Is liposuction a weight loss procedure? Asheville plastic surgeon Dr. Donald Conway answers your top liposuction questions

Posted on July 30, 2024 | by Donald Conway

It is well-known that liposuction removes stubborn fat pockets for good, but can the procedure also help you lose weight? And how does it compare with fat freezing, or cryolipolysis? If you are thinking about liposuction but still have some questions about the procedure, this blog is for you. Below, board certified Asheville plastic surgeon Dr. Donald Conway answers some common questions to help you consider whether you are ready to schedule a liposuction consultation. 

• Is liposuction a weight loss procedure?
• How much does liposuction cost in Asheville, NC?
• Is liposuction better than cryolipolysis?
• Is liposuction permanent?
• Does liposuction hurt?
• Is liposuction safe?

Is liposuction a weight loss procedure?

No, liposuction is not weight loss surgery. Weight loss surgery, also known as bariatric surgery, helps you with general weight loss, such as through a gastric sleeve surgery to reduce the size of the stomach. Liposuction, by contrast, removes a limited volume of fat from below the skin, usually in areas like the waist, flanks, thighs, or beneath the chin. Liposuction does not help you lose weight throughout your body.

Good candidates for liposuction are looking to enhance certain contours by minimizing unwanted fat pockets—they are not seeking liposuction to become smaller overall. As I work with my liposuction patients to come up with the details of their surgical plan, we discuss the appearance they desire, not how much weight they want to lose. Rather than a weight loss procedure, liposuction is a body shaping procedure. 

How much does liposuction cost in Asheville, NC?

Liposuction in Asheville may cost anywhere from about $2,000 to $10,000 or more. The cost of liposuction is calculated based on the number and size of areas you are having contoured, as well as the volume of fat that will be removed. This will vary widely from patient to patient, since a very small amount of liposuction may be required for areas like a double chin, while a larger volume is usually removed for patients concerned with excess fat in the abdomen.

Is liposuction better than cryolipolysis?

Liposuction is a surgical procedure, so while it comes with certain risks and some recovery time, it also has the advantages of being very accurate and requiring only one procedure to see desired results in the hands of an experienced plastic surgeon. Results of cryolipolysis (fat freezing with CoolSculpting®) are not as predictable, nor does it offer the surgeon much ability to customize the procedure for your anatomy. Thus, while CoolSculpting is non-surgical and requires no downtime, I find that its benefits are outweighed by it drawbacks:

• You will likely require multiple treatments, whose total cost can easily rival or surpass that of liposuction.
• The results are somewhat unpredictable, and almost always very subtle.
• Cryolipolysis is only FDA-cleared to be used in 9 specific body areas, while liposuction can be used throughout the body.
• In rare cases, a frustrating side effect called paradoxical adipose hyperplasia (PAH) has been reported after CoolSculpting, in which the treated area grows rather than shrinks. This results in a tender mass under the skin, often shaped like a stick of butter as it will reflect the oblong CoolSculpting applicator typically used for treatment. Incidence rates have likely been underreported and have been found to be as high as 1.0%, according to a 2020 article in Aesthetic Surgery Journal. For patients who have this side effect, liposuction is typically the best option for having the excess fat growth reduced.

Is liposuction permanent?

The fat cells that are removed during liposuction are permanently removed. However, your remaining fat cells will still grow if you gain weight, so maintain a stable weight in order to retain proportionate liposuction results.

Does liposuction hurt?

No, the liposuction procedure itself does not hurt, as you will have the appropriate anesthesia to prevent pain during surgery. During the first weeks of recovery, however, you will feel soreness and tenderness in the area where your surgery was performed. We will make sure you have the appropriate pain medication and will equip you with detailed instructions for taking care of your body during this time, which will include wearing a compression garment to support the area and minimize swelling.

Is liposuction safe?

Yes, liposuction is a safe procedure when performed by a board certified plastic surgeon who has experience with the procedure and understands research-based safety protocols. Still, like any surgical procedure, liposuction carries a risk of possible side effects or complications, including the risk of deep vein thrombosis, infection, or the appearance of irregular skin ripping, which we will discuss in your pre-operative consultation.

As with any surgical procedure, I recommend you take the following steps to make doubly sure you are in safe and capable hands:

• Confirm that your surgeon is board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS).
• Ask your surgeon how many liposuction procedures they have performed, and how many years they have been offering the procedure.
• Confirm the surgeon can deliver results you find aesthetically pleasing by viewing before and after photos of their actual patients who came in with similar concerns.
• Read reviews from previous patients, focusing on patient care as well as reported results.
• Be sure that your procedure will be performed in a AAAASF-accredited surgical facility, which will be fully equipped and staffed with the appropriate medical professionals.
• Choose your surgeon based on their experience and credentials; never base your choice of surgeon on price alone.

Surgical safety depends to a very large degree on who your surgeon is, so take your time during the research phase of planning a plastic surgery procedure.

Schedule your Asheville liposuction consultation with Dr. Donald Conway

Dr. Donald Conway is a board certified plastic surgeon offering a full range of surgical procedures and effective non-surgical treatments in Asheville, NC. If you are interested in learning how liposuction may achieve your goals in a personal consultation, call (828) 210-9333 or contact our practice online.