With weight management procedures on the rise, lipo is becoming more popular than ever. However, it is important to distinguish bariatric procedures from cosmetic ones; if you need to lose a significant amount of weight, liposuction is not be the answer for you.
Weight Loss and Body Sculpting: A Distinction
Even though Colorado is a fitness buff’s heaven, with too many hiking, skiing, rowing and rafting opportunities to count, liposuction is still one of the most commonly requested procedures in Denver. Almost everyone, even the most fit and toned among us, has a few pockets of fat that might blur the overall aesthetic of the figure. For some, the fatty tissue might be concentrated on the thighs and buttocks; for others it can be on the abdomen. When even the most diligent exercise and diet routine can’t seem to budge these stubborn fat deposits, some patients turn to liposuction.
However, for patients who have an excess amount of weight overall that could conceivably be addressed via diet and exercise, liposuction is not the answer. Liposuction is not meant to carve a small body out of a larger one; it only removes relatively small pockets of fat (no more than 5L of fat and fluid total) in an otherwise slim and healthy physique.*
Large Volume Liposuction
Any liposuction procedure that removes more than 5L of matter is considered large volume liposuction, which translates to approximately 8lbs. While there are physicians that perform gradual large volume liposuction procedures through a course of several surgeries a week or more apart, they are not advisable as an outpatient and can lead to serious complications.
If you are unsure if your liposuction expectations are reasonable or whether you should address your issue as an overall weight loss journey, please contact our center for a consultation.
*This information is for education only, and is not meant as a guarantee of results. Your results may vary.
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Author: Dr. Francesco Campanile
Board-certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, Dr. Francesco Campanile is a cosmetic surgeon in Denver who is focused on body contouring and breast enhancement. Time and time again, the women and men who choose Dr. Campanile say that they’ve found “the whole package” – a doctor who cares deeply about the quality of their results and has the skill to achieve excellence.
