Cosmetic Surgery Life After Liposuction

Life after Liposuction: Keys to Keeping the Body You Love

By Christy Burns

Published on April 13, 2007

Liposuction patients might be surprised to discover that the most difficult aspect of the procedure is often not the surgery, itself. Nor is it the post-operational regimen of cotton pads, compression garments, and pain-relievers. For many patients, the hardest part of receiving liposuction is maintaining the slenderizing results and improved physique after their new figure is finally revealed.

Liposuction has surpassed breast augmentation as the most popular form of cosmetic surgery in the United States. According to a recent survey published in the Journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, 80 percent of liposuction recipients were satisfied with their results. Three-quarters of the respondents said that they would recommend the procedure to a friend or family member. However, in the same survey, nearly half of the patients reported that they had re-gained weight – not because the procedure had been ineffective, but because they had not taken the necessary steps to improve their overall physical well-being.

One of the most prevalent myths surrounding liposuction is that it is a tool for weight management. In reality, however, the goal of liposuction is to contour the figure by removing stubborn fat cells from targeted areas of the body. Although these fat cells are permanently removed, this does not mean that the patient can’t, or won’t, gain weight. After liposuction, it is absolutely crucial that patients make a long-term commitment to regular exercise and healthy eating.

If you are considering liposuction or have recently undergone the procedure, here are a few keys to keeping the body you love:

  • If you don’t already have a gym membership, treat yourself to one – and a new set of chic exercise clothes while you’re at it.
  • If a gym membership is out of reach, talk to your friends or family about starting a walking club – sharing your workout with people you love is the best two-for-one deal around.
  • Eating healthy does not always have to mean eating less. Your primary goal should be to eat more of the right things. Cut down on sugars, carbohydrates, and saturated fats. Steer yourself away from over-processed foods like fruit snacks and chose more natural alternatives like a small bowl of strawberries.
  • Keep a bottle of water with you at all times to keep yourself hydrated and prevent unnecessary snacking. If you’re in the mood for something other than H2O, try a glass of fresh juice (make sure it’s 100 percent, not made from concentrate).
  • Get the salt off the table – limiting your sodium intake will help decrease bloating, dehydration, and high blood pressure.
  • Keep a calorie journal for one week, documenting what and how much you eat – this will help you see where you’re overdoing it and identify which types of nutrients you’re missing.

Liposuction gives people a chance to look and feel better than they ever have. By managing your overall physical health through improved diet and exercise, you can feel confident that the results of your procedure will last.

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Keyword Tags: liposuction, weight loss

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Comments

1

After liposuction, I noticed that I have still some fat deposits in certain areas (abdomen specially). I can feel them like little and hard deposits of fat. Is this normal after liposuction? Will this dissapear? How long do I have to use the elastic compression garment? I was told also to try Ultrasonic therapy to eliminate those fat deposits, however, I also heard that Ultrasonic therapy is not recommended to be used in certains areas of the body because I could damage some organs. I has liposuction 1 month ago.
BTW this is a great website. Thanks.

Hernan Cubas
about 1 year ago

2

I used to have smooth firm skin even though I was overweight. After lipo, I have cellulite wherever it was done. If I gain weight the fat goes to my remaining fat cells and I look like a lumpy bumpy pocketed road, worse than ever. After lipo, you MUST not gain weight. So learn how to keep a constant weight before getting lipo. Be sure you choose an experienced board certified surgeon at a medical facility, not the kind of place I went to called Princess. The first time I did it, a good doctor-->great results (before gaining weight); second time an imported "doctor" ---looks like he left his tools in my stomach. $1000's later. :<{

Holly
about 1 year ago

3

even after6 weeks, i still get a burning sensation around my mid-section. any thots or is that just another sign of healing.

karen
about 1 year ago

4

I had lipo almost three week ago I notice when i get my menses instead of the regular 5 days I have being bleeding almost the 3 weeks. Is that normal and will eventually stop? Will it happen again every time I get my period? The nurse told me it's one of the side effects from the anestesia.

Lorraine
about 1 year ago

5

Im a Soldier, and depressions of the war left me eating all the time, anyways, I had lipo exactly one month ago from today. I see very little changes Im I being to anxious. No weight loss either.

