Are there limits to lipo? What you should know about liposuction

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Are you considering getting liposuction done? If so, you may be wondering just what is possible to achieve aesthetically with the liposuction procedure. The more that you know about lipo, the better you will feel about making the decision to undergo the procedure.

Liposuction is a versatile procedure that is often combined with other cosmetic procedures in order to enhance the results. That said, there are some limits as to what is possible with the liposuction procedure.

Liposuction is not a weight loss procedure

Those who are overweight or obese should not be using liposuction as a solution or treatment. Liposuction does work to remove fat and slim and trim areas of stubborn fat, but this is not a way to treat obesity. It’s a procedure with a focus on contouring your body and face, purely for cosmetic purposes. The best way to get the results that you want is to work out, eat right and lose the weight naturally. Once you’ve lost weight and have held your weight steady for several months, then you should consider liposuction as a way of treating those stubborn and difficult-to-remove areas of fat on your body.

Liposuction can’t remove more than 5L

According to top Sydney plastic surgeon Dr Jeremy Hunt, it’s not considered to be safe to remove more than 5L of fat from most patients. The needs of each patient will differ greatly, and the desired results will vary greatly. If you are concerned about how much fat you can realistically have removed, be sure to speak to your surgeon so that you are both on the same page. Remember that you can always have another procedure done if needed, once you’ve recovered from the first procedure.

Risks of removing too much fat

While liposuction can definitely help you to get the defined contours that you are looking for, there are some risks associated with the removal of too much fat from your body. This could include seeing dimpling, lumps, hollow pockets under the skin and asymmetry. In addition, the skin may not correctly retract after removing the fat which may then result in seeing loose and saggy skin.

It can take much more time to extract a larger volume of fat, which will mean that you are under anaesthesia much longer. This can increase your risks of surgical complications.

Getting the best results from liposuction

To get the best in results from liposuction you should be at your ideal and stable weight for several months. You will also find that many cosmetic surgeons recommend combining liposuction with other procedures that you are interested in, so that you can maximize the results of those procedures. As an example, you may be interested in a tummy tuck or a thigh lift. Liposuction can be used to sculpt your curves after your excess skin has been trimmed.

A very versatile procedure, liposuction should only be considered in cases where it will benefit the patient looking to define new contours after another type of cosmetic treatment.