Maintaining Liposuction Results
Do you have “problem areas” of your body where fat resides? And no matter how much you diet and exercise, it doesn’t seem to help? Join the club.
A big part of what makes liposuction so valuable is that you can target those problem areas. It’s not a quick fix though.
It’s important to understand that liposuction isn’t a weight loss procedure. Should you choose this procedure, there is some effort in maintaining liposuction results.
The Workings of Fat Cells
Did you know that the number of fat cells in your body doesn’t change much once you’re an adult? Thus, when you gain weight, it’s not an issue of producing too many fat cells. It’s actually the result of fat cells getting bigger. And they get bigger throughout the entire body.
It works the same way in reverse. So when you lose weight, it’s a matter of the fat cells getting smaller.
The problem is, they get smaller all over the body and not just in those problem areas where the fat cell count might be excessive (such as the lower belly and thighs). That means if you’re happy with the fullness of your breasts or hips or buttocks, you may lose some of that too.
In this case, there must be an external intervention to tackle those problem areas. With liposuction, a board-certified plastic surgeon can target them by suctioning out the excess fat cells in a specific pattern to reduce their number. Then the surgeon forms and contours the area.
As we stated above, that’s not the end of the story.
Maintaining Liposuction Results
After all the frustration of dieting and exercising to lose the fat from those problem areas, you’ll probably be quick to rejoice in its disappearance after liposuction. But you need to stay vigilant. Because removing fat cells doesn’t mean the existing cells won’t get larger again if you act irresponsibly.
Here are some simple tips:
- Drink More Water
For most of us, aging means a decrease in metabolism. Gaining weight just gets easier as we get older. So one of the best ways to keep your weight stable (or to lose weight) is by drinking plenty of water.
Drinking water before a meal can reduce your appetite and make you feel fuller so you’re not as likely to fill up on empty calories. It also helps you burn more calories while reducing your BMI, waist size, and body fat.
To help keep that body fat from sneaking back in, shoot for drinking around 64 ounces of water per day.
- Look At Your Current Diet
The fat cells that you removed during liposuction aren’t coming back. That’s the good news. But that doesn’t mean you can go hog wild and start loading up on junk food.
Because here’s the bad news: the remaining fat cells left behind will get larger if your diet is chock full of heavily caloric, sugary, high-fat, processed foods. And those cells may show up in all of the wrong places.
You don’t have to adhere to a macro-biotic diet though. Just be reasonable. Stick with lean foods with a lot of protein and fresh produce. Be sure you don’t skimp on fiber in your diet. And swap out frying foods for healthier cooking methods such as steaming, baking, boiling, and broiling.
- Ease Back Into Exercise
Liposuction is most popular among people who’ve already worked to lose weight and are now trying to address stubborn fat that’s resistant to diet and exercise. If this sounds like you, then you probably already have an exercise and workout routine. That puts you ahead of the game in terms of maintaining your liposuction results. Even so, you won’t be able to jump right back into it.
Within hours of your liposuction procedure, you’ll be encouraged to get out of bed and start moving around. Then in the weeks that follow, you’ll need to be highly attentive to what your body needs. This can take practice. Especially because you may be excited to show off your new body. Don’t rush it though.
Just know that usually within two weeks, you’ll be able to begin resistant training. You probably won’t be able to get back to strenuous aerobic activity until two weeks post procedure. And you’ll need to move slowly until you build back your strength and endurance once you do.
Once you’re back on track though, maintaining your exercise routine along with eating a healthy diet and drinking plenty of water is going to go miles toward staying slim after liposuction.
Rid Yourself of Stubborn Fat
If you’re exhausted and discouraged by fat that won’t disappear with diet and exercise, contact us.
Your commitment and determination makes you the perfect patient for liposuction. Furthermore, it bodes well for your ability in maintaining liposuction results.
So don’t wait another day. Let us help you get the results you’ve worked so hard to achieve.