Pat
about 1 year ago

6

Liposuction is a joke and most patients don't report back to their Drs that they regain the weight.
You look great at first, and then the weight comes back like crazy no matter how you eat. I have had it 3 times, am a normal weight, and exercise. My body ALWAYS goes back to the same weight ALWAYS! Only now I have more scars and less money in my account.

Angela
about 1 year ago

7

I had liposuction 7 months ago and my results are very good and I am very happy with the results. My weight has stayed about the same, but my shape is different; this is not to be used for weight loss. Also, I wore my garment about six weeks, and it took around six weeks for all of the swelling to go down. Have patience.

renea
about 1 year ago

8

I had lipo about 2 weeks ago from today ... im unable to exercise and feel like i should (im addicted to exercise). my question is what should i be doing during recovery to keep off/lose weight.

Liz
about 1 year ago

9

I had lipo done 4 days ago on my upper and lower abdomen and my outher tights... i was expecting the worst but feeling better than i thought. there is a lot of bruising but hoping that will pass soon.
I cant see much result but it guess i have to patient as everything is still very swollen and bruised. I am very anxious that i will put on weight while i am sitting at home as i am a -exercise additct.. have the same question as the girl before-is there any light exercise i can do while i am still restricted to go to the gym?What are the best foods to eat while i am still recovering? Thanks

Pet
about 1 year ago

10

I had lipo over a year ago. My body was already in great shape, I just wanted to get some problem areas done. I regret that. Now all my perfect body parts are problem areas. Where ever you dont get lipo done FAT WILL SHOW UP. It make take a year but it will. I am a runner and I eat right but it doesnt matter. Either get it done everywhere or dont get it at all. If you just got it done...wait until you recover and workout harder and eat better than you did before or you will be sorry.

juliek
about 1 year ago

11

I had lipo a few days ago and I dont see any results. I also feel like I should atleast be walking, can I walk daily? Also what is the best eating habit I can use and continue for life.

Kisha
about 1 year ago

12

I had Lippo done to my Stomach 6 weeks ago and have now just got my rider area done just one week ago. I can see a huge difference in the shape and contour of my stomach and even after one week i see a big difference in my rider area. I have not ost any weight what so ever but i know i now have to exercise and eat wisley so that i keep my new shape. Losing weight would be great but just having a lovely shape now means more to me than anything. So im throwing away the scales and buying a small pair of jeans and if i always make sure i feel comfortable in them im so happy! I had a surgen in Germany and he was fantastic. I will deffo be going back to see about having implants done! I would deffo reccommend him....Figura Asthetica Dusseldorf in Germany (speaks English) www.figura-aethetica.com

susan from Scotland
10 months ago

13

I had Tumescent Lipo done 2 1/2 wks ago. After 3 days I was shovelling the driveway and had very little bruising and swelling. After 10 days I was able to completely remove the garment. I had my upper and lower abdomen, plus waist and hips done for the full contouring effect. I am still a little lumpy in spots with a little bit of numbness still, but I don't recognize my midsection! I was not really overweight going in - 130 lbs and 5'2" and I think that's the key to lipo. I just had midsection issues after having children. I was always anywhere from 105 lbs (pre-marriage and children) to 130 lbs but my tummy and waist were always issues. I didn't do this to wear a bikini again - I did this to simply look and feel better in my clothing. With everything being "low-rise" all my size 6/size 28 pants/jeans still fit the same HOWEVER I no longer have the "muffin top" effect and I am thrilled. I am convinced lipo is NOT for overweight people EVER. I see now that I haven't lost anything really - they removed 2 1/2 lbs of pure fat from my midsection. It is purly for contouring trouble areas. If you're looking for a miracle weight loss this is not it. If you're relatively thin, and want to look better in your clothes, this is for you. AND BTW Tumescent Lipo is the way to go! With 2 young children I could not afford to be off for a long period of time. That very same day I could have driven myself home, I made dinner, was on my feet, then put my feet up early evening and went to bed early. Next day a little more pain - but nothing 2 Extra Strength Tylenol couldn't handle. It was unbelieveable. The ONLY thing that was tough was the discomfort sleeping (I'm a stomach sleeper) and the itchiness as it was healing (Benadryl helped tremendously). The "open drainage" method was great - I only "leaked" for the first 24 hrs then it stopped completely and started to heal with very little bruising. My tummy looked a little yellow is all. Unbelieveable. Great doc, great experience. Look up Dr. Jeffrey Klein who invented the Tumescent Lipo technique. My doc was trained by him and is NOT a plastic surgeon. Neither is the creator of Tumescent Lipo - he's a dermatologist. To do Tumescent Lipo my belief is you do NOT have to be a Plastic Surgeon. Do your homework and your research on your doc, and that's what truly matters. Tumescent Lipo is NOT plastic surgery. Hope this all helps for anyone considering Lipo. I could have used this type of open and honest comment when I was researching!

