Liposuction is not a weight-loss method: who it suits
What liposuction does, who it suits, who it does not, and the five most common misconceptions about it.
One of the sentences I hear most at consultations is this: "Doctor, I am ten kilos overweight, let us take it off with liposuction." My answer is always the same: liposuction does not reduce weight, it corrects shape. Understanding that difference changes both what you expect and what you get.
What liposuction actually does
There are fat deposits in the body that do not respond to diet or exercise: the flanks, the lower abdomen, the outer thighs, under the chin. This is inherited. Liposuction removes the fat in exactly those places through a thin tube and smooths the line of the body. On the scales the difference is a kilo or two; in the mirror it is far greater.
Who it suits
- People whose weight is close to normal and has been stable for at least six months
- People with elastic skin: the skin has to tighten once the fat is gone
- People with stubborn fat in a particular area
- People in good general health who do not smoke
Who it does not suit
- People whose main aim is to lose weight: diet and activity come first
- People with loose skin: once the fat is removed the skin sags more, and a tummy tuck is the right operation
- People with a lot of fat inside the abdomen: liposuction does not reach fat beneath the muscles
- People who want to remove cellulite and stretch marks: liposuction does not correct them
The five most common misconceptions
- "The fat does not come back." The removed fat cells do not return, but the remaining ones can grow. If you gain weight, the result is lost.
- "The more that is removed, the better." There is a safe limit to the volume removed in one session. Going beyond it raises the risk of blood loss and serious complications.
- "I will see the result straight after the operation." In the first weeks swelling can make the body look fuller than before. The final contour forms in three to six months.
- "The compression garment is optional." It reduces swelling and helps the skin settle smoothly. Wearing it for four to six weeks is part of the result.
- "Liposuction is a simple procedure." It is a surgical operation under anaesthesia and should be done in a clinic, under the supervision of an anaesthetist.
How to keep the result
Liposuction gives you a new start, not a guarantee. My most satisfied patients are those who make activity and eating well part of their life afterwards. As long as your weight stays stable, the result lasts for years.
Liposuction is for the mirror, not for the scales.
