With liposuction, do the treated areas essentially look thinner while those secondary areas appear the same?

Dear NoShameInBeingVain,

First and foremost, there's no such thing as a dumb question, especially when considering a surgical procedure. It's crucial to have clarity on all aspects of the treatment to make an informed decision.

Liposuction is primarily a body contouring procedure designed to target and remove localized fat deposits that may be resistant to diet and exercise. The procedure specifically addresses those targeted areas, resulting in a more contoured and defined appearance in those spots.

To answer your question: Yes, the treated areas will appear thinner or more contoured after liposuction, while areas that were not treated will generally remain the same unless influenced by other factors like overall weight loss, aging, or lifestyle changes.

For instance, if you undergo liposuction on your love handles and abdomen, those areas will show a reduction in fat and improved contour. However, areas like your collar bones or face, which are not directly treated with liposuction, will remain the same unless there's a change in your overall body weight.

That said, it's also worth noting that the body has its own unique way of distributing fat. Some individuals might notice subtle changes in non-treated areas if they gain weight after the procedure since the body could store fat differently once certain fat cells are permanently removed through liposuction.

Discussing your concerns and goals in detail with a board-certified plastic surgeon is essential. They can provide a comprehensive understanding of how liposuction might affect your individual body and what results you can expect.

Best wishes in your journey towards achieving the desired body contour.

Sincerely,
Dr. Katzen

Thanks for your questions dear NoShameInBeingVain

After liposuction if you follow your doctor protocol you will lose fat in other areas (the secondary you talk) but do not get me wrong this amount of fat you lose it will be not too much, this is why after liposuction we recommend to start doing exercises and have a healthy diet. When you gain weight all your body gain weight, same thing when you lose weight. Hopefully this answer your questions.
Dr. Quiroz

The areas not treated will stay the same. The areas treated will first be swollen and then become thinner. If you gain weight, all areas may gain according to the amount gained, your genetics and hormones.

Yes, with liposuction, the treated areas typically appear thinner due to the removal of excess fat cells, while adjacent or secondary areas may appear relatively unchanged. Liposuction is a surgical procedure designed to remove localized deposits of fat from specific areas of the body, leading to improved contour and definition in those treated areas.Here's how liposuction works and how it affects different areas of the body:1. Treated Areas: Liposuction targets specific areas of the body where stubborn fat deposits accumulate, such as the abdomen, thighs, hips, buttocks, arms, back, and chin. By inserting a thin tube called a cannula through small incisions, the plastic surgeon breaks up and suctions out excess fat cells, resulting in a slimmer and more sculpted appearance in the treated areas.2. Adjacent or Secondary Areas: While liposuction can effectively remove fat from the treated areas, adjacent or secondary areas that were not directly treated may appear relatively unchanged. It's essential to have realistic expectations about the outcomes of liposuction and understand that the procedure primarily targets localized fat deposits in specific areas.3. Overall Proportions: Liposuction can improve overall body proportions and contour by reducing excess fat in targeted areas. However, the success of the procedure depends on various factors, including the patient's skin elasticity, underlying anatomy, and the plastic surgeon's technique. In some cases, combining liposuction with other procedures such as abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) or body lift surgery may be necessary to achieve optimal results and address excess skin or laxity in addition to fat removal.It's important to note that liposuction is not a substitute for weight loss or a solution for obesity. It is most suitable for individuals who are at or near their ideal weight but have localized pockets of fat that are resistant to diet and exercise.As with any cosmetic procedure, results can vary from person to person, and it's essential to consult with a board-certified plastic surgeon to determine whether liposuction is the right option for your individual needs and goals. They can evaluate your concerns, discuss the potential benefits and risks of the procedure, and develop a treatment plan to help you achieve the desired outcome.

You are correct in your description of liposuction results. The areas treated are the only ones that will be changed. The other areas of the body will remain the same. Liposuction often has a side benefit that patients are so excited with preserving their results that they focus on maintaining a healthy diet and regular exercise program. This obviously would help your entire body, not just the areas that are suctioned.

Hello and thank you for your question.

When liposuction is performed fat cells are permanently removed from your body. So the areas treated should not only "look thinner" they should have less fat cells and less chance to increase or decrease in size based on your weight fluctuations throughout life. Now the areas not treated would respond to weight fluctuations perhaps with a little more noticeable change given relatively there are more fat cells able to enlarge or decrease their size with weight change.

In my practice, I have not seen this as a major issue in the majority of patients however I do feel the best liposuction candidates are those patients that are close to their ideal body weight without any unrealistic weight changes specifically before surgery.

For example, there are those patients that are underweight but still would like a BBL and are told to increase their weight prior to a BBL and on the flip side patients that are significantly overweight told to crash diet before a body contouring procedure can be done. I take issue with that approach as we are typically at a steady state when it comes to weight because it is what is comfortable for us from an intake and expenditure of calories. We can certainly do things on a short term basis with a weight goal in mind but unless long lasting changes in habits are accomplished before surgery than after surgery patients will likely drift back toward a comfortable steady state. I have seen a trend however with aggressive liposuction that patients do find it easier to maintain a lower body weight than before. I attribute this to we have literally removed millions of fat cells. Cells the body no longer needs to nourish and thus the need for calories decreases. I've also found that the boost in confidence seen when those stubborn areas of fat are removed helps keep patients motivated to put in the work to maintain their results.

Hope this answers your question.

Best Dr L. in ATX

Liposuction permanently removes part of the subcutaneous fat thickness in areas treated. For example, many women have thicker subcutaneous fat layers on their arm compared to their forearm. You can think of areas having been treated with Liposuction as ending up more like your forearm and areas not treated to be more like your arms.
Areas not treated with liposuction should remain the same unless patients gain weight, which is not uncommon after high-volume liposuction procedures. If patients gain weight, they will gain the weight through their new fat distribution. Liposuction, in other words, permanently changes someone’s fat distribution.
Best,
Mats Hagstrom, MD