Liposuction: Q&A

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Should I Try to Lose Weight Before Liposuction?

I have scheduled my liposuction in about a month. I weigh approximately 142 lbs now, and am 5'4''. Should I maintain my current weight or try to lose a few pounds between now and then? I have been trying to lose weight and I'm not sure how much weight is even possible for me to lose in a month. Thanks!

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16 Doctor Answers | Asked by lcks

Doctor Answers (16)
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Liposuction should be done when you reach a stable weight

If you plan to lose a significant amount of weight (30lbs or more) then it is a good idea to do this prior to surgery. If it is more like 5-10lbs, it will not make much of a difference to do this prior to or after liposuction.

Losing weight before liposuction

You should preferably be at a stable or plateau weight. It is always disconcerting when patients gain weight after successful liposuction. In my LA practice, I combine liposuction with a suitable weight loss program.

Liposuction and Losing Weight

You should be at a weight you can comfortably maintain prior to liposuction. If you want to lose a few pounds prior to your procedure, that is fine, but not necessary if you are close to your goal weight. If you have large fluctuations in your weight, you might want to reconsider having liposuction. Liposuction is more for fine tuning and body shaping, than a solution for major weight problems.

Should I Try to Lose Weight Before Liposuction?

It is not crucial to loose weight before liposuction. Overall, with weight loss you will look better and the amount of fat to be suctioned may be less. Since you only have one month to go, I do not recommend a crash diet/exercise program. This may cause an imbalance in your system which is not healthy.

Weight loss prior to liposuction

It is helpful to maintain diet and exercise prior to liposuction. Remember liposuction is not a substitute to losing weight, it is meant to get rid of stubborn area's which have fat deposits.

Losing Weight Before Liposuction

Liposuction is not to be used as a means of weight loss, rather it is a procedure used to remove stubborn fat from problem areas. It is recommended that you reach your goal weight prior to having liposuction, but at the same time it is important to maintain a stable weight because although liposuction permanently removes fat cell, it is possible for patients to gain weight after liposuction if they do not maintain a healthy diet and exercise regimen.

Weight loss prior to liposuction

You should be at a stable weight before surgery which you will be able to maintain afterward.

Liposuction results are best when at your ideal weight

I recommend reaching your ideal goal weight prior to surgery or atleast lose as much weight possible before the procedure to ensure the best possible results. Liposuction is best for those isolated areas that are resistant to exercise and dieting. If you plan on losing a significant amount , I would hold off to make sure you are still a good candidate for the procedure. You do not want to be left with lose, excess skin after the procedure is done. It is in your best interest to... more

Liposuction should be done when you are at your stable weight.

Liposuction is a safe, popular, and effective way to contour the body. Although liposuction is an excellent way to remove stubborn fat, it is not effective as a means of weight control. For best results, you should receive your surgery when you have lost all the weight possible and you are at your stable weight. This will allow your surgeon to determine which areas should be treated and help you obtain a long-lasting and beautiful result.

Liposuction and weight loss

It is always a good idea to get down to your ideal weight before liposuction. The results are usually better at this point becuase the fat is often isolated to small areas.

Steven Wallach, MD

12 reviews

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Be in the best physical shape, but get there safely with proper exercise and diet

The ideal candidate for liposuction is not more than 10 pounds overweight. It is far better to get to your best physical shape and then have liposuction, rather than to schedule the procedure and force a rapid weight loss through severe calorie restriction. This could lead to poor postoperative healing. Exercise and eat a prudent diet. I would much rather have you see a nutritionist for counseling, reduce the weight safely and reschedule the liposuction. You will get a better result... more

Liposuction at your best weight gives best results

Sometimes we talk about completing liposuction, which is essentially a sculpture procedure, at an individuals "ideal" body weight. This implies that we can look up on a table the weight we are to be based on height, sex, and age. Most individuals do have a set point however which will determine where they are on the curve. This weight I discuss with my patients as their "best" weight. This is a number which is achievable, comfortable, and a weight an individual can... more

You should be at your comfortable weight before Liposuction

Thanks for your question. I always ask my patients before undergoing liposuction procedure, "Are you comfortable at the current weight you are?" This is because liposuction is not a weight reduction procedure. So you can not expect to lose any weight after the surgery. It is a procedure to shape the area of desire. So I would say is you should be at a comfortable weight for yourself. If you are there then go for it! Hope that helps.

Stable weight is best

It is best to be at a stable weight prior to any liposuction procedure. Patients who crash diet or have fluctuating weight may see undesirable changes in body proportion afterwards. The ideal patient is one who has a stable weight and is on a regular exercise routine but who is unable to lose weight or has an undesirable bulge in a certain body area. These are also the patients who tend to get the best results and are the most satisfied after liposuction.

Good Question about liposuction and weight loss

Hi there- Your question is central to responsible body contouring practice and I think that the best way to answer it is with more questions... How likely do you think it is for you to lose more than say 10 pounds? How long do you think it will take you to do so? Do you think it is likely you will keep the weight off? These are important questions because the answers might affect the appropriate timing of surgery for you. If you think it is unlikely that you will be able to lose a... more

Don't try to lose any weight.

To icks, Hi! The principle of liposuction is to eliminate the bulges and to bring the treated areas (belly, thighs,etc.) into pleasing balance with the surrounding areas. Before liposuction, there is much more fat in the bulges. After liposuction, you will have a similar fat layer in both the treated areas and in the rest of you. This improvement in CONTOUR (no bulges) will persist for a very long time, even if you later lose a few pounds. The really good news is that if you later GAIN a... more