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.

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.

Douglas Taranow, DO, FACOS · Answer

Dear Golden,
The answer is yes and no.  You are not a great candidate for liposuction due to your BMI and also how your skin and fat are distributed.  There is external fat that can be liposuctioned and internal fat (called visceral fat ) which is inside of the stomach and cannot be touched with liposuction.  Your belly has both external and visceral fat.  Your sides and lower back would be much different with liposuction, but the front of your belly will still be rounded and out with excess lower skin and wrinkling after liposuction.
The maximum fat removed is 5000 cc's.  You have this and so much more.
While you may spend $$$ on liposuction which would be a "jump start" in getting a shape back, you need to do diet and exercise as well.
Dr. T

Darryl J. Blinski, MD · Answer

Large volume liposuction is only a hospital based procedure with overnight stay. It is required you have a higher blood count or you may need added expenses and added risks of blood transfusion. Fees in $20,000 ranges. Or can in Florida do 3-4 separate lipo surgeries at max of 4 liters starting with abdomen then in 3 months back, etc. Fees are $6,000/session.

Gustavo E. Galante, MD · Answer

You may have answered your own question. You are not really an ideal candidate for surgery with your current BMI. It does not mean you cannot have a procedure done, but the risks of  surgery increase...infection, delayed healing, and blood clots. Weight loss with dieting and exercise is preferred as it is safer, requires no recovery, and it is certainly less expensive. You will likely need a tummy tuck even more after losing weight as the skin on your abdomen will deflate and droop more. However, you will get a much better result as your new tummy will fit the rest of your body better. Large volume liposuction can be done, and you can get a opinion from a board certified plastic surgeon, but weigh your options carefully.

Mats Hagstrom, MD (license on probation) · Answer

Most plastic surgeons will probably recommend weight loss and this is what is needed.

After liposuction the brain will be stimulated to increase appetite and unless someone has learned to control your eating habits already they will gain weight after high-volume Liposuction procedures.

Most plastic surgeons will not remove more than 5 L a fat maximum per session. In reality the sense of being about 8 pounds. This means you could literally have 10 rounds of liposuction to lose 80 pounds.  At $10,000 a session that’s $80,000.
Considering that patients who have not mastered weight loss or healthy eating on their own well gain weight after the procedure it becomes a fairly pointless and meeting less attempt that should be solved through addressing the primary problem which is your eating habits.

I suggest you start by talking to your primary pet care doctor

Consider finding local support groups and join others who are struggling with obesity. This can include for profit groups like weight watchers or not for profit organizations like overeaters anonymous.

With successful weight loss you will eventually have significant skin laxity, already present, and the only appropriate procedure will be an extended or wraparound tummy tuck.

So, successful weight loss followed by skin surgery is the way to go for you and unfortunately you’re going to have to do most of the work.

Best, Mats Hagstrom MD

Richard H. Bensimon, MD (retired) · Answer

Dear Golden 0602, it is possible to perform liposuction if you understand the benefits and limitations when your BMI is on the higher side. Liposuction is a a procedure intended to change shape and not for fat reduction ( even though it is the fat that is removed to create the shape change). The benefits are that you may be able to perceive a real change in your shape that you may find acceptable and will help you feel more confident. There is a limit to how much fat can be safely removed at one session, so your procedure may have to be staged. In addition to the limit for fat removal, there is also a safety guideline to the amount of lidocaine used (which is a local anesthetic) needed to numb the surgical area before the liposuction can take place. When strictly adhering to these guidelines, liposuction can be safely performed in higher BMI patients. In addition to the limits for fat removal and lidocaine dosages, the anesthesia style is also an important consideration. The use of MATFAS ( Modern Anesthesia Technique for Aesthetic Surgery) avoids the use of gas inhalation anesthesia which can prolong the short term recovery. Safer techniques like MATFAS allow patients to have oral or IV sedation with medications that are short acting and leave the body quickly. This is the preferred method by patients in our office. Patients leave within the hour after surgery and feel well upon discharge. First and foremost, the safety of the patient needs to come first. Seek out a board certified plastic surgeon who has experience in high BMI liposuction and good luck!

Would I be eligible for large volume liposuction?

Answers (10)

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