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2026.08.17
What Are the Drawbacks of Liposuction? A Plastic Surgeon Explains the Risks and Precautions You Should Know to Avoid Regrets
As a plastic surgeon, he has experienced many cases and has developed precise techniques and a deep anatomical understanding. Currently, combining his knowledge of plastic surgery with the latest technology, he provides a wide range of cosmetic treatments for skin, contouring, sagging, and other concerns of aging. He has also shared the responsibility of writing Japan's first textbook on gynecological cosmetic surgery, "Basic Techniques of Gynecological Cosmetic and Plastic Surgery. From her experience as an idol during medical school, she realized that "natural beauty" goes beyond the will to choose how you want to be, and she focuses on supporting her patients to "love yourself more every day". We are English-speaking and value counseling that is easy to talk to.
Hello, everyone!
I am Ariko Hatate, a board-certified plastic surgeon with the Japanese Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, and I specialize in helping patients achieve a natural and elegant rejuvenation.
Perhaps some of you are wondering, “What are the downsides of liposuction?” or “I’m worried about the downtime and risks,” or “I’d like to get liposuction under my chin or on my upper arms, but I’m worried it might not turn out well.”
Liposuction is a procedure designed to refine the body and facial contours in areas of concern, but since it is a surgical procedure, it is important to fully understand the associated downtime and risks before making a decision.
In this article, we’ll provide an easy-to-understand explanation of the drawbacks of liposuction, precautions for each body area, and key points for choosing a clinic, as well as the concept of “design-oriented liposuction” that Bianca Clinic strives to achieve.
If you're considering treatment, please use this as a reference.
What Are the Drawbacks of Liposuction? Basics and Precautions You Should Know Before the Procedure
Disadvantages of liposuction include downtime—such as swelling, bruising, fluid retention, and muscle soreness—as well as the possibility of asymmetry or unevenness in the final results.
When considering liposuction, it’s important to understand both the pros and cons. Here, let’s review some basic points to keep in mind before undergoing the procedure.
What Is Liposuction? A Procedure to Directly Remove Subcutaneous Fat
Liposuction is a procedure that uses a thin tube called a cannula to directly suction fat from areas of concern.
While dieting and exercise reduce the size of fat cells, liposuction is characterized by the fact that it removes fat cells from the targeted area, thereby reducing their number.
For this reason, it is performed with the goal of sculpting the body and facial contours rather than losing weight.
Liposuction involves downtime, such as swelling and pain.
After liposuction, you may experience swelling, bruising, fluid retention, and pain similar to muscle soreness. These are common side effects of the procedure and usually subside gradually over time.
In addition, some time after surgery, you may experience a period known as “contracture,” during which the skin and subcutaneous tissue may feel stiff. Contracture is a normal part of the recovery process, and the area generally softens gradually over the course of several months.
The extent of downtime and the recovery period vary from person to person and depend on the treatment area and the amount of fat removed. If you have any concerns, do not make decisions on your own; instead, consult with the clinic where you received the treatment and follow their post-operative care instructions.
There is a possibility that the finished result may have asymmetries or unevenness.
With liposuction, the final results depend on the amount and area of subcutaneous fat removed, so there is a possibility of asymmetry or unevenness in the skin.
In addition, removing too much fat can result in noticeable, unnatural indentations or sagging skin, while, conversely, not removing enough fat may make it difficult to notice any change.
To minimize these risks, it’s important to perform the procedure while considering the balance with the rest of the body and the facial contours, rather than simply removing a large amount of fat.
Does It Vary by Body Part? The Drawbacks of Liposuction on the Underchin, Upper Arms, and Thighs
With liposuction, the factors that affect downtime and final results vary depending on the treatment area. Be sure to understand the characteristics of each area you’re interested in before deciding on the procedure that’s right for you.
Disadvantages of Submental Liposuction
For submental liposuction, you may be asked to wear a face band for a certain period of time, as directed by your doctor, to help manage post-operative swelling and puffiness. Since the final results aren’t immediately visible after surgery, please be patient and allow time for recovery while monitoring your progress.
Also, sagging under the chin isn’t always caused solely by fat. Skin laxity, muscle tone, and the overall balance of the jawline can also affect the final results, so it’s important to identify the root cause of your concern before choosing a treatment.
