Will I lose weight once the water retention has gone and last bit of swelling?

Question

I had liposuction at the end of January and was told they removed 6 litres of fat. I’m no expert but based on google that apparently equates to about 12/13 pounds. I’m only 3 weeks into recovery but I have just weighed myself for the first time and I weight exactly the same, is this normal? Will I lose weight once the water retention has gone and last bit of swelling? I know it’s not a weight loss procedure but I did expect some weight loss

Kenneth Hughes, MD · Answer

Hello.
Great question. Liposuction is not a weigh loss procedure. You will see a change in waist inches rather than in weight numbers. Keep in mind, it can take up to six months for all the swelling to subside. Keep following up with your surgeon to rule out any fluid collection.

Aldo Guerra, MD · Answer

Congratulations on your liposuction procedure. Yes, this weight is normal and you will likely continue to lose the water weight over the next few weeks. Consider talking to your surgeon about lymphatic massage, arnica, and bromalein.Best, Dr. ALDO

Jason Emer, MD · Answer

swelling takes months to go away and liposuction rarely equates to a true "weight" loss unless you diet aggressively after treatment. you will see "contour" changes.
If you are unhappy with your results please speak to your physician and ensure he was a full body VASER HD liposuction physciain wtih expensive experience in body shaping and not just traditional fat reduction.  At this point you should be using compression, RF treatments like venus legacy / exilis ultra / inmode forma or contoura and lymphatic massage to get you through healing.   We always add shock wave therapy such as cellutone, z wave, and eclipse evive to help prvent scar tissue formation and ensure an even and smooth result. It will take 6-12 months to see the final outcome.   If you are unhappy you can get a revision procedure by an expert in VASER HD lipo.  Best, Dr. Emer.

Ajay Mahajan, MD, FRCS (Plast) · Answer

Unfortunately, liposuction is not weight reduction surgery. Instead, liposuction helps sculpt the body by taking away fat from unwanted areas. You are in very early stages of recovery following your surgery and are bound to have a lot of tissue swelling. Once the swelling has settled in about 3 to 6 months, you will appreciate the reduction in volume of fat in the treated areas.

Daniel Barrett, MD · Answer

Dear leeds2903,
I understand your concern and it is quite normal to be concerned about the outcome following a liposuction surgery. However, you are still in the very early stages of the healing process.Your will need to be patient at this moment and follow what your surgeon has instructed you to do post operatively.At the early stage of the healing process, the tissues are still swollen. Once the swelling subsides  you will be able to see the final result of your surgery.
Daniel Barrett, MD
Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

Will I lose weight once the water retention has gone and last bit of swelling?

Answers (9)