Could a 270 pound person get liposuction?

hello Erick_e18 Liposuction is a procedure used to physically remove excess or unwanted fat from a patient’s body. Liposuction can used be for various problems, depending on your individual needs. If you have fat in a particular area of your body that you can’t seem to get rid of through dieting or exercise, liposuction may provide a good option for you.  Liposuction can also be done to improve your body contours. Liposuction is not used for those looking for dramatic weight loss; it is done when you are close to your desired weight. Healthy elastic skin is a major requirement for liposuction to enable quick recovery. In cases where a large amount  of fat is removed, liposuction should be done with other body contouring procedures such as tummy tuck, thigh lift, buttock augmentation, facelift, neck lift and chin augmentation. #options #weight

Thank you so much for this question.  Unfortunately, liposuction is not a great option for weight loss.  When people carry a large amount of body fat which translates to a high and unsafe BMI (a Body Mass Index for someone who is 5'4" and 270 lbs is 46), the body fat is typically distributed all over the body and even within the abdomen.  Liposuction is best used for targeted body contouring and typically does not result in massive weight loss.  In Texas, we are limited to removed no more than 5 L of fluid and fat during outpatient liposuction procedures.  This keeps patients safe but also limits how much we can do.  Plus, we cannot enter the inner abdominal area (under the muscle wall where the intestines live) where many people keep much of their excess weight.If you own a smartphone, please install an app such as MyFitnessPal (free!) and start a diary of your food intake.  You are at the age that you can more easily make huge lifestyle and eating changes.  Tracking your food and drink will bring awareness to what you are doing that may be sidetracking your success.  Many people do not realize how many liquid calories they are ingesting that are not keeping them feeling full.  I encourage patients to keep food choices simple- complex diets are exhausting and result in quick burnout.  Its easier than you think to avoid some carb pitfalls.  Encourage yourself and your family to shop at the grocery store differently.  Avoid the inner aisles.  Shop the fruits/veggies, meats, some cheeses, yogurts, some dairy, some frozen.  No soda.  No juice.  No snack or chips (even if the packages suggest they are 'healthy').  Go to the inner aisles only for nuts, maybe one box of cereal, coffee, tea, olive or canola oil, seasonings, broth, brown rice, canned fruit/veggies, limited pasta (hopefully wheat pasta), very limited bread.  There is no other reason to visit the inner parts of the grocery store.  I encourage patients to have a 'cheat meal' every week so that they feel rewarded.  But, overall I think we need to stop viewing food as a reward.  We need to also eat out in restaurants less- one basket of chips and queso can give you half your calories and fat for the day and feel like nothing.  We eat too casually.  We eat high calories items in minutes without even thinking about it.  Tracking your food intake will give you pause.  I promise.Our failure in weight loss comes from food intake.  Exercise is important for overall health but do not depend on exercise for weight loss- it'll fail you more often than not.  Team up with family, your primary care doctor, and perhaps a nutritionist.  Find a healthy food blog online to give you ideas.  You are young and healthy.  I encourage you to work hard for yourself and for your future.  Best of luck to you!

Ideal candidates for liposuction have a body mass index below 30.  Liposuction is not a weight loss procedure.

You need to lose weight first before undergoing any cosmetic procedure to get the best outcome. For best results, it is recommended to be at your ideal or stable weight before getting a sculpting liposuction procedure. Liposuction is not a weight loss procedure, rather it is for sculpting and defining and removing problem areas that cannot be removed with weight loss and diet / exercise alone. With skin laxity, a tummy tuck or lifting procedure could be performed at the same time. I recommend getting a formal evaluation with a bariatric doctor or dietitian. Best, Dr. Emer

One of the most common misconceptions surrounding liposuction is that of weight loss. It is a body contouring tool which is best employed in healthy patients who have reached a stable weight (preferably with a BMI less than 30).
The legal limits for fat removal in an office setting is 4-5 liters (varying from state to state). This equates to approximately 11 lbs. However, this is an estimate and not an actual accounting of weight removed. There are no such limits for procedures performed in a hospital setting.
Ultimately, those who approach the procedure as an alternative to traditional means of weight loss (diet and exercise) are bound to be disappointed. There is no reason you could not have surgery, however, your satisfaction will hinge on your expectations.
As always, discuss your concerns with a board certified plastic surgeon (ABPS).

Thank you for your question.  Unfortunately, liposuction may not help you achieve your goals.  Changes in your lifestyle that are sustainable that result in positive weight changes are going to be the most impactful.  I would suggest you visit a weight management specialist who can help you develop a diet, exercise, and medication plan that can you achieve you goals.  Alternatively, you can consider bariatric surgery as this may help provide a more impactful change for the right candidate.  I would avoid crash diets as this may only contribute the up/down changes.

Hi and welcome to our forum!Liposuction is a reshaping procedure, not a weight loss procedure. For example, in Florida, 4000 cc is the maximum amount of fat which can be removed as an outpatient procedure. This equates to approximately 6-8 pounds, which most likely not suffice in your situation. I would recommend a program of controlled and supervised diet and exercise to lose weight. If diets and exercise have failed you on multiple attempts with weight loss / weight gain / weight loss / etc. (the yo-yo phenomenon), one may consider bariatric surgery. In our practice, we employ a bariatric (weight loss) surgeon. Our popular bariatric procedures include the gastric sleeve (a surgical procedure) and the gastric balloon (a non-surgical procedure). Best wishes!

Thank you for your question. Liposuction is not a weight loss surgery. But it can be done for some localized troubled areas and not for weight loss. At your weight it is better to loose weight with diet and exercise. I recommend you to consult a nutritionist and Trainer and talk to your Primary care physician.

Liposuction is not an alternative to weight loss.  You should check your BMI. If very high then lipo is not a good idea. You should lower your weight first and then get evaluated if you think lipo  might help.

Hello,
Thank you so much for sharing your question. I suggest you to lose weight by keeping an active lifestyle and healthy diet, after you reach your weight goal, have a consultation with a board certificate plastic surgeon to discuss if a lipo could help you achieve your final goal.
Best wishes,
Dr. Roberto Guerrero MD