I'm a morbidly obese 62 yr old woman. Can I get lipo in the upper stomach to give my lungs room to breathe?

Question

I can't breathe doing the most simple things like getting dressed etc. I want lipo to remove fat in upper stomach so the lungs have room. This has effected my way of life. It is not for vanity reasons or weight loss - just to breathe. When I feel better with this procedure, I know I will have motivation to lose weight (again). PLEASE - I hope a doctor will respond to answer my question. Thank you in advance.

Robert M. Lowen, MD · Answer

This will not work, unfortunately.  You should get a referral to a good weight loss program or bariatric surgeon. If you are accepted for bariatric surgery, you will lose weight and then you may find your breathing improves.

Kenneth Hughes, MD · Answer

Being morbidly obese would increase risks of complications during and after surgery. Lipo is a terrible weight loss tool but a great contouring tool. Most plastic surgeons reserve liposuction for contouring stubborn fatty areas that diet and exercise cannot remove. Your best option would be to consult with your primary care physician to provide guidance in a weight loss and exercise program.  Also ask for a referral to a bariatric surgeon who can assess your current health and provide guidance regarding gastric bypass surgery to help with the weight loss.

Nick Slenkovich, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question. Unfortunately, liposuction would not improve your breathing at all. Liposuction and body contouring procedures are not meant to be weight loss procedures, as it only treats external fat. Typically, an obese patient has internal fat surrounding their organs. Furthermore, undergoing surgery at an obese weight is risky and most plastic surgeons require their patients to be at a BMI of 30 or below. Best of luck on your journey!

Jason Emer, MD · Answer

Liposuction IS NOT A WEIGHT LOSS TOOL nor does it help breathing.  This will not help you at all.  weight loss, hormonal control and exercise are the best first options unless you are a candidate for bariatric surgery.  please see an expert.
You need a formal evaluation by an expert in body shaping and contouring to determine what is best.  Traditional liposuction awake and smart liposuction are old methods and do very poorly for tightening skin or significant skin tightening or contouring.  Small problem areas can be improved slightly by these methods.  The best in body contouring not only removes fat with energy devices like VASER ultrasound but also internally heat the skin with radio-frequency devices such as J PLASMA/RENUVION, InMode BodyTite, ThermiRF to heat the under surface of the skin and tighten it at the same time as fat removal. These combinations are called 4D HIDEF VASER contouring and can only be done by a well . trained body contouring specialist. At the same time fat should be harvested, PRP and stem cells added and injected into muscles or indentations/cellulite to get body shaping and contouring.  This is known as a Brazilian butt lift when you inject the fat to the buttock for contouring and lifting, but fat can also be used in areas such as the chest/breast, arms/shoulders, calves and face.  Cellulite should also be treated with cellfina, sculptra, subcision and/or fillers such as bellafill, renuva synthetic fat, or sculptra.  If skin is very loose before surgery then it will need to be removed such as lower abdominal skin (tummy tuck/abdominoplasty), breast skin (breast lift), arm skin (brachioplasty).  Overall you need a full assessment, but simple liposuction alone will not tighten skin and needs a combination of various methods -- fat removal, skin tightening, defining, fat grafting, skin removal -- to get the best in body contouring and body sculpting.  Dr. Emer.

Zoran Potparic, MD · Answer

Difficulty with breathing in severely obese patient is related to multiple problems mostly due to increased content of intra-abdominal fat (around inner organs). For that reason, excursions of diaphragm are limited and patient can not breath properly. Evaluation for weight loss bariatric surgery is recommended. Good luck.

Pejman Aflaki, MD · Answer

Hello and thank you for your question. The short answer is 'No'. Ideal candidates for liposuction have a normal or close to normal BMI, they have stubborn areas of adiposity that they can't get rid of despite adequate diet and exercise, and have a good skin tone with no significant stretch marks. It is important to keep in mind that liposuction is NOT a weight loss surgery, and is more of a tool to re-shape the body. You mentioned in your question that you are morbidly obese. I would highly recommend that you pursue aggressive weight loss prior to any elective plastic surgery procedure. I would seek consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon for a full evaluation and advice. Best,

Thomas Trevisani, MD · Answer

Morbid obesity affects all organ systems detrimentally. In consultation with your Pulminologist and your Nutritionist  - I recommend that you have pulmonary function test performed as the base line. Then, commit to a lifestyle change to eliminate your morbid obesity from your life. This is your best- most efficient long term mechanism to improve the quality of your life and possible longevity. Liposuction is intended to be a spot removal of fat that otherwise will not respond to diet and exercise. In other words, liposuction is an Aesthetic elective procedure -with very little effect on functionality in this case.

Daniel Barrett, MD · Answer

Dear rotony22,
liposuction is a body contouring procedure which won't have effect on your breathing issues. Generally speaking, you want to reach your goal weight before you consider a liposuction, otherwise your results will be suboptimal if you continue to lose weight after the surgery. Most plastic surgeons won't do elective procedure if the patient has BMI over 30, in order to reduce the chance of complications. 
Daniel Barrett, MD

Tania Medina de Garcia, MD · Answer

Hello dear!
Thanks for the question and provided information as well.
Unfortunately, your BMI needs to be 33 or less, for you to be considered a good candidate for plastic surgery.
l recommend you to make an appointment with a board certified bariatric surgeon, to talk about your goals and the best options for you.
Good luck :)

Brian A. Pinsky, MD, FACS · Answer

Unfortunately, liposuction will not likely have any positive effect on your breathing.  The issues is usually intra-abdominal fat pressing on your diaphragm as well as the excess work of breathing required at your current weight.  The most helpful thing may be to see a bariatric surgeon to discuss weight loss surgical options.  Best of luck.

I'm a morbidly obese 62 yr old woman. Can I get lipo in the upper stomach to give my lungs room to breathe?

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