Why Didn't I Lose Weight After Liposuction?

I am an exercise instructor and am very conscious about my eating habits. Now, due to my HRT and hysteractomy, my 56 of age, my body shape etc. I put on weight on my hips and back area.

I had a liposuction done a year ago where 1.5 kgs of fat were removed. The fatty hip and back looked and still looks great after liposuction, but my weight remained the same immediately after and until now. I expected that I would weigh 1.5 kilos less, but I didn't and the surgeon can't explain why.

Please help me understand why the scale weight is same despite the removal of 1.5 kilos of fat. Why did I not weigh about 1.5 kgs. less after lipo suction surgeon removed the 1.5 liters of fat?

Thank you,

Maryanne

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weight loss 1 year post-op

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6 Doctor Answers | Asked by twiga in Mellieha, Malta

Doctor Answers (6)
Community Comments (0)

Ultimately, liposuction has no bearing on weight

Hi Maryanne, What you weigh is essentially determined by two variables: what you eat and what you burn off. To better understand this, think about the analogy of a bathtub. Water comes into the tub through the faucet and is drained by the drain. The water level to which the tub fills (what you weigh) is determined by how fast water comes into the tub (what you eat) and how fast the tub is drained (what you burn off). At some water level (how much you weigh), these two variables, provided... more

Kenneth D. Steinsapir, MD

8 reviews

Los Angeles Oculoplastic Surgeon

Liposuction and weight

It is difficult to tell you how much weight you should have lost after liposuction. I tell patients that it is a contour change procedure not necessarily a method of weight loss.

Steven Wallach, MD

12 reviews

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Liposuction only improves shape and removes bulges.

Hi. The important thing is that you look better after your liposuction. It is a little puzzling that you lost no weight. With your story, I would have expected 2 pound weight loss. ?increased muscle mass?

Weight loss after liposuction

Maryanne: From an absolute standpoint, if 1.5 liters of fat was removed, you should weigh about 80% less than this (accounting for the difference is weight between water and fat, as well as 1.5 liters of removal includes blood and other body fluids). However, there may be many other reasons why you continue to weigh the same. This is most likely due to fluid retention secondary to inflammation and scarring from the srugical injury. It may also have something to do with your HRT and hormonal... more

Otto Joseph Placik, MD

32 reviews

Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Liposuction is not weight removal

Part of that fat that was removed was injected fluid and water in the fat cells. The water you drink will replace some of the water in the cells in the tissue. I tell my patients you will look different, but your weight will stay the same. Of course, the exercise and muscle mass will also play into the equation.

Toby Mayer, MD

7 reviews

Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.bevhills.com

Fluid shift occurs after Liposuction

Following Liposuction, a fluid shift occurs in the body to accomodate for the surgery and for the fluid loss. The 1.5 kilogram is a small amount that will go unnoticed after surgery.