Life After Liposuction Surgery

While liposuction surgery aims to remove the excess fats underneath the skin, it should never be seen as promising substitute to weight loss.  In fact, a good plastic surgeon would not perform the procedure if a patient is not willing to stick to a healthy lifestyle which include moderate diet and regular exercise.

In a 2004 study, researchers found that liposuction patients are three times more likely to gain weight if they would not follow a healthy diet; they are also four times more susceptible to weight fluctuation than average individuals if they fail to exercise regularly. 

However, the good news is that the result of liposuction can last a lifetime as long as the patients will live a healthy lifestyle.  In fact, the study has suggested that patients who follow a moderate diet are twice more likely to lose weight than average people.

The finding clearly shows what many plastic surgeons have always been telling their patients: liposuction is a not a quick fix for weight loss.  To put it safely, this cosmetic surgery should only be seen as an adjunct to healthy diet and regular exercise.

The study, which involved 209 patients who had liposuction between 1999 and 2003, has focused on the respondents’ lifestyle habits, satisfaction with the final result, and treated areas.  Meanwhile, most of them had the procedure more than two years before the survey.

About 43 percent of the respondents reported gaining weight after liposuction, with most of them experiencing weight gain between 5 and 10 pounds.  Majority of these patients or 90 percent of them did not stick to regular exercise.

About 78 percent of the respondents who gained weight were also found to have unhealthy diet.

By contrast, about 57 percent who did not gain weight said they increased their exercise duration while 50 percent said they were eating a healthier diet after their liposuction surgery.

Liposuction is a cosmetic procedure that falls under the category of body contouring; this simply means that overweight and obese patients, and people who are experiencing weight fluctuations cannot enjoy its benefits.  In fact, repeating lipo in the same area is not generally recommended because it can lead to higher risk of skin irregularities, sagging, and other aesthetic problems.

Liposuction is primarily intended to reshape the body areas which do not respond to diet and exercise.  These “problematic areas” are usually the abdomen, flanks, hips, male breasts, upper arms, and thighs.