Liposuction for Obese Patient?

Photos would help.  You are probably female judging from your email.  Just because you are overweight does not mean that you are necessarily not a candidate for liposuction.  As I am sure you know, liposuction is not a substitute for diet and exercise.  A major question is how much of your fat is intraabdominal (around the organs where it cannot be reached by liposuction) and how much is "subcutaneous" (between the skin and the abdominal muscles where it can be reached).  If you have a relative abundance of subcutaneous fat, you may be a candidate, as long as you have the expectation that this is part of the solution, and not an alternative.  Sounds like you are on the right track.  See an experienced plastic surgeon and insist on seeing before and after photos.  If you see ten sets of photos that you like, that is a good sign that you will be satisfied.  I call this the "rule of 10."  I've attached a link to this part of my website, in case you wish to read more.

You are correct, #liposuction is not a weight loss procedure (though you do lose weight). It is more dangerous in obese patients. In your case you might want to consider a hybrid approach - lose weight by diet and exercise and when you get to a point where it doesn't seem to want to come off more then consider this procedure. Only see a board certified plastic surgeon for the best result and for safety.

Your best result from any surgery is when your weight is stable.  Having said that, I have seen patients approach this type of surgery from two different angles.  Some patients, like you, become stuck and want to do a procedure which then motivates them to return to the gym and keep working to lose more weight.  They may have to do another surgery later, but it gets them over that hump.  Others prefer to wait until they have achieved their target weight before having their surgery.  Either way seems to work well.

That's great news about your weight loss! It's wonderful to hear that you're aiming to achieve a healthier weight.

Why do you want to get liposuction? If you want to get liposuction to lose weight, then you'll be disappointed - it will not make a significant difference. You may lose just a couple of pounds, but you can definitely do that on your own without the risks related to surgery. In addition, you may find that your skin becomes loose with your natural weight loss, and in this situation, only a tummy tuck can address this.

 

In general, however, it is best to achieve a normal and steady BMI before undergoing liposuction because it's safer for you and you'll achieve better results. Wishing you all the best in your weight loss - you can do it!

Great job losing 30 pounds.  Unfortunately, liposuction is not a substitute for weight loss.  You would be better off spending your money on a personal trainer and nutritional consultant or a medically supervised weight loss program.  Liposuction works best for addressing difficult areas in people who are near their ideal body weight. 

Congrats for the dieting and exercising you have done with the weight loss. Often patients get to a plateau where they give up on the dieting and exercising since they don't see any further loss.  That is when liposuction really helps motivate them to continue on the long journey since they see a significant improvement in the area liposuction.  Abdomens are often the areas patients want to see an improvement in and they great.  Expect to pay roughly $6500 on special and good luck on your journey. Sincerely,

David Hansen,MD

Thank you for your question. Liposuction is not a weight loss procedure and it only helps if your fat is outside the abdomen. If the fat is between your muscle and skin then a "debulking" liposuction can be done. Obviously, there's a safe limit of how much fat can be removed in large volume liposuction. You need to see a board certified plastic surgeon for an in person consultation/evaluation. You might also want to consider a weight loss/ nutrition program under medical guidance. Many times it is difficult to do it alone, people become frustrated and tend to give up. Good luck.

  I think that most plastic surgeons would recommend additional weight loss prior to liposuction or excisional procedures.  Most plastic surgeons reserve liposuction for contouring stubborn fatty areas that diet and exercise cannot remove.  Kenneth Hughes, MD Los Angeles, CA

Congratulations on your significant weight loss;  I would suggest that you continue on your current diet/exercise regimen prior to undergoing any type of body contouring surgery.  Good candidates for liposuction surgery have achieved a long-term stable weight, present with localized ( diet and exercise resistant) adipose tissue, and demonstrate good quality overlying skin.

 Best wishes.

As a plastic surgeon that emphasizes health and wellness, I often remind patients that body contouring procedures are not a weight loss solution or a substitute for a healthy lifestyle. Diet and exercise will continue to help you achieve your goals; liposuction should only be reserved for patients with a small amount of fat. It is equally important for liposuction patients to exercise regularly and have a balanced diet to maintain their results. If you are interested in liposuction, you should continue working towards your weight goal and later consult a board certified plastic surgeon who is experienced in body procedures.