Sammy Kay
10 months ago

14

I feel like a tick about to pop! I have Laser Lipo done three days ago and am so swollen, it's uncomfortable. I broke out from the benzodine (numbing agent) and have a burn across my stomach from it. It itches so bad right now and has blisters. I PRAY that it turns out better in the long run than what I am seeing right now. I cried in the doctors yesterday when I saw it. I hope to report better news soon.

Jessica
8 months ago

15

I had liposuction on my abdomen exactly 2 wks ago. I'm not sure if I'm swollen or what. I don't see GREAT results but I do see a change. I'm 5ft 160 lbs.... Not for weight loss but because I looked pregnant all the time and I hated it. I look much better nut I feel like there's still fat on my stomach that he couldve removed. Hopefully that will change. I hope!

Deborah
8 months ago

16

I had liposuction on my abdomen exactly 2 wks ago. I'm not sure if I'm swollen or what. I don't see GREAT results but I do see a change. I'm 5ft 160 lbs.... Not for weight loss but because I looked pregnant all the time and I hated it. I look much better nut I feel like there's still fat on my stomach that he couldve removed. Hopefully that will change. I hope!

Deborah
8 months ago

17

I just had lipo on tuesday and am already thrilled with the results even though i am swollen as all get out,lol.....I am not overweight, and do not have a weight issue, i just had a tummy that i couldnt get rid of after my son ( which is 4 now) and my flank area was thick (genetically). I already look like a different person, and cant wait for the final results when the swelling goes all the way down. The burning sucks, but will go away with time, same with the numbness...My sister had lipo also so i know a little bit from her. Good luck, and be patient people....My doctor has my buisness for sure in the future!

sarah
6 months ago

18

i had lipo done over a year ago. the surgeon took six pounds of fat from my hips, thighs, and addomen. i could really see a difference right after the surgery and even wore a bathing suit for the first time since i had my 3 children. i have gained all the weight back and an extra few pounds to boot! this happened in less then a year after the procedure! i run 5 times a week and eat relatively healthy. very disapponted. have not told doc but what a waste of money! they say if you exercise and eat right you will not gain the fat back in those areas...what a croc!

marsha
6 months ago

19

I had lipo 2 years ago. I was about 152lbs at the time. Now I am 164lbs. The lipo on my abdomen came back. So when they say the fat doesn't came back, don't believe them, it does come back and in the same area. I am very disappointed because I paid all that money and went through all that pain for nothing. Why is this surgery so common because the results don't last long at all.

sabrina
4 months ago

20

I had liposuction done 1yr 3 months ago. I wish I had done reasearch like I did after I had the liposuction done. I had it done on my hips and I look a mess I'm lumpy and have so much cellulite now. It was the worst thing I could have ever done to my body. I should have been happy with the hips and butt that God gave me. That's what I get for messing with God's temple. If yoru thinking about liposuction don't do it or any plastic surgery. I dont know why cosmetic surgery was ever introduced but's it such a waste of money!!! an time and the overall results are worstethan what you loooked like in the beginning.. SAVE YOUR MONEY!!! Be happy with your size and exercise and eat right...

Samantha
about 1 month ago

21

I had liposuction done a week and a half ago. The results were immediate. I suffered from partial plegia and the surgery has enabled some of the weight to be removed. I had 3 1/2 litres fat taken from my body. I can dance, jump, and exercise withe little difficulty. I can even climb stairs! My weight was not the important part of my operation, its all a mind process. I am soooo soooo stoked with my results. I am itchy yes, hardly any bruising and Im so good, my surgeon has offered me to see him in 3 months, skipping the 1 month visit. Simply because I dont need it.
Many people apparently get upset with their results. My advice is to put your headspace into your recovery. Exercise and expect the best from yourself. Take care and be happy.

Shellie.. Tasmania
20 days ago

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