How Many Inches Are Lost with Lipo?

Question

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?

Brent Moelleken, MD · Answer

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 be disappointed, for the reasons above.

Stephen T. Greenberg, MD, FACS · Answer

Thank you for your question.What is frustrating for many patients to understand is that there is no exact measure for how many inches, pounds, or dress sizes a patient can expect to loose before a liposuction procedure.  The goal of liposuction is to afford patients better overall body contour by removing some of the excess fat between the skin and muscular layers of the body.  The reduction that patients can expect to achieve is highly dependent upon the amount of fat available for harvest, skin tone, and the bony underlying structures of the body.  I caution patients from this idea that liposuction is, in any way, a weight loss procedure.  The only goal of liposuction is to target stubborn localized pockets of fat, provide patients with better overall body contour and to help patients look better and fit better in their clothing.  It is important that patients understand this and that they are not held up on an inches lost or weight loss goal.  I hope you find this helpful and I wish you the best.

Richard J. Bruneteau, MD · Answer

It’s not unusual for patients to think in terms of
inches and dress size when they undergo liposuction. Unfortunately, it’s
difficult to reliably predict postoperative measurements with these procedures.
For this reason, it’s important to think in terms of contour improvement
instead of inches. Surgeons can ultimately impact shape but not necessarily
dimensions with liposuction.

In your case, it might be possible to accomplish
your aesthetic goals. Unfortunately after a 95 pound weight loss, loose skin
may represent a problem as well. Under these circumstances a skin resection may
be necessary.

It’ important to discuss these issues with your
plastic surgeon so you totally understand your options and what can be realistically be accomplished.

Elizabeth Slass Lee, MD · Answer

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 am sure that a surgeon certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery will have addressed any excess skin during your consultation and that this was factored into your surgical plan, but I want to make sure that you are aware of the limitations of liposuction in handling stretched out skin.

Otto Joseph Placik, MD · Answer

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.

Jeffrey Weinzweig, MD, FACS · Answer

Patients should attempt to be at their goal weight when undergoing liposuction to achieve the best results. After surgery, patients are encouraged to maintain or lose 5% of body weight with proper diet and exercise as liposuction is not a form of weight lose, but a surgical approach to remove fat cells.

Jeffrey W. Hall, MD · Answer

It would be difficult to know exactly how many inches would be lost since every body type and every procedure are unique to each patient. However, patients should expect a dramatic difference in the circumference of the areas being treated. Remember, the thickness of the area is what is reduced.

Robert L. Kraft, MD, FACS · Answer

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.

Peter A. Aldea, MD · Answer

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

Darryl J. Blinski, MD · Answer

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.

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