Over 80% of Women with Dieting Experience Lack Confidence in Achieving Their 'Ideal Body Line' Through Diet Alone... Is Liposuction the Answer for Stubborn 'Pooch Belly' That Won't Slim Down?

WOM CLINIC GINZA (located in Chuo City, Tokyo; Director: Junya Fukahori) conducted a survey targeting: ① women aged 20–50 who have previously attempted dieting, and ② aesthetic physicians, nurses, and counselors, on the topic of 'the limits of spot reduction and liposuction'.

As summer approaches, many of you may be thinking, 'It's time to start dieting,' and are beginning to focus on diet control and exercise.

However, many face the difficulty of spot reduction—losing weight overall but not slimming specific areas—and struggle with rebound weight gain and skin laxity.

So, what concerns do women seeking their ideal body line actually have, and what are aesthetic medical professionals' views on body shaping?

Therefore, WOM CLINIC GINZA (https://wom-clinic.com/) conducted a survey targeting: ① women aged 20–50 who have previously attempted dieting, and ② aesthetic physicians, nurses, and counselors, on the topic of 'the limits of spot reduction and liposuction'.

Survey Overview: 'The Limits of Spot Reduction and Liposuction' Survey

[Survey Period] May 25 (Mon), 2026 – May 26 (Tue), 2026

[Survey Method] Internet survey conducted by PRIZMA (https://www.prizma-link.com/press)

[Number of Respondents] 1,015 people (① 508 people / ② 507 people)

[Survey Targets] Monitors who answered, at the time of survey, that they are: ① women aged 20–50 who have previously attempted dieting / ② aesthetic physicians, nurses, or counselors

[Survey Conducted by] WOM CLINIC GINZA (https://wom-clinic.com/)

[Monitor Provider] Sacrisa

*The content of this survey is merely an introduction of questionnaire results targeting aesthetic physicians, nurses, and counselors, and does not prove efficacy or performance.

Can the ideal body line be achieved through diet alone? Over 80% answered 'No confidence'

Over 80% of women lack confidence in achieving their 'ideal body line' through diet alone

First, women aged 20–50 who have previously attempted dieting were asked, 'As summer approaches, do you have confidence that dieting alone can achieve your ideal body line?' The responses were as follows:

'No confidence at all (42.3%)'

'Not very confident (40.8%)'

'Somewhat confident (11.0%)'

'Very confident (2.9%)'

'Already have my ideal body line (3.0%)'

Combining 'No confidence at all' and 'Not very confident,' over 80% of respondents expressed difficulty in achieving their ideal body shape through self-driven dieting alone.

On the other hand, a certain number—over 10%—answered 'Very confident' or 'Somewhat confident,' indicating a segment that remains optimistic.

Lower abdomen ('pooch belly') is the most common concern

Excluding those who answered 'Already have my ideal body line,' respondents were asked about 'body parts that remain stubborn despite dieting.' The most common response was 'lower abdomen (pooch belly) (63.1%),' followed by 'thighs (50.1%)' and 'upper arms (36.1%)'.

The difficulty in slimming specific areas such as the 'lower abdomen,' 'thighs,' and 'upper arms' may contribute to the lack of confidence in achieving an ideal body line through self-driven dieting, as revealed in the previous question.

Pinpoint tightening of problem areas remains a challenge for many women.

Beyond stubborn fat, what failures have women experienced in past diets?

Approximately half have experienced 'rebound' or 'skin laxity' despite dieting

When asked, 'Have you ever experienced 'rebound' or 'skin laxity' from past diets (diet restriction, exercise, esthetic treatments, etc.)?' over half of respondents answered 'Yes (54.5%)'.

It became clear that a majority of respondents have experienced unwanted outcomes such as rebound weight gain and skin laxity from dieting.

Despite attempting dieting through methods like diet restriction and exercise, the difficulty in maintaining results and losing weight while preserving body contours was highlighted.

Around 40% of women said they would consider aesthetic medical treatments

When asked, 'If a single treatment could give you your ideal body line, would you consider using aesthetic medicine such as liposuction?' over 40% answered 'Would definitely consider (14.4%)' or 'Would somewhat consider (27.7%)'.

Given the previously revealed limitations of self-driven dieting and the difficulty of spot reduction, a certain segment appears to view aesthetic medicine—which promises visible changes from a single treatment—as a viable option.

Top priority when considering aesthetic medicine: 'Physician's technical skill'

Among those who answered 'Would definitely consider' or 'Would somewhat consider,' respondents were asked what they prioritize when considering aesthetic treatments like liposuction. The most common response was 'physician's technical skill, experience, and professional qualifications (50.5%)', followed by 'short downtime (swelling, tightness) (50.0%)', 'aesthetic results (no lumpiness, no skin laxity, etc.) (49.5%)', and 'low cost (49.5%)'.

With the top four factors nearly tied at around 50%, it became evident that those positively considering aesthetic medicine seek both high-quality outcomes—such as 'physician's skill' and 'aesthetic results'—and reduced physical and financial burdens like 'downtime' and 'cost'.

There appears to be a tendency to carefully balance the pursuit of an ideal body line with the impact on daily life and cost.

[Expert Insight] Can 'spot reduction' really be achieved through diet and exercise?

Now, let's hear from aesthetic physicians, nurses, and counselors.

Contrary to women's personal experiences, medical professionals say 'spot reduction is possible'

When asked, 'From a medical standpoint, do you believe it's possible to reduce subcutaneous fat in specific areas through diet restriction and exercise alone?' approximately 90% answered 'Strongly agree (37.1%)' or 'Somewhat agree (49.3%)'.

It became clear that the majority of professionals view spot reduction through diet and exercise as 'possible'.

While previous survey results showed that many women aged 20–50 who have dieted feel limited by self-driven spot reduction, among medical professionals with a clinical perspective, the belief that it is 'possible' is the majority view—revealing a perception gap between the two groups.

Most common: 'Repeated rebound.' Three key characteristics of those suited for liposuction

When asked, 'Who do you think liposuction is suitable for, in terms of concerns or goals?' the most common response was 'those who repeatedly diet and rebound (50.1%)', followed by 'those who want a shapely, 'beautiful body line (curvaceous beauty)' (48.7%)' and 'those troubled by skin laxity (47.3%)'.