One of the most commonly asked questions about liposuction is, “How many pounds of fat will I lose?” The answer to this question depends on a number of factors, including your weight before liposuction and the area(s) you wish to treat.
There is no hard-and-fast rule regarding the amount of liposuction that you can get, though it’s important to remember that liposuction is designed for body contouring, not as a weight loss tool. Here’s what you need to know to get a better idea of the kinds of results you can expect.
The Amount of “Safe” Liposuction Depends on Your BMI
While liposuction is a relatively low-risk procedure, complications such as fluid buildup can occur. One study found that the risk of liposuction complications was slightly higher in people with lower BMIs who had high-volume liposuction, compared to people with higher BMIs who had the same amount of fat removed.
“High-volume” liposuction is generally considered to be a maximum of five liters of fat, which equates to about 10 pounds. Most people will have an average of 2 to 4 liters of fat removed during liposuction, or anywhere from 5 to 8 pounds. In California, the maximum amount of aspirate that can be removed in the outpatient setting is 5 liters. Therefore, for patients who are seeking really dramatic results, sometimes procedures need to be staged in order to create the best results safely.
Multiple Areas Can Be Treated at Once
Some people choose to treat multiple areas of their bodies with liposuction in one appointment. If your surgeon is concerned about a larger volume of fat needing to be removed, he or she may advise scheduling two separate surgeries.
Liposuction Isn’t about Weight Loss
Liposuction can help you look and feel better in your favorite pair of jeans, but it’s not going to drastically change the number on the scale. Most people lose around 5 to 10 pounds after liposuction.
If you are looking to hit a larger weight loss goal, it is best to start with traditional weight loss methods like diet and exercise before getting liposuction.
For more information about liposuction or to schedule a consultation, please contact us online or call our Sacramento office at 916-983-9895.
