At NuBody Concepts Nashville and Memphis we see many patients who want to achieve a slimmer waistline with liposuction but do not qualify because they are significantly overweight or obese. If you fall into this category, you will first have to lose weight. The good news is, this is very achievable!
Below we discuss the ORBERA Weight-Loss Program and how it can get you ready for the next step on your path to a slimmer – and healthier – body.
But first, let’s talk about liposuction and ways to find out whether you qualify or not.
How Liposuction Reduces Obesity
What Is Liposuction?
Liposuction is an age-old minimally-invasive cosmetic surgery procedure that removes fat cells from under the skin. These cells can be broken up with strong vibrations, flushed out with pulsating water, or even destroyed with targeted radio frequency or ultrasound energy. It is most effective for men and women who are near their goal weight but struggle with pockets of fat – bra bulges, muffin tops, belly fat, flabby arms or thighs, even the neck – that do not respond to diet and exercise.
Am I a Candidate for Liposuction?
Our plastic surgeons have helped thousands of patients achieve a slimmer figure with our customized liposuction services. Here are our published articles to find out if you’re an ideal candidate:
- Calculate your BMI: It’s not a perfect measurement but a good approximation of where you fall on the obesity spectrum. Calculate your BMI now and use our chart to decide which procedure is ideal for you.
- Liposuction Candidates: Learn all there is to know about who is a good candidate for liposuction.
- Not Liposuction Candidates: Learn the 4 reasons you may not be a good candidate for liposuction.
- Male Patients: If you have a large amount of visceral fat (more common in men), liposuction may not work.
If you think you are ready to get started with liposuction, schedule a consultation with a plastic surgeon:
Liposuction is Not Weight Loss
A successful liposuction procedure is measured in a noticeable reduction in your waistline, not in the amount of weight you’ve lost. Hence the term “body contouring.” Yes, you may lose a little weight in the process, as the fat removed from your body has a certain volume and weight, but it’s not the main focus.
In technical terms, weight loss shrinks the fat cells in your body, whereas liposuction removes fat cells altogether. For fat removal to show any difference in appearance, the fat has to be localized enough to target with a wand that is inserted under the skin to destroy the tissues. Patients who have worked on their weight loss to get close to their ideal weight often times have remnants of fat that is resistant to further weight loss. This is exactly the kind of fat that liposuction can eliminate.
Performing liposuction on an obese person has two problems: It will likely not give you any desirable results as it’s simply not possible to contour a significantly overweight body. And it increases the risk factors for the procedure to a level many plastic surgeons won’t be comfortable with. Obesity is tied to increased risks during surgery, anesthesia recovery, and wound healing, among others.
Weight Loss Options for Obese Candidates
The first option, of course, is to achieve this naturally. A healthy diet and exercise program can help you reduce your weight over time to get you to a place where liposuction can take care of what stubborn fat remains. It’s the least-invasive option of all.
The problem with non-invasive interventions is that they don’t have such a high rate of success and, if they do work, take a long time to achieve. Don’t get us wrong: a healthy diet and exercise program should be a staple in anyone’s daily routine. But many people give up before they ever get there.
The problem with more effective interventions such as gastric bypass surgery is that they are very invasive.
The ORBERA Gastric Balloon hits the sweet spot between non-invasive vs invasive weight loss solutions. It is a proven way to achieve substantial weight loss in six months or less.
What is the Orbera Weight-Loss System?
Don’t be turned off by the term “gastric,” which you might associate with indigestion or full bypass surgery. While a gastric bypass is a surgical procedure performed under full anesthesia that permanently reduces the size of the stomach (or bypasses it altogether), the Orbera balloon is a temporary “crutch” that allows your body to adapt to healthier eating habits. It is a 6-month program with two minimally-invasive procedures at the beginning and end that has proven extraordinarily successful to reduce weight permanently. On average, patients can expect to lose 30-50 lbs, or 3x the weight loss of diet and exercise alone.
How Does Orbera Work?
A silicone balloon is inserted endoscopically into the stomach in a deflated sate and then filled with saline to the size of a small grapefruit. It stays there for 6 months, taking up space and effectively shrinking the stomach. This tricks your brain into wanting smaller portions of food, and less often. Most patients see a the most drastic results within 2-3 months of balloon placement. A consultant checks in with you monthly to monitor your weight loss and provide nutrition advice.
By the end of 6 months after the balloon is removed, most patients are able to keep off the weight because they have adopted healthier eating habits. The beauty of this approach is that it works for a large majority of patients, without permanently altering the physical makeup of the stomach. It requires no stitches and no healing period, and leaves behind no scars.
Am I a Candidate for Orbera?
In addition to being in overall good health, good candidates for Orbera have a BMI in the 30-40 range – men and women alike.
Patients with BMIs below 30 may not see significant results and are typically good candidates for liposuction.
Patients with BMIs above 40 are susceptible to increased risk from surgery. However, borderline BMIs of 41-42 may qualify after an assessment by a surgeon.
To calculate your BMI, use our BMI calculator and select your next step from the chart below:
| BMI < 30 | BMI 30-40 | BMI > 40 | |
| Better candidate for liposuction and/or skin tightening. | Ideal weight-loss balloon candidate. | Not an ideal candidate for cosmetic surgery; advised to reduce BMI by enrolling in a weight loss program or medically-supervised semaglutide injections. |
Ready to get started with Orbera by speaking with our gastric surgeon? Call now to schedule a consultation!
With NuBody Concepts, you can achieve the body you’ve always desired. Check out our Liposuction before and after photos to see proof of our work. Schedule a consultation at our Memphis or Nashville location today to learn how NuBody Concepts can help you achieve stunning Liposuction results.
John Rosdeutscher, MD
Double board-certified plastic surgeon “Dr. R” has been voted Best of Music City #1 plastic surgeon 3+ years.
