Is it possible to get a 25 inch waist with aggressive lipo? (photo)

Liposuction is a wonderful procedure for the right patient, but it has limitations. Liposuction can only remove excess fatty tissue that is located in the subcutaneous space (just under the skin). It can not tighten the abdominal wall or make the abdominal muscles stronger. A 25 inch waist is almost certainly not achievable, unless you are already measuring a 26 or 27 inch waist.  

It is difficult to assess with current photos.Often my patients ask me if they should try to lose weight or
invest in smartliposuction. I think this is a very important question,
and deserves a single discussion dedicated to the explanation of weight loss
versus smartlipo, to help people understand the fat physiology of their bodies.

My unequivocal answer to the question of trying to lose weight
is absolutely. Weight loss attempts should both precede liposuction, and in
patients that decide to do both, continue after laser liposuction is
performed. In a nutshell, smartlipo is a shape contouring procedure, not
a weight loss procedure, even though fat is being removed.

Weight loss, when successful, is superior to laser liposuction
for several reasons:Weight
loss has health benefits and contributes to your body' s overall well
being. As we all know, weight loss helps your body function better and
decreases the risks of many ailments (liposuction has no health benefits, just
cosmetic benefits).Weight
control is important even if you decide to do liposuction. Liposuction
can help contour a specific area of your body, but does not help you control or
maintain your long term weight (more on that in the "does the fat come
back" section below).
Successful long term weight control can result in more fat and more
proportional shrinkage than liposuction alone.

That said, despite my strong belief that weight loss is
extremely important and superior to the procedure I specialize in, liposuction
can still play a significant role in body reshaping. When you lose
weight, you cannot tell your body where you want the first 5 lbs to come off,
and second five pounds to come off. Your body likes to store and release
fat in a manner determined more by genetics rather than anything else.
For instance, a person may find they don't like their outer thighs, and even
after getting down to a very reasonable weight, that area may still be
prominent. This is where liposuction can be of assistance. The second
area where laser liposuction can be of assistance is in
"kick-starting" a body reshaping regimen that will consist of laser
lipo and a change in lifestyle. I find that the psychological boost
obtained from reshaping the troublesome area can be translated into motivation
to keep up the results with a lifestyle change.

Liposuction by the right surgeon can make your waist as small as possible.  If you have a 25 inch waist underneath, you can have a 25 inch waist.Liposuction results are highly surgeon dependent. Find a board certified plastic
surgeon who performs hundreds of liposuction and liposuction revision
procedures each year. Then look at the plastic surgeon's website before
and after photo galleries to get a sense of who can deliver the
results. Kenneth Hughes, MD Los Angeles, CA

Liposuction can only "give" you the size waist that is naturally present under excess subcutaneous fat. Our bodies can also store fat inside the abdomen, fat that can't be reduced with liposuction or any other procedure. Liposuction is a wonderful contour procedure, but it can't substitute for the need to achieve a healthy body. If general weight loss is necessary, liposuction can be helpful either before or after achieving a healthy weight. A consultation with a liposuction surgeon can help you determine what would be best.

My first response in reading your post is that it is absolutely critical that you find a qualified and respected surgeon to have a consultation with. Realistic expectations for results are critical to a good experience and should have nothing to do with numbers.  The goal will be a pleasing shape rather than a specific number. In other words, if you had a terrible and uneven result but a 25 inch waist, would you be happy?  What about if you had a wonderful and well shaped result but a 29 inch waist? Best,Dr. Pyle