How to Maintain Liposuction Results

Liposuction is a plastic surgery that is in high demand nowadays and one of the most commonly done types is the so-called tumescent liposuction. As stated from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons this body contouring procedure is one of the top five cosmetic surgical operations in 2019. But what makes liposuction procedures so popular among men and women? The answer is simple – the operation has been shown to be effective and can remove stubborn fat from those areas of your body that are resistant to diets and exercise.

In addition, it is quite safe. It significantly improves the body shape by removing fat cells and ensures that these areas will not accumulate fat deposits in the future. That sounds great, doesn’t it? Yes, liposuction is really amazing procedure, but there are still some important things you need to know – if you want to have long term outcomes you have to make some lifestyle changes after your plastic surgery. Are you wondering how to maintain your liposuction results? Then keep reading.

What to expect after liposuction?

You can expect to feel some tenderness and discomfort after your liposuction procedure. You can also have some swelling, slight bruising and soreness. You will be informed about these possible side effects during your initial consultation. It is important to have realistic expectations and to realize that when you have liposuction you are having surgery so these complications are just a normal part of the recovery process.

With adequate medications, adequate preoperatively preparation and in the hands of a board-certified physician, you can really minimize post-operative discomfort. Also, you may be asked to wear a compression garment for several weeks. Compression garments are used to speed up the healing process.

In order to prevent you from blood clots, your plastic surgeon might recommend limiting your activity levels to walking. Most of the patients report they have felt pretty well within 24 hours and they’ve only had a little bit of swelling in the areas that have been treated.

How long does it take to heal from liposuction?

Most patients say that by two weeks the swelling has diminished significantly and the incisions have closed up. However, it is difficult to answer this question because everybody is going to be different. Some people have the capacity to heal much quicker than others. It just depends on the individual but typically after one or two weeks you should feel much better and be ready to go back to work. Scars are usually small and not noticeable.

Many patients are frightened of undergoing liposuction procedures. Obviously, the operation entails some concerns and risks but the fact is once you decided to go ahead and book your consultation, you will realize the potential benefits of liposuction and in the end, you will be happy with the final results. It is also important to feel that you are in good and safe hands so make sure you choose a good plastic surgeon who is board-certified and has enough experience in the field.

How long after liposuction do you see results?

One to three months after your surgery you can see the final results from liposuction. Whether you will notice the improvement in your body contour after only four weeks or after three months mainly depends on how much fat you have removed. If you’ve had vaser liposuction surgery done, you may see the final results within 6 months after the surgery.

When you are removing larger volumes of body fat, you will probably see a noticeable change almost immediately after the procedure because the fat is gone. But keep in mind that you do have a healing process so results are not final until the healing process is complete. You might see results fairly early after the procedure and notice some changes but you can’t take these early changes as being the final outcomes because your body contour will continue to change over the course of time. For example, Vaser Hi-Def can produce results almost immediately, depending on how many treatments are needed, but this procedure is mostly reserved for body contouring and fine tuning, instead.

Are liposuction results permanent?

Liposuction results can be permanent as long as diet and lifestyle are proper with the patient. Fat cells do not regenerate but you must maintain a proper diet and exercise. What does it mean? Let’s look at this in more detail.

It is said that once you are born your fat cells do not divide or multiply so if fat cells are removed from the body with liposuction the remaining fat cells do not divide to replace the lost ones. However, the fat cells that are left behind can take on more fat and lead to weight gain. That will only happen if your own diet and lifestyle were such that you are putting on weight. So the results of your liposuction procedure should stand the test of time as long as you have a healthy lifestyle.

How much weight can you lose with liposuction?

With liposuction procedure, you can lose between two and five pounds. This is in case you are within 30% of healthy body weight and have fat in certain parts of the body that you want to lose. However, you should be aware of the fact that liposuction is not a weight loss surgery it is a surgery that improves the aesthetic appearance. Liposuction targets areas that are disproportioned and are not resistant to diets and exercise.

Yes, there are people that will need lipo in multiple areas and yes, there are people who lose weight but the real purpose of this procedure is improving the shape of the body. Losing a few pounds is due to the fact that during the operation a certain amount of fat is removed from the body, and this, in turn, affects the weight.

