Liposuction plastic surgery can effectively eliminate stubborn fatty deposits that are unresponsive to diet and exercise creating a more sculpted body shape.

Patients commonly ask surgeons how much fat they can expect to lose during a liposuction procedure. There are general guidelines on the upper limits of fat elimination. However, this decision is ultimately made on a case by case basis depending on the patient’s unique needs and goals.

Limiting Complications

Around six to eight pounds (three to four liters) of fat is probably the maximum amount that can be safely removed with liposuction. The risk of complications increases with an increase in the volume of fat removed.

If the patient needs fat removal in excess of six to eight pounds, it is safest to perform the liposuction in multiple stages which are spaced three to four weeks apart.

Modern Body Contouring & Laser Center, led by board certified plastic surgeons Dr. Burton M. Sundin and Dr. Reps B. Sundin, provides liposuction to patients in Northern Virginia, Washington DC, Vienna, McLean, Loudoun, Ashburn, Tysons Corner, Reston, Arlington, Chevy Chase, Richmond, Fredericksburg, and surrounding locations.

Removing Larger Amounts of Fat is not Always Appropriate

It is essential to understand that eliminating the maximum amount of fat will not always produce the best possible outcomes. Liposuction is a body contouring procedure, rather than a weight loss surgery. It is meant to create subtle improvements in the body shape by eliminating specific fatty deposits.

If the patient’s goal is to lose weight, then liposuction is likely not a suitable procedure for them. They will need to reach their ideal weight range before the surgeon can determine them to be an appropriate candidate for the cosmetic surgery.

In many cases, the removal of a smaller amount of fat will offer more natural looking outcomes and maintain optimal safety levels. If the patient’s desired outcomes can be attained by eliminating three to four pounds of fat/fluid, then there is no reason to remove 10 to 12 pounds.

Factors Impacting Fat Removal

• The area being treated
• The overall weight
• The body shape
• If the patient is undergoing any other procedures along with liposuction

It is important to remember that liposuction if not a weight loss procedure, and it is most suitable for people near their ideal weight to create body contouring outcomes that cannot be accomplished through diet and exercise. Most patients can achieve optimal results with the removal of a small amount of fat.

Risks Associated with Removing Excessive Amounts of Fat

There are various issues that may occur due to the excessive removal of fat during liposuction. It may lead to an increased risk of the development of unattractive results causing lumps or hollow dimpling of the skin. But the more important reason to avoid the removal of too much fat is that it increases the safety risks for the patient.

Liposuction is a very safe procedure. However, the risk of complications is much higher when a larger amount of fat is removed. Possible medical complications include:

• Seroma and hematoma formation
• A build-up of too much fluid that may affect breathing
• Fat embolism which occurs if a tiny amount of emulsified fat entering the bloodstream
• Poor response to anesthesia
• Infection
• Dehydration-induced shock
• Blood clots

The removal of a larger amount of fat makes the procedure more extended and involved and increases the recovery time as well.

Cosmetic surgeons at Modern Body Contouring & Laser Center receive patients from Northern Virginia, Washington DC, Vienna, McLean, Loudoun, Ashburn, Tysons Corner, Reston, Arlington, Chevy Chase, Richmond, Fredericksburg, and nearby areas for liposuction. For more information on the surgical and non-surgical procedures and treatments by Board Certified Cosmetic Plastic Surgeons Dr. Reps Sundin and Dr. Burton Sundin please visit

• www.drsundin.com
• www.m-body.com
• www.plasticsurgerywashingtondc.com

Serving Northern Virginia, Washington DC, Vienna, McLean, Fairfax, Loudoun County, Ashburn, Tysons Corner, Reston, Arlington, Fredricksburg, Chevy Chase, Potomac, Maryland Richmond, VA and surrounding communities.

The new body shape will be more or less permanent after liposuction plastic surgery. If the patient puts on a moderate amount of weight following the procedure, their body will appear as a slightly larger version of their new figure.

Modern Body Contouring & Laser Center, led by board certified plastic surgeons Dr. Burton M. Sundin and Dr. Reps B. Sundin, provides liposuction to patients in Northern Virginia, Washington DC, Vienna, McLean, Loudoun, Ashburn, Tysons Corner, Reston, Arlington, Chevy Chase, Richmond, Fredericksburg, and surrounding communities.  

Pregnancy Effects after a Liposuction Surgery

Some women may want to know about the effects of a future pregnancy on their liposuction outcome. Most patients will not experience an adverse effect on their body contouring results due to a post-lipo pregnancy.

If a woman becomes pregnant and puts on weight, but loses the weight after delivery, she will likely experience that her liposuction surgery results will return. Most patients will appear as if they have not undergone a post-liposuction pregnancy at all.

However, female candidates for liposuction should ideally consider undergoing a cosmetic surgery procedure when they do not have any plans to get pregnant in the future.

Pregnancy can cause stretch marks, cellulite, and sagging skin in multiple areas of the body. But these aesthetic concerns are not related to liposuction surgery.

Liposuction can eliminate fatty pockets and contour the body to enhance its appearance. But it does not have a remarkable effect on cellulite or stretch marks, skin texture quality, or sagging skin.

Liposuction after Final Pregnancy

Sometimes a woman may develop stubborn fatty pockets in the abdomen area due to multiple pregnancies. If a candidate chooses to undergo liposuction after her final pregnancy, she can expect excellent improvements in her abdomen’s shape.

Many patients are able to avoid a tummy tuck surgery with liposuction as abdominoplasty is a more invasive procedure relative to liposuction. The surgeon will recommend the most appropriate procedure or a combination of treatments to the patient.

When do the Results become Visible?

A majority of liposuction patients will experience 90 percent of their final liposuction results establish in around three months after the surgery.

