhappy. Alternatively if you had a fantastic look the numbers wouldn't matter. You should find a better way to express what you are expecting.

John P. Stratis, MD
Harrisburg Plastic Surgeon

Clothing size is hard to predict after liposuction

Liposuction is a contouring tool to shape and sculpt difficult areas such as the side of the thigh, abdomen and hip. It can be difficult to correlate clothing size and waist size after liposuction. Shape and profiles can improve nicely, though you should not expect to have a certain waist or clothing size after. Those expectations are not realistic. Waist size is most often determined (after ideal weight and fitness has been reached) by overall structural body shape, the distance from the... more

Peter E. Johnson, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Liposuction and inches lost

Unfortunately fat removal with liposuction is not easily correlated with change in circumference. It is mainly a contouring tool and should be thought of a achieving a visual change. Whether or not you will see a change in your measurement is not predictable and should not be promised.

Robin T.W. Yuan, MD
Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

Lipo will cut inches

Liposuction is great to improve the shape and contour of areas where there are fat deposits. At the level of the waist, there is generally not a lot of fat bulges but with persistent suction you should see some improvement. Best Wishes