Disadvantages of Upper Arm Liposuction
After upper arm liposuction, you will need to wear a compression garment. You may also experience some inconveniences in your daily life, such as difficulty raising your arms or pain similar to muscle soreness. Swelling and contractures may occur after the procedure, and it will take some time for the final results to become apparent.
Furthermore, since unevenness may become noticeable depending on the balance between the left and right sides and the amount of fat removed, I make a point of designing the procedure not just to make the arms slimmer, but to create a natural line from the shoulders down to the arms.
Disadvantages of Thigh Liposuction
Even after thigh liposuction, you’ll need to wear a compression garment after the procedure, and you may experience discomfort or pain similar to muscle soreness when walking. If the treatment area is extensive, swelling and stiffness may persist for a relatively long time.
In addition, since the thighs consist of multiple areas—such as the inner, outer, front, and back—it is important to adjust the amount of fat removed while considering the overall balance, rather than just slimming a single area.
Since focusing solely on slenderness can sometimes result in an unnatural silhouette, the key is to develop a treatment plan aimed at achieving a natural and beautiful body contour.
▷Read Dr. Alice's article on the drawbacks of liposuction
What You Should Know to Minimize the Drawbacks of Liposuction
While it is impossible to completely eliminate the risks associated with liposuction, properly understanding the purpose of the procedure and developing an appropriate treatment plan under the care of a knowledgeable and experienced physician will help mitigate those risks.
Liposuction is not a procedure for weight loss.
Some of you may be wondering, “Will I lose weight if I get liposuction?” However, liposuction is not a procedure designed to result in significant weight loss. It is a procedure that targets fat cells directly to refine the body and facial contours in areas of concern.
For that reason, rather than focusing on how many kilograms you want to lose, you should prioritize visual changes—such as “making your stomach look flatter” or “sharpening your jawline.”
Also, just because you’ve had liposuction doesn’t mean you’ll never gain weight again. To maintain your ideal body shape, you’ll need to continue eating a balanced diet and exercising regularly even after liposuction.
Liposuction Requires a Doctor's Technical Skills and Design Ability
In liposuction, removing a large amount of fat does not necessarily lead to good results. If the procedure is performed without considering the volume of fat removed, the treatment area, or the balance with the surrounding tissues, it may result in unevenness, asymmetry, or sagging skin.
In other words, liposuction requires not only technical skill but also the ability to design a treatment plan that takes into account each individual’s skeletal structure, fat distribution, and overall body balance.
BIANCA's Approach to "Design-Oriented Liposuction"
At Bianca Clinic, we place great importance on “customized liposuction,” which aims not simply to reduce fat, but to achieve a balanced body silhouette tailored to each individual patient.
During the procedure, rather than focusing solely on a specific area—such as just the abdomen or just the lower back—we determine the amount and area of fat removal while taking into account the overall silhouette and three-dimensional balance of the entire body.
[Treatment Details] VASER Body Liposuction (Entire Abdomen + Flanks)
[Image Caption] Top: Before treatment; Bottom: Immediately after treatment and 1 month later
[Cost] Entire Abdomen + Lower Back: 877,800 yen; anesthesia fees are separate
[Side Effects and Risks] Asymmetry, infection, hematoma, uneven results, pulmonary embolism, burns, anesthesia-related complications, etc.
This is a case study of a patient who underwent VASER body liposuction (entire abdomen + flanks).
By designing a comprehensive treatment plan that covers the entire area from the abdomen to the lower back, we provide treatments that focus not only on the abdomen but also on the contours from the waist to the lower back.
When viewing before-and-after photos, it’s important to look not only at “how much slimmer the patient has become,” but also to assess whether the silhouette from the side and the overall balance look natural.
Why BIANCA CLINIC Uses VASER Liposuction
At Bianca Clinic, we use VASER for liposuction on the body and facial contours.
Vaser is a liposuction system that uses ultrasonic energy to target fat. Because it emulsifies the fat before suctioning it away, it is designed to allow the procedure to be performed while minimizing damage to surrounding tissues.
Of course, the final result isn’t determined solely by the equipment used. What’s important is to develop an appropriate design and treatment plan tailored to each patient’s individual skeletal structure, fat distribution, and preferences.
At Bianca Clinic, we offer liposuction treatments that leverage the unique features of VASER technology to help you achieve body and facial contours that are in harmony with your overall figure.