The post-operative swelling will subside slowly in a few months depending on the extent of the procedure as well as the type of liposuction technique used. The patient can experience the final results of their liposuction after the swelling gets completely resolved.

Permanent Fat Cell Reduction

An advantageous aspect of liposuction is that the fat cells cannot re-grow once they have been removed. The adult human body cannot usually produce any new fat cells after puberty, even if a person puts on a moderate amount of weight. Liposuction eliminates fat cells permanently in the treated area.

The patient can experience permanent body contouring improvements with liposuction if they do not put on a large amount of weight.

However, they should be aware that the fat cells that remain in the treated area after liposuction can become larger if they gain substantial amounts of weight.

In addition, the natural process of aging will lead to normal changes in the shape of the body over time. But patients can be assured that the aesthetic benefits of liposuction will remain visible as long as they follow a balanced diet and regular exercise program.

Cosmetic surgeons at Modern Body Contouring & Laser Center receive patients from Northern Virginia, Washington DC, Vienna, McLean, Loudoun, Ashburn, Tysons Corner, Reston, Arlington, Chevy Chase, Richmond, Fredericksburg, and nearby areas for liposuction. For more information on the surgical and non-surgical procedures and treatments by Board Certified Cosmetic Plastic Surgeons Dr. Reps Sundin and Dr. Burton Sundin please visit

• www.drsundin.com
• www.m-body.com
• www.plasticsurgerywashingtondc.com

Serving Northern Virginia, Washington DC, Vienna, McLean, Fairfax, Loudoun County, Ashburn, Tysons Corner, Reston, Arlington, Fredricksburg, Chevy Chase, Potomac, Maryland Richmond, VA and surrounding communities.

The new body contours will be more or less permanent after a liposuction cosmetic surgery. But if the patient puts on a moderate amount of body weight (under ten pounds), their new appearance will not change dramatically.

They would merely appear as a slightly larger version of their new body shape.

If the patient does not gain a substantial amount of body weight after liposuction, they newly contoured figure will remain unaffected.

Nevertheless, the natural process of aging will bring about expected changes in the body shape. But the enhancements attained with liposuction will still be visible.

Modern Body Contouring & Laser Center, led by board certified plastic surgeons Dr. Burton M. Sundin and Dr. Reps B. Sundin, provides liposuction to patients in Northern Virginia, Washington DC, Vienna, McLean, Loudoun, Ashburn, Tysons Corner, Reston, Arlington, Chevy Chase, Richmond, Fredericksburg, and surrounding locations.

How Changes in Body Weight Impact the Figure

Liposuction is a procedure meant for fat loss, and should not be misunderstood as a weight loss surgery. The best outcomes with liposuction are seen in patients with moderate body weight, rather than patients who are obese or excessively overweight.

The aesthetic outcome of the liposuction plastic surgery will diminish in proportion to the weight that an individual gains. Ideally, patients should weigh less after liposuction by at least an amount equal to the weight of the fat eliminated.

For instance, a patient with an original body weight of 140 pounds who lost 6 pounds of fat with lipo, should weigh around 134 pounds following the surgery. If the patient puts on six pounds and weighs 140 pounds within a few months following liposuction, the aesthetic results will still be attractive. However, they will be sub-optimal.

In case the patient puts on an extra sixteen pounds to weigh 150 pounds after liposuction, for example, the overall outcomes would be considerably impacted. For candidates who lack the discipline to maintain stable body weight after liposuction, it may not be a suitable procedure.

There may not be a procedure for anyone such as this because they refuse to eat better or exercise enough or at all. Liposuction does not mean someone can never gain weight in the future – the weight will be in different places. But if someone has liposuction and begins a poor diet without enough or any exercise, they will soon be in a situation they probably don’t like.

Fat Accumulation after Post-Lipo Weight Gain

In case the patient puts on a large amount of body weight (at least ten pounds or more) after liposuction surgery, then this will likely cause the production of new fat. This fat will go into different areas of the body (as already somewhat stated). The new fat will typically accumulate in multiple body areas in proportion to the number of fat cells in each site.

Consequently, the areas where fat cells have been eliminated with liposuction will accumulate relatively lesser fat. But sites that were untreated will accumulate more substantial fatty deposits. The surgeon will guide the patient about post-operative care and maintenance to extend the benefits for the long term.

Maintaining Body Weight after Liposuction

The surgeon will provide the patient with guidelines on following a balanced diet and exercise program following liposuction. In the initial one to two weeks, the patient should only undertake gentle walks to enhance blood flow.

Over the next two to three weeks, they can progressively increase their activity and exercise but without putting pressure on the incisions.

After the incisions heal completely in around one month, the patient can perform more aggressive exercises. They should consume a diet that is rich in vegetables, fruit, and fiber while avoiding processed foods and saturated fats as much as possible.

A balanced diet, regular exercise, and an active lifestyle after liposuction will enable the patient to enjoy their new, appealing body contours for a more extended period.

Cosmetic surgeons at Modern Body Contouring & Laser Center receive patients from Northern Virginia, Washington DC, Vienna, McLean, Loudoun, Ashburn, Tysons Corner, Reston, Arlington, Chevy Chase, Richmond, Fredericksburg, and nearby areas for liposuction.For more information on the surgical and non-surgical procedures and treatments by Board Certified Cosmetic Plastic Surgeons Dr. Reps Sundin and Dr. Burton Sundin please visit

• www.drsundin.com
• www.m-body.com
• www.plasticsurgerywashingtondc.com

Serving Northern Virginia, Washington DC, Vienna, McLean, Fairfax, Loudoun County, Ashburn, Tysons Corner, Reston, Arlington, Fredricksburg, Chevy Chase, Potomac, Maryland Richmond, VA and surrounding communities.