I am having hard time losing and maintaining more than 10 lbs. Can Lipo can help jumpstart another 70 lbs?

Liposuction can really help motivate all sizes of patients when they need a little help to get to that next level. We get stuck sometimes and need something to get us going again and liposuction is so great at getting us motivated. It doesn't matter what size we are, we all need a little help sometimes.

​Thank you for your question. It is hard to provided with a valid medical opinion without photos. I would suggest to be treated by board certificated plastic surgeon with experience in this procedure, to get the best desired results.

Kind Regards,
Dr. Emmanuel Mallol Cotes.-

yes we do large volume removal and "debunking" procedures to stimulate the weight loss process along with hormonal therapy, weight loss medications, nutrition planning, meal preparation. See an expert with a full comprehensive plan. you many need bariatric surgery.

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.

Ideal candidates for liposuction are at or near their ideal weight and have good skin elasticity. Liposuction is not a weigh loss procedure. The maximum amount of fat that can be liposuctioned at a time is 5 liters which would not decrease your weight by 70 pounds. Lipo is intended to remove stubborn pockets of fat that don’t respond to regular exercise, as the skin does need to be able to smooth back into place after the procedure is complete. Most plastic surgeons look for a BMI close to 30 to ensure maximum results and to decrease the risks of complications during and after surgery. It is customary to reach a plateau in weight loss. Discuss ways to break the plateau with your PCP.

Thank you for your question. Congratulations on your weight loss! It is important to remember that liposuction is a body contouring procedure not a weight loss procedure. Most people see a larger difference in inches over what they see on the scale post lipo. You may see a 5-15lbs difference on the scale which might be enough for you to enhance your diet and workout regimen post op. For many making such a great investment in their body allows them to take more pride in themselves and jump starts their health journey. You may consider a finding a facility that also offers a weight management program along with specializing in cosmetic procedures. This will help you see the best results from your surgery as we can only remove so much fat in one surgery and we only target the subcutaneous fat (fat under the skin) and not the visceral fat (fat around your organs). Continue to push through with a healthy diet and exercise plan and consult with a Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon to create the best possible treatment plan. Good luck!
Daniel Park, MD
Diplomate, American Board of Plastic Surgery
Diplomate, American Board of Surgery