Skinny Fat: Liposuction For the Body of Your Dreams?

“Liposuction can be a great way to eliminate stubborn fat areas that won't respond to diet and exercise.”

“Liposuction effectively removes fat around your belly, back, arms, neck, hips, and other areas.”

Sigh. I get it. Losing fat can be difficult, especially around stubborn areas like the lower back and belly.

But here’s the thing:

Skinny fat liposuction is a common approach for many people who want to improve their appearance but aren’t interested in doing the real work.

Instead of changing their lifestyle, they believe surgery is all it takes to go from a skinny fat physique to leanness and muscle definition.

Here’s why it doesn’t work.

But First: Who Are The Prime Candidates For Liposuction?

According to most sources, liposuction is not beneficial for extremely overweight people. The prime candidates for liposuction are people within 20 to 30 percent of their ideal body weight and those struggling to lose stubborn fat.

In other words, liposuction targets skinny fat people who are relatively thin but have a layer of fat covering their bodies. These people often appear slim and possibly even fit while wearing clothes but typically carry more fat in certain areas and lack muscle definition.

Skinny fat men often struggle with fat on the chest, belly, and lower back, whereas women carry more fat on the stomach, lower back, thighs, and buttocks.

A skinny fat person will typically be at a healthy weight, according to BMI scales but won’t like how their body looks. So, liposuction offers the ‘perfect’ way to fix troublesome areas and finally attain the body they’ve always wanted.

3 Reasons Why Skinny Fat Liposuction Is Not The Answer

1. It Can Be Dangerous

Liposuction is a serious procedure performed by making small incisions (cuts), inserting a tube attached to a vacuum machine, and sucking fatty tissue out.

Technology has come a long way, especially in the last couple of decades, but that doesn’t mean surgery is entirely safe. Skinny fat liposuction comes with its fair share of dangers, including:

• Numbness - you might experience temporary or permanent numbness in the affected areas
  
  
• Internal organ problems as a result of rapid fluid shifts
  
  
• Fat embolism - small pieces of fat can break off and get trapped in a blood vessel, resulting in a medical and potentially life-threatening emergency
  
  
• Skin infection as a result of the procedure
  
  
• Subcutaneous fluid accumulation after the surgery - the fluid often has to be drained by a doctor

The risks vary depending on how big the affected area is and what part of your body gets worked on.

2. The Results Are Temporary

Some people are under the impression that liposuction brings permanent results. This is partly because some sources share information in a vague and suggestive way.

Also, if you go in for a consultation with a surgeon, they might only talk about removing fat from troublesome areas without discussing the long-term outcomes.

Liposuction is only effective when paired with a healthy lifestyle that includes regular physical activity, a diet based on whole foods, and plenty of sleep.

The issue is that many people who choose to have skinny fat liposuction seek instant gratification and don’t have the habits necessary for maintaining a fit body.

3. The Results Might Not Be What You Expect

First, it’s important to note that liposuction is not a weight loss procedure and is not recommended for overweight people. Second, liposuction doesn’t mean fat gets removed from all parts of the body, turning a skinny fat body into a lean physique.

Liposuction is a procedure where a surgeon removes fat from troublesome areas, including the belly, lower back, buttocks, thighs, etc. While that can bring some happiness and boost your confidence, don’t expect to look drastically different.

Plus, you might not be that happy with your results if you’re dissatisfied with your body as a whole. The people who benefit from skinny fat liposuction generally like their appearance but struggle to accept minor flaws, such as having love handles.

It’s also important to note that liposuction can result in a bumpy or wavy skin texture over the affected areas. You might also have skin issues due to poor elasticity.

What You Should Do Instead to Improve How Your Body Looks

1. Shift Your Mindset

We live in a time of instant gratification and seek immediate results. Unfortunately, that’s not how life works because real results take time.

The first step to improving how you look is to shift your mindset. Realize that it’s entirely possible to build a body you’re proud of and that you’re not genetically doomed to be skinny fat, or overweight your entire life.

Change is possible, and countless people have achieved fantastic fitness transformations, but it never happens fast and without roadblocks.

Related article: The Skinny Fat ‘Quick’ Fix Scam (And How to Protect Yourself)

2. Start Resistance Training

Resistance training is one of the most efficient ways to improve how your body looks. First, lifting weights and doing bodyweight exercises promotes muscle growth, which adds shape to your body.

Second, combining weight training with caloric restriction leads to more effective fat loss, allowing you to achieve a lean and athletic physique.

Cardio activities like running are often the go-to choice for most beginners but solely relying on that isn’t the best option. Sure, you can shed some fat and improve your health, but such activities don’t have the same positive impact on muscle growth.

The great news is that you can reap the benefits of weight training and shape your body with as few as two to three weekly workouts.

3. Improve Your Nutrition

The next crucial step to reducing your body fat percentage and fixing the skinny fat physique is to take good care of your nutrition.

Improving your eating habits is necessary to control your body weight, build muscle, and shed fat. Even if you introduce weight training to your life, you still need the right fuel to turn the training stimulus into adaptations (progress).

I recommend starting by writing down what you eat in a day. Do that for a while and review your notes. You will come across some interesting information and will likely come up with great ways to improve your nutrition.

For example, you might notice that you always eat something sweet in the afternoon. You can swap these foods for fruits––apples, bananas, kiwi, etc.

As time passes, you can start tracking your protein intake and strive to get some protein at every meal. For example:

Breakfast - eggs
Lunch - meat
Afternoon - a handful of nuts
Dinner - steak/fish

4. Get More Sleep

Sleep is crucial for your health and body composition. First, getting good sleep is a great way to boost your energy levels, motivation, and cognitive function. As a result, you can have better workouts and feel more eager to push yourself.

Second, good sleep is essential for protein synthesis––the process of accumulating new proteins (1). This is beneficial for recovering well after training and building muscle more effectively.

Third, some research suggests that good sleep is necessary for optimal fat-burning. In one study from 2010, subjects lost significantly more fat and less muscle when they slept over seven hours per night (2).

According to most guidelines, we should aim for at least seven hours of sleep per night.

5. Be Patient

The final step is often the most challenging but necessary. Too many people expect fast results and don’t have the patience to stick with mundane tasks.

Fixing the skinny fat physique takes time, typically months of consistent training and good nutrition. Arm yourself with patience and remind yourself what you’re working toward when you feel the urge to quit. 

Conclusion

Skinny fat individuals are the prime candidates for liposuction, but the approach might not be that great. It can undoubtedly remove fat from troublesome areas and make you feel better, but the results are often temporary.

The primary issue with skinny fat liposuction practices is that people who undergo the procedure don’t have the necessary habits to maintain a fit body. Liposuction brings some aesthetic benefits that fade due to poor eating, lack of exercise, and such.

A much better approach is to develop better habits and arm yourself with patience. Results occur more slowly but last longer, and you feel much better about yourself.