Can I drop 150 pounds through liposuction?

Thank you for your question. Many patients ask how much weight they can expect to lose after their lipo procedure. As it turns out, most patients lose less than 5 pounds. It is important to remember that lipo is not a weight loss tool, and that the patients who get the best results are at a stable weight, and lipo is used to address contouring of problem areas. After lipo, a patient will notice a difference in the shape of their body, that might not be reflected as drastically on the scale. You should continue to pursue weight loss through diet and exercise, and schedule a consult with a board certified plastic surgeon once you are closer to your goal weight. In the mean time, I suggest discussing your weight loss goals with your primary care physician.

Thank you for your question. Liposuction is not a weight loss type of surgery. The ideal liposuction candidate has localized fat deposits and quality overlying skin without significant excess skin or skin damage.  Fat can then be removed to strategically sculpt the body and accentuate feminine curves.  The skin then retracts over the new shape to give the final result.That said, you definitely have to choose your surgeon correctly and make sure that he/she has the training and experience to meet your goals with absolute safety.  A key quality indicator is Board Certification by the American Board of Plastic Surgery.  Don’t settle for less than a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon with specialized expertise in this procedure.

 lipo fat removal is more targeted and you cannot loose massive amounts of weight .  you could consider bariatric surgery to explore such options.

The answer is yes and no. In very heavy patients, liposuction will remove about 20 pounds of fat in the best case.  This usually requires three or more sessions with attention to targeted areas that provide around 5 liters per zone. Once the liposuction is complete and you have spent a couple weeks healing then it's time to hit the gym hard and be very strict with your diet. Typically you'll find it easier to lose the remaining weight with this kick-start. 

Hello,Thank you for your question. Liposuction is not a weight loss solution. My advice is that you continue to follow your diet, exercise daily and work on your weight loss. It is going to take time to lose all that weight. Then, once your weight is within normal limits, you can look at liposuction to remove localized fat deposits. Don't get discouraged. Good luck.

The optimal candidate for liposuction is healthy and has reached  stable weight (preferably with a BMI < 30). It is important to remember that liposuction is not a means of weight loss and is not a substitute for traditional diet and exercise nor is it the equivalent of bariatric surgery. The limits on liposuction ??(in office setting) ensure that the most weight a patient can expect to lose is approximately 11 lbs (4-5 liters).
As always, discuss your concerns with a board certified plastic surgeon (ABPS).

You need to lose weight first before undergoing any cosmetic procedure to get the best outcome. For best results, it is recommended to be at your ideal or stable weight before getting a sculpting liposuction procedure. Liposuction is not a weight loss procedure, rather it is for sculpting and defining and removing problem areas that cannot be removed with weight loss and diet / exercise alone. With skin laxity, a tummy tuck or lifting procedure could be performed at the same time. I recommend getting a formal evaluation with a bariatric doctor or dietitian. Best, Dr. Emer

In California, five liters is the maximum amount of liposuction aspirate allowed by law.  Florida limits the maximum to 4 liters.  The goal of liposuction is to remove fat in those areas which accumulate despite diet and exercise, thus recalibrating the fat stores in a more favorable fashion.  Liposuction does not address skin laxity and is not a weight loss procedure.  Recommend that you consult with your PCP to determine the appropriate weight loss and exercise program to help you lose 100 pounds.Kenneth Hughes, MD, Board Certified Plastic SurgeonLos Angeles, CA

Liposuction is intended to contour the body, not assist with losing weight. The best liposuction results are seen in patients who are within several pounds of their target weight, and who can maintain their target weight long-term. Additionally, liposuction only removes subcutaneous fat; being overweight is typically due to visceral fat, which can only be removed through diet and exercise.

Thank you for your question.  I get asked about weight loss all the time related to liposuction.  The reality is that most patients lose very little weight with liposuction procedures.  The purpose of liposuction is contour correction, not weight loss.  Even with large volume liposuction, patients lose less than 4-5 pounds.  Some patients actually gain some weight in the first few weeks due to swelling and fluid collections around the cells.  True weight loss can only be achieved with diet, exercise and bariatric surgery in extreme cases.