▷Learn More About VASER Body Liposuction
▷Learn More About VASER Facial Contouring Liposuction
"Beauty Fill": A New Concept for Making the Most of Liposuctioned Fat
At Bianca Clinic, we value the philosophy of “not just removing fat, but making the most of it,” which is why we’ve introduced “Beauty Fill.” Let us explain how this differs from traditional liposuction, where the extracted fat is simply discarded.
What is BeautiFill?
Beauty Fill is a procedure that uses LipoLife to harvest and purify fat, which is then injected into the desired areas.
LipoLife is characterized by its ability to gently harvest fat cells using laser technology while minimizing damage to them; the survival rate of the fat cells is reported to be approximately 95 percent.
A key feature of Beauty Fill is that it allows you to effectively use the harvested fat in areas where you want to add volume, rather than discarding it.
For those who say, “I want to slim down certain areas” but “at the same time, I want more volume in other areas,” this could be considered one of the new options that allows you to use your own fat.
▷Check out Beautyfill on Instagram
The harvested fat can be used in various areas.
The harvested fat can be injected into areas where you’d like to add volume, such as the face, bust, and hips. Depending on your concerns and preferences, we offer the following procedures.
Fat Injections into the Face (cheeks, temples, nasolabial folds, and other areas where volume is a concern)
Fat Grafting Breast Augmentation (Breast Augmentation Using Your Own Fat)
Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL) (Fat Grafting to Contour the Hip Line)
Of course, Beauty Fill isn’t suitable for everyone. Since the most appropriate treatment varies depending on the amount of fat, body type, and desired results, we carefully listen to each individual’s concerns and wishes during the consultation to propose a treatment plan that’s right for them.
▷Learn More About Fat Grafting (Face)
▷Learn More About Fat Grafting for Breast Augmentation
▷Learn More About Fat Grafting for a Fuller Butt (Brazilian Butt Lift)
Frequently Asked Questions About Liposuction
We’ve compiled a list of questions we often receive during consultations from people considering liposuction. Please use this as a reference to address any concerns or questions you may have about the procedure.
Q. Is it true that liposuction is dangerous?
A. Since liposuction is a surgical procedure, there is always some risk of downtime and complications. That is why it is important to choose a medical facility where you can feel confident about your care—one that thoroughly explains the preoperative examination, safety protocols, and postoperative follow-up—and where you feel comfortable discussing your concerns.
Q. Does liposuction make it harder to gain weight?
A. While liposuction reduces the number of fat cells in the treated area, it does not mean you will never gain weight again. The remaining fat cells may enlarge, or fat may accumulate in other areas. To maintain your results, be mindful of your lifestyle habits—such as diet and exercise—even after the procedure.
Q. Are the scars from liposuction noticeable?
A. Several scars ranging from about 5 mm to 1 cm in length will form, but since they are created in areas covered by body folds or underwear, they are usually not very noticeable. Over the course of about 3 months to half a year, the scars will fade to white, and the incision sites will gradually become less visible.
Q. How long should I wear the face band after submental liposuction?
A. The length of time you need to wear the face bandage varies depending on the type of procedure and your post-operative recovery. Generally, we ask patients to wear it for a certain period of time, and we will provide specific details during your consultation or after the procedure. To ensure a smooth post-operative recovery, please follow your doctor’s instructions regarding its use.
Q. When can I resume exercising and my normal daily activities after liposuction?
A. The timing of your return to daily activities varies depending on the treatment area, the amount of fat removed, and your recovery progress. While you may be able to resume light daily activities relatively early on, you may need to refrain from strenuous exercise and strength training for a certain period of time. Please do not overexert yourself; instead, gradually return to your normal routine in accordance with your post-operative progress.
Understand the Drawbacks of Liposuction and Choose the Procedure That’s Right for You
Liposuction comes with certain drawbacks and precautions—such as downtime and the post-operative recovery process—that you should understand before undergoing the procedure. Acquiring the right knowledge and choosing a method that suits your specific concerns and body type is the first step toward making an informed decision about the procedure.
Furthermore, when it comes to liposuction, it’s not just about “how much fat to remove”; it’s also important to consider the overall balance and to develop a treatment plan that takes the post-operative period into account.
At Bianca Clinic, we offer treatments tailored to each individual’s concerns and desired results. If you are considering liposuction or would like to discuss which treatment option is right for you, please feel free to contact Bianca Clinic.
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