When it comes to removing stubborn fat from various areas of the body, liposuction stands front and center because of its remarkable results. By physically eliminating unwanted fat cells, liposuction offers a permanent fat-loss solution for the treated areas. But before you go through this effective fat reduction procedure, it’s natural to wonder how much fat you can get removed during liposuction.
The amount of fat that you can lose through liposuction mainlydepends upon your body mass index (BMI), treatment area, and overall goals. That said, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) suggests 5 liters as the maximum amount of fat that can be removed in a single procedure, but your plastic surgeon will make a personalized decision at the time of your consultation. Some high-volume liposuction techniques can also remove larger amounts of fat while ensuring patient safety. This post will outline what you need to know about liposuction safety guidelines.
What Is Liposuction And How Does It Target Fat?
Liposuction is a surgical procedure that removes excess fat cells from various areas of concern to get rid of stubborn pockets of fat that are diet- or exercise-resistant. Instead, it is a body contouring solution that reshapes and resculpts targeted areas of your body for renewed and more defined contours.
During your liposuction procedure, your plastic surgeon makes targeted incisions over your area of concern and inserts a specialized surgical tube called a cannula under your skin. Your surgeon then removes excess fat cells by using a surgical suction pump that is attached to the other end of the cannula and carefully contours and sculpts the treatment area.
How Much Fat Is Typically Removed During A Liposuction Procedure?
Since liposuction is a body sculpting procedure instead of a weight loss surgery, the amount of fat removed during it mainly depends upon the appearance of the treatment area. However, in order to ensure that you can safely recover from the procedure without added complications, plastic surgeons use other factors such as your BMI to determine safe liposuction limits for you.
This means that how much fat is removed during your liposuction procedure may differ from other patients. This figure may also vary across different treatment areas. For instance, if you get liposuction to remove excess arm fat, the amount of fat removed may be significantly lower than someone who undergoes the procedure for thigh fat removal. With that in mind, many patients lose between 1-3 pounds of fat during a typical liposuction treatment.
What Determines The Amount Of Fat That Can Be Safely Removed?
According to guidelines suggested by the ASPS, safe liposuction limits suggest a maximum of 5 liters of fat removed during each liposuction procedure. However, this figure is only considered an estimate, and there is no hard-set limitation for the maximum amount of fat that can be removed during liposuction. This allows plastic surgeons to set these limits on a case-by-case basis.
The factors that determine the amount of fat that can be safely removed include:
- Your BMI
- Your treatment area
- Your overall aesthetic goals
- The liposuction techniques used
How Do Safety Guidelines Impact Fat Removal In Liposuction?
Liposuction safety guidelines mainly focus on a patient’s ability to recover after the procedure. This is determined by calculating your BMI, which is an estimation of the amount of fat in your body. Currently, there is no definite stopping point but rather the amount of safe fat removal is relative to a patient’s pre-existing fat volume. During your liposuction preparation consultation, your board-certified plastic surgeon will set safe liposuction limits for your case specifically and then make personalized recommendations for your treatment that prioritize your safety and aesthetic goals.
What Procedure Removes Large Quantities Of Fat?
While different body sculpting procedures can help you with your fat reduction goals, liposuction remains the only procedure that can safely remove large quantities of fat. While the ASPS’ suggested guideline outlines removing up to 5 liters of fat during each liposuction treatment, some liposuction techniques can eliminate larger quantities of fat cells in a single procedure.
Does The Amount Of Fat Removed Vary By Body Part?
The amount of fat removed during liposuction does vary by body part because the amount of fat that exists to be removed is different. A patient getting liposuction in the abdominal region and the arms will likely not have equal volumes of fat removed from both areas. The amount of fat removed is relative to the amount of fat that a patient starts with. As such, the volume of fat removed in different areas will be different.
Is Liposuction A Permanent Weight Loss Solution?
Liposuction is a permanent fat loss solution that physically removes excess fat cells. Once removed, these fat cells do not grow back. However, it is crucial that you maintain a stable weight by practicing a healthy lifestyle after your surgery because the remaining fat cells can continue to grow. This ensures that you do not experience unwanted weight gain in other areas of your body and get the most out of your liposuction body contouring for years to come.
What Post-Operative Care Is Required After Fat Removal?
Liposuction recovery typically takes 4-6 weeks, and most patients take at least one week off work to recover. You will need someone to drive you home after your procedure and stay with you for at least a day to help you with care tasks and monitor your condition. Dr. Lofman may prescribe pain medication to help with discomfort. Additional post-operative care that should be expected includes:
- Wearing a compression garment for at least 4-6 weeks.
- Taking time off of work for at least 1 week.
- Avoiding heavy exercise for the first few weeks.
- Consuming a healthy diet.
- Exercising regularly after your recovery.
- Maintaining a stable weight.
- Practicing an active lifestyle.
Dr. Lofman provides each patient with detailed and personalized care instructions to ensure a smooth recovery and optimal results. If you have any concerns about your post-liposuction care, do not hesitate to call the office and get help right away.
Contact Dr. Lofman For Your Liposuction in Michigan
Sometimes, reaching your aesthetic goals cannot be achieved without surgery. At Plastic Surgery of Michigan, board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Andrew Lofman specializes in performing liposuction procedures for patients of all body types. By using his experience with liposuction as well as other body contouring procedures, Dr. Lofman helps patients restore their confidence and love their bodies in a way that is done safely and ineffectively. To determine how liposuction in Michigan can help you finally reach your goals, request a consultation online or call us at (248) 540 2100 to schedule your appointment.
