Maintaining optimism is extremely important for prospective plastic surgery patients, but staying realistic is just as vital. I consider it part of my duty as a double board-certified plastic surgeon to help each patient I work with fully understand their respective cosmetic procedure and what it can help them achieve. Cosmetic procedures like liposuction may seem like miracle fixes for certain aesthetic issues. But the truth is that every patient is different and every surgery has its limitations. That’s why I wanted to set the record straight on liposuction and what patients can realistically expect from their experience.
Liposuction is a body contouring procedure that is used to remove small pockets of fat from areas all over the body. It can be especially helpful for treating stubborn fat that will not go away with healthy dieting and exercise alone. I emphasize the term body contouring to help my patients understand that liposuction is not weight loss surgery. Considerable weight loss is not a result you should expect from liposuction. Typically, the amount of fat removed during a liposuction procedure ranges from 1 to 10 pounds depending on the area and the amount of fat that can safely be removed. Some male patients may be able to treat some degree of male breast enlargement with liposuction, but true gynecomastia will require male breast reduction to be effectively treated.
In the following video, I discuss liposuction surgery in-depth to help prospective patients get a better idea of what this procedure is capable of:
Realistic expectations can still be high expectations, and they should be. Once a patient understands what liposuction is capable of, the long-term satisfaction rate with their surgery and results is extremely high. For more information on liposuction or other cosmetic procedures that I perform, please contact me, Dr. David Whiteman, at Southern Plastic Surgery. You can also follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for additional videos, news, and more.