If you are looking to alter your appearance, chances are you’ve heard about liposuction. As one of the most popular plastic surgery treatments in America, liposuction is a choice by many who would like a smoother, more svelte appearance.

However, like any other plastic surgery procedure, a lot of myths and misconceptions about liposuction can prevent you from going for treatment. To provide clarity, here we separate liposuction myths from facts.

Myth: Liposuction is a method of losing weight 

Fact: Liposuction is not a weight loss method. Typical patients only lose about 2 to 5 pounds per treatment. Instead, liposuction is a way to eliminate stubborn fat pockets if you are trying to achieve a smoother look. The most successful liposuction patients are within 30 percent of a healthy body weight. 

Myth: Liposuction removes cellulite 

Fact: This treatment works by removing the fat deposits that are right underneath the skin, which is not necessarily cellulite. In fact, using liposuction as a method to exclusively remove cellulite can actually worsen your appearance as it can worsen existing depressions in the skin.

Myth: There is an age limit to liposuction 

Fact: This is untrue. It is common to think that a patient is too old to receive liposuction, but as long as you are in good general health, it is a perfectly acceptable treatment to get at any age. Just make sure to consult with both your general practitioner and your plastic surgeon about any apprehensions you may have before the treatment to give yourself peace of mind.

Myth: Because fat cells are being removed in one area, they will return somewhere else.

Fact: Once fat is removed from your body, it will not accumulate in any other area. Typically speaking, the body accumulates fat proportionally, but once it is removed from an area, the fat will not grow back. There will be some extra fat cells in the area that can grow fat at a normal rate, but in general this means that if you are to gain weight after your treatment, the areas you had done will not grow fat as fast as other areas.

Myth: Liposuction isn’t a surgical procedure 

Fact: Liposuction is an invasive procedure and does require some downtime. During your treatment, you will receive general anesthesia or heavy sedation, and you will need about a week of recovery before you can go back to your everyday activities. Additionally, you’ll need to schedule follow-up appointments with your surgeon to ensure your recovery is going as planned. 

Myth: Liposuction is permanent 

Fact: Liposuction is not permanent and may just be a piece of the puzzle. You will need to maintain a healthy lifestyle including a proper diet to continue to see results from your liposuction treatment, or else you may soon see your results going away. If you are concerned about gaining back the weight, your plastic surgeon will be able to give you some diet and exercise tips and tricks to keep you feeling comfortable.

Myth: Liposuction will remove a lot of fat 

Fact: As mentioned previously, liposuction is not a method of weight loss, meaning your surgeon will most likely not remove a lot of fat during your treatment. In actuality, the more fat removed, the higher the risk for permanent abnormalities in the skin like lumps or bumps.

Myth: Liposuction will remove excess skin 

Fact: Liposuction is a fat-removal process and will not remove any excess and lax skin you may have. In fact, lipo may even cause some sagging skin if you already have some in the area. To prevent this, ask your plastic surgeon about the different options available to you when it comes to getting a skin-tightening procedure in addition to liposuction.

We hope that by debunking these common liposuction myths and misconceptions you feel confident in choosing this treatment option. If you have any other questions, do not hesitate to contact your area plastic surgeon today.