In general, it is difficult to give accurate information about how many pounds you will lose and how to equate the amount of body fat removed from you with the amount of weight that you will lose. This is because there is not a good correlation between the amount of fat that is liposuction and the amount of weight that you are going to lose when you stand on the scale. Many patients report that they have lost two to four pants sizes after their liposuction procedure. How much you will lose generally depends on your body type and how much volume you are going to remove.

Maintaining your results: What to do after liposuction to get the best results?

If you want to get best and long-lasting results after liposuction you will need to maintain a healthy diet, be active and do exercise regularly as well as to keep your body hydrated by drinking enough water and last but not least to follow the instructions of your surgeon.

Maintain a healthy diet

You shouldn’t get obsessed with counting calories but at least try to avoid high-calorie food and eat more vegetables, fruits, good carbs and fats. It is good for your diet to be focused on protein and healthy carbohydrates.

In general healthy eating is considered the consumption of foods from different groups that make you feel good and full as well as improve your health and energy levels. It doesn’t mean you have to follow a restricted diet or to completely deprive yourself of your favourite foods.

A good and healthy diet is one that promotes good and optimal health. It must include several groups of foods because a single group cannot provide everything (protein, carbohydrate, fat, fibre, vitamins and minerals) that a human body needs.

Exercise regularly

Healthy eating combined with exercising is considered one of the most reliable ways to maintain your results after liposuction and to keep your new figure. You don’t need overdoing it, you don’t have to train at the gym if you don’t like it or do killing workouts at home. Choose an activity you like and enjoy it. These can be walking, biking, dancing or whatever makes you feel good. The most important thing is to be active at least 30 minutes a day.

Stay hydrated throughout the day

Water is essential for your survival. It maintains the proper function of all organs, especially the kidneys. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons drinking enough water helps digestion and controls hunger. If you don’t maintain proper fluid levels, your own potential will decrease and this will significantly reduce your ability to exercise. So make sure you drink enough water throughout the day.

Follow your surgeon's recommendations

During your liposuction consultation, you and your plastic surgeon will discuss your goals as well as likely results of the plastic surgery. The surgeon will also give you specific instructions about your recovery and tips on how to maintain your new look. Following his/her recommendations will ensure your safety and the success of the procedure.

Choosing an experienced and board-certified surgeon is one of the most important steps you should take before undergoing liposuction.

What is the best diet after liposuction?

The best diet after liposuction is one that includes foods rich in protein such as meat, eggs, fish, etc., fruits, grains, while the intake of sugary foods and saturated fats is minimized.

If you want to maintain your liposuction results try to include the following foods in your diet:

• Food that is rich in protein. It includes red meat, fish, poultry, eggs, milk. Proteins will help you to feel full after a meal and will help you maintain your energy levels.
• “Good” fats. Fats derived from seeds, nuts, fish, avocado, olive oil and other monosaturated and polyunsaturated fats are considered good fats.
• Healthy carbs. These are bananas, oranges, berries, sweet potatoes, oats, quinoa and so on.
• Variety of vegetables. They are sources of fibre, vitamins and minerals.
• Whole grains. These include foods such as oatmeal, brown rice and wild rice, raw nuts and seeds (almonds, hazelnuts, peanuts and flaxseeds, chia seeds, wheat germ).
• Plant-based protein. You can find it in beans, lentils and chickpeas.

How do you tighten skin after liposuction?

The best ways to tighten your skin after liposuction are:

• follow a regular exercise regimen;
• massage your skin;
• include strength training in your regular exercise program;
• consider skin tightening procedures.

With some types of liposuction like Vaser liposuction it will be easier to tighten your skin when compared to regular suction devices used for liposuction procedures. You can read our article on the benefits of 4D vaser liposuction for more information.

People who have had excessive amount of fat may require an additional procedure like tummy tuck or abdominoplasty in order to get rid of loose skin.

In conclusion

Liposuction is a great procedure that will get you in shape but the important thing is to be able to keep that body shape in the future. Try to follow the tips above, make healthier food choices, be active and don’t forget to drink water.

If you sometimes feel overwhelmed with eating healthy and exercising, don’t worry! Nobody is perfect. You don’t have to follow everything 100%, nor you have to follow it 100% of the time. If you sometimes eat more or take a week off from your regular exercise, it will not affect your results. Just make sure it doesn’t become a permanent practice.

After all, you will have better results if you are consistent in what you do, even if it is not perfectly sustained than if you do the perfect workout and nutrition, but only from time to time.