Would I be eligible for large volume liposuction?

Question

*Here goes nothing* I am considering liposuction (large volume). I am 5’6 242lbs, I believe my BMI is 39. I know this procedure isn’t usually ideal for my BMI but I see it can be done safely. Am I a good candidate or wasting my time? Or would an abdominoplasty be more ideal? Thank you in advance!

Gary M. Horndeski, MD · Answer

At 5'6 and 242 lbs, your BMI is 39.  10 lbs can safely be removed during one session of liposuction.  This may have to be repeated to get your weight down.  I recommend you begin a low fat diet, core exercises such as sit-ups, planks, pilates and consult with a bariatric surgeon.

Best Wishes,

Gary Horndeski, M.D.

Daniel Barrett, MD · Answer

Dear Golden0602,
it is hard to tell for sure without an examination. Generally speaking, you want to reach your goal weight before you consider a surgery, otherwise your results will be suboptimal if you continue to lose weight after the surgery. If you are considering a surgery, I would suggest you to consult a board-certified plastic surgeon. Only after a thorough examination you will get more information and recommendations.
Daniel Barrett, MD
Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

Jason Emer, MD · Answer

liposuction will do very little for you, you need weight loss and skin removal (tummy tuck/body lift) plus liposuction.

my whole practice is doing lipoabdominoplasty, or at least liposuction with internal heating (which is not the gold standard for skin tightening with body contouring).

the smaller you are before liposuction the more contouring you can get from the procedure. most of my liposuction patients get pre and post surgical optimization with hormonal therapy (see link to help boost their weight loss before surgery and help them heal after).

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

It would be in your best interest to decrease your body BMI at least bellow 33 to have some benefits of liposuction. You will also need extensive TT. With BMI over 30 your risks for any type of surgery are 3-4 times above average. Good luck.

Connie Hiers, MD, FACS · Answer

Without photos, I cannot be specific. You can have liposuction if medically you are healthy enough for elective surgery. a tummy tuck is done if you have excess skin. If not, just do liposuction.

Would I be eligible for large volume liposuction?

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Would I be eligible for large volume liposuction?

Answers (10)

Answer: Weigh reduction before liposuction

Answer: Weigh reduction before liposuction

Answer: Surgery

Answer: Surgery

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Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.