Sometimes, even the most rigorous diet and consistent workout routine are insufficient for eliminating areas of stubborn fat. In these situations, liposuction may be the answer. One of the most common and safe plastic surgery procedures in the country, liposuction allows you to target and eliminate fat cells from a specific area of the body, gaining a more streamlined and contoured appearance.
One of the most common concerns regarding liposuction is maintaining the results. Patients want their newly contoured bodies to be permanent but worry about the possibility of regaining fat. The good news is that liposuction results can be sustained, but only by ensuring a healthy lifestyle.
Liposuction 101
Before we discuss strategies for maintaining your liposuction results, it may be helpful to give an overview of the procedure.
During a liposuction procedure, your plastic surgeon will create a small incision. Through that incision, your surgeon will remove unwanted fat cells via a suction process. Liposuction is made to eliminate unwanted fat in target body parts. Most often, liposuction patients wish to target their abdomen, buttocks, arms, legs, or thighs, though liposuction can really be used just about anywhere. Often, it is paired with a tummy tuck. In some instances, it may even be used to provide breast reduction.
Liposuction is not fundamentally a weight loss treatment, though some patients may lose a few pounds. In fact, to qualify for liposuction, you must already have a reasonably healthy and stable body weight. Your liposuction results will be more about how you look, not necessarily the number on the scale. It is important to keep this in mind so that you have realistic expectations for your liposuction results.
Maintaining Your Liposuction Results
Most patients who have liposuction performed are extremely satisfied with their results. However, maintaining those results over the long term may require a few lifestyle changes.
1) Stay hydrated.
If you want to lose weight or maintain a steady body weight, one of the best things you can do is drink plenty of water. (Many experts advocate for you to drink at least 64 ounces daily.)
Proper hydration helps with weight control in a number of ways:
- Hydration helps you feel fuller and thus allows for better appetite control.
- Choosing water over other types of drinks can reduce your intake of sugar, calories, etc.
- Drinking plenty of water can actually reduce your body size, specifically lowering your BMI.
These are just a few reasons why hydration is pivotal for maintaining those liposuction results.
2) Develop a workout routine.
Most liposuction patients have already lost a lot of weight but may be burdened by a few stubborn pockets of fat they cannot seem to lose. These patients know fully well how important exercise can be to maintaining physical fitness.
First and foremost, remember that you will need to allow your body some time to rest and heal following your liposuction. Do not rush back into your normal workouts. Instead, wait until your surgeon gives you the green light. For most patients, this happens within a couple of weeks.
As for specific types of workout routines, it is best to combine aerobic exercise (which can include walking, jogging, cycling, or even swimming) with resistance training (involving weights, kettlebells, or resistance bands).
3) Avoid being too sedentary.
Another important way to maintain your liposuction results is by avoiding a sedentary lifestyle. In other words, try to be up and active throughout the day in order to sustain your streamlined figure.
Some suggestions to avoid being too sedentary:
- If you have a desk job, try to make time to get up and stretch your legs for about 10 minutes out of every hour.
- Consider getting a standing desk.
- Stand when you take phone calls.
- Use stairs instead of elevators.
- Take up a new hobby that gets you up off the couch. Think yoga, hiking, or playing tennis, to name just a few examples.
4) Make healthy nutritional choices.
If you wish to maintain your results, it is crucially important that you have a diet that is low in sugars, processed food, and fat. Instead, we recommend a diet that is full of fresh fruits and vegetables, healthy fats, whole grains, and lean proteins.
5) Control stress.
We all have stress from time to time, but learning how to manage and channel that stress is a crucial component of mental health. It is also an important step in maintaining liposuction results, as stress is one of the top causes of weight gain.
Here are a few tips for minimizing stress:
- Practice gratitude daily.
- Have a consistent physical fitness schedule.
- Find an outlet for channeling your emotions, whether that is painting, keeping a diary, or something that brings you joy.
- Develop ways to relax, such as soaking in a hot bath with warm candlelight.
6) Talk with your plastic surgeon.
Finally, remember that your plastic surgeon can be an invaluable ally throughout the liposuction process. A good surgeon will want to ensure your long-term satisfaction and thus should be more than happy to share tips for maintaining your liposuction results.
Find Out More About Liposuction
Whether you are considering getting surgery or have specific questions about maintaining your results, we invite you to learn more about liposuction from MP Plastic Surgery.
