Disappointment after liposuction. Why would the fat be too hard to remove? (photo)

I am sorry that you are disappointed in your result. It is very difficult to know how to advise you with the given information. I am interested if your doctor measured the amount of removed fat or total about of liposuction aspirate. Those are two very different numbers. How long are you after surgery. It takes at least 3 months before the quality of the result can be seen. Liposuction is a delayed gratification type of procedure. It would be great if we could see your post pictures for comparison. Please let us know some or all of that information and I think you will get a lot more advice. Keep us posted!

I offer my patients all the technology available with liposuction but feel tumescent liposuction is the best. I am confident in the reliable reproducible results. Its aggressive so the healing can take longer but the results have been great

Thanks for the pictures. I am sorry about your outcome. Smaller than normal anticipated volumes are either a judgement error (thought you could get out more than there actually is) or a technique issue. In the correct patient liposuction is effective. 

My suggestion is you discuss your unhappiness with your physician.  It looks as if you have the type of body that would do great with body contouring using the tumescent approach.  You should find a physician with skill and who understands your goals.  Long term results are not with the type of materials used but by having the best and most experienced physician performing your procedure. Best, Dr. Emer.

Without seeing your postop photos, it is really hard to tell what happened.  You may want to seek a second opinion from an experienced, board certified plastic surgeon to see if further improvements can be made. 

It takes up to 6 weeks to reach
the 90% point of your end result. Removing 700 ml is about a pound and a
half of fat which should make a sizeable difference in the way you look and
your clothing should fit more loosely. The photos you show are
pre-surgery. I would love to see how you look at 6 weeks out! Now
your surgeon may have undertreated, but time and your patience will tell.
By the way – did your surgeon tell you he would remove a certain amount of fat
or certain amount of weight with your waistline and thighs? If so, you
may have been misled with unrealistic expectations. Typically on someone
with your height/weight and body shape I would have removed at least 2000 ml of
fat if treating your thighs and abdomen.

Hi Ozzy,Thanks for your question-- I'm sorry to hear that your surgery didn't meet the expectations that you had for fat removal!  It's difficult to answer this question without an exam.  I suspect that some of your fat may have been intra-abdominal, meaning that it is deeper than the muscle, and around the internal organs.  If this is the case, then the fat cannot be safely removed, and must be lost with diet and exercise instead.  If he felt that you would be a good candidate, then you may still have a nice result once the swelling subsides.  Maybe include these postop photos as an updated question.  Keep in close followup with your plastic surgeon, or even seen another surgeon in your area for an in-person consultation.  Best wishes on your recovery!--Erik Hoy, M.D.