What You Should Know If Too Much Fat Was Removed During Liposuction

Liposuction is a popular procedure for targeting stubborn fat that proves resistant to diet and exercise. This surgical treatment can help you achieve a toned look and a sculpted figure. However, like any plastic surgery, it has its limitations.

Liposuction is not a weight loss solution, as fat does not weigh much. Still, patients often ask how much fat can be removed with liposuction and how much weight loss that equates to.

Most states restrict the maximum volume of fat removed in one session to five liters, which equates to roughly 12 pounds. Surgeons will aim to reduce no more than this amount, as this limit for fat removal balances effective results with patient safety.

Of course, not all bodies are the same. Although the standard limit to how much fat liposuction can remove is five liters in most states, the quantity will depend on the procedure and the patient's goals. Thinner patients, or those removing stubborn fat on small areas like the chin, will not come close to five liters.

It's also essential to clear up that you won't be losing 12 pounds of fat. That amount includes the total quantity of fat, blood, and other fluids removed, much of which you will regain quickly.

Removing Too Much Fat Isn't Ideal

Aiming to maximize the amount of fat removed does not usually provide the best results. Because liposuction is not a weight loss procedure, its sole focus is to subtly improve your figure by targeting pockets of fat in specific areas of the body.

Most surgeons suggest that you have a gentle fat removal procedure. This will help you achieve a more natural-looking body.

As board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Ali Mosharrafa describes in the video above, fat removal procedures focus on body contouring, not weight loss. While five liters can be removed in a single setting, this does not add up to much more than a couple of pounds down the line. 

While liposuction is a body contouring procedure designed to remove fat and help patients achieve aesthetic goals, it can help complement weight loss journeys. Even after losing weight, patients frequently have stubborn areas that tend to be the last to shrink. In these cases, liposuction can target the pockets to sculpt a smooth figure.

In other cases, patients may have an asymmetric fat distribution. By targeting these imbalances first, they can ensure a successful weight loss journey that does not accentuate their disproportion.

These different body contouring scenarios associated with weight loss have a common theme: they focus on targeted refinement instead of removing the most fat possible.

Risk With Too Much Fat Removed

There's an array of issues that can occur from removing too much fat during a liposuction procedure. You could face the risk of having lumpy results, uneven skin surface, fibrosis, or asymmetric fat removal.

While the aesthetic-related consequences can be pressing, the health risks associated with removing too much fat with liposuction are most concerning.

These potential risks may include:

• Adverse reactions to anesthesia
• Infection
• Dehydration
• Breathing problems
• Fat entering the bloodstream
• Blood clots
• Seromas
• Hematoma

Removing too much fat also increases recovery time and can require revision procedures to restore a balanced look.

AirSculpt's Solution For Overdone Liposuction

If you've had liposuction and feel dissatisfied due to excess fat removal, procedures like AirSculpt® can help. This minimally invasive technique provides precise sculpting and volume correction to smooth and balance any contour irregularities from prior surgeries. Whether addressing asymmetries or refining proportions, AirSculpt® offers a tailored approach to achieving a natural look.

Corrective AirSculpt® is an optimal solution for any fat removal or transfer gone wrong. This revision treatment can remove and graft fat to restore a balanced contour on any body area.

AirSculpt® offers an advanced form of fat removal that doesn't use a scalpel, needle, stitches, or general anesthesia. Despite being less invasive, this automated technique gives surgeons enhanced finesse, enabling them to remove or transfer fat cell-by-cell with unparalleled accuracy. 

Patients specifically dealing with botched liposuction results due to aggressive fat removal can opt for the dedicated revision liposuction technique, which restores smooth balance almost instantly. 

In terms of downtime, patients get back to work only 48 hours after AirSculpting any area of the body.

If you want to look your best and turn the results of too much liposuction into a masterpiece, head to AirSculpt Chicago or the body contouring office nearest you for your free consultation.