Although liposuction is often discussed alongside weight loss, the two serve very different purposes. In Chicago, board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Marco Ellis uses liposuction as a precise shaping technique — not a substitute for traditional weight reduction.
While weight loss changes the body as a whole, liposuction focuses on sculpting specific areas where fat lingers despite a healthy lifestyle. Understanding how liposuction works, what it can accomplish, and when it’s appropriate allows you to make informed decisions about your body contouring goals.
How Weight Loss Works
Weight loss occurs when the body burns more calories than it consumes, causing fat cells to shrink. The number of fat cells stays the same—their size simply decreases. Because weight loss affects the entire body, the changes are global.
However, weight loss cannot choose where fat reduces. Many patients achieve success in some areas but remain frustrated by stubborn pockets elsewhere. This is where liposuction becomes a complementary option: it fine-tunes what weight loss alone cannot address.
What Liposuction Is Designed to Do
Liposuction is a sculpting procedure, not a weight-loss method. It targets specific pockets of fat that remain even after a person maintains a healthy lifestyle. These fat deposits often have a genetic component, meaning diet and exercise alone may not eliminate them.
During liposuction, Dr. Ellis removes fat cells from precise areas to refine contour and create smoother lines across the body. This is why liposuction is considered a body-shaping technique: it helps improve proportionality and definition in patients who are already close to a stable weight. The goal is enhanced contour, not a substantial drop on the scale.
Why Liposuction and Weight Loss Are Not Interchangeable
Liposuction removes fat cells permanently from the treated area, but it does not address visceral fat around internal organs or the metabolic consequences of excess weight. For safety reasons, it is not intended for dramatic slimming or for treating obesity.
Dr. Ellis evaluates each patient individually to determine whether liposuction is appropriate or whether weight loss should occur first. Patients at or near a stable weight with good skin elasticity typically see the most balanced, natural-looking results from liposuction.
When Liposuction Makes the Most Sense
Liposuction may be a good option for individuals who:
- Maintain a stable, healthy weight
- Exercise regularly, but still have localized fat pockets
- Want to refine contours rather than lose pounds
- Seek targeted shaping after weight loss
Many patients use liposuction as a finishing step after reaching their weight-loss goals to achieve smoother, more sculpted body lines.
Contact Dr. Marco Ellis
Expert guidance can help you understand whether weight loss, liposuction, or a combination of approaches is best for your goals. To learn more about body contouring options in Chicago, contact Chicago’s premier plastic surgeon, Dr. Ellis, to schedule a consultation. Call (312) 695-6022.