Can My Body Fat Return After I Get Liposuction?
Are you struggling to trim and tone problem areas on your own? When you’re at a healthy weight but diet and exercise fail to address pockets of fat, liposuction can be a tremendous help. If you’re asking, “Will my excess fat come back after liposuction?” the simple answer is no – with one caveat: as long as you maintain your weight. At The Landings Surgical Centre in Halifax, Nova Scotia, I make sure my liposuction patients develop realistic expectations. It’s as important to know what the procedure can do as it is to know its limitations. In this blog post, we’ll explore how it contours the body and what you can do to maintain the effects.
Understanding Why Fat Can Come Back
During the liposuction procedure, I use precise contouring methods to remove excess fat cells. However, it’s important to understand liposuction is not a weight loss procedure. You will need to be at or near your target weight to be considered a good candidate. And you will need to be committed to a healthy lifestyle to maintain that weight.
There’s no way around it. If you gain weight, you will see a greater ratio of fat return. If you enjoyed dramatic results immediately after your liposuction surgery, the more weight and fat you gain means that your results will be diminished.
What This Means for Your Figure
We have a finite number of fat cells in the body. It’s true that liposuction does permanently remove some of these fat cells. The remainder, however, can still swell and increase in size. In theory, you might still see an improvement and an overall slimmer figure if you gain weight because your problem areas contain fewer fat cells.
That said, everyone’s body is unique. It’s very difficult to predict how your appearance will be affected if you regain weight. The safest bet is to protect your investment by living a healthy lifestyle.
How Else Can I Maintain My Results?
There are several trusted ways to maintain a trim figure like eating a diet that is high in protein and healthy fats while limiting processed carbohydrates and sugars. Another important question we ask female patients at our Halifax office that is often overlooked is whether they plan on having children in the future. It’s unrealistic and unhealthy to avoid gaining weight during pregnancy. If you plan on growing your family in the future, it’s wise to delay any body contouring treatment until you are done.
I Gained Weight After Liposuction. What’s Next?
If you’ve gained weight after liposuction, try not to be hard on yourself. You are not alone! Re-commit to your health goals and start by meeting with your doctor to discuss your concerns. Your metabolism naturally changes as you age so they might recommend meeting with a nutritionist or other type of specialist to gain more useful tips.
If you lose weight and are still unhappy with your appearance, we can absolutely provide another consultation to discuss what you’d like to change. An additional liposuction surgery might be recommended or another approach could be best. Above all else, we emphasize safe, customized treatment plans and I’m confident we can help you look and feel your best again.
Schedule a Consultation for Liposuction
Whether you’re considering liposuction for the first time or an additional treatment, we’re excited to meet with you. Message our Halifax plastic surgery office today to request a consultation.