Liposuction: 3 Things You Have To Know About It

Source: SpaMedica. Before and after photo of a liposuction patient.

Some people would say liposuction is the “easy” way to lose some weight. On the surface, sure, it looks like the procedure is a great way to trim up and shed off pounds. I mean, what’s the point of going on a hardcore diet and exercising everyday when you can avoid all that stuff by getting liposuction?

This is a super common misconception. First off, liposuction  is not a “quick” way to lose weight. It’s actually not a weight loss method. Also, it’s not a procedure where you go in, get some fat taken out and your results will automatically appear within the next day.

There’s maintenance and things you’ll have to consider when it comes to diet and lifestyle to keep your liposuction results. Dr. Mulholland, a Toronto plastic surgeon, shares his expertise on what you should expect to do after liposuction so things don’t come as a surprise.

A balanced, healthy diet will help your body heal quickly after liposuction

This idea is the same for any other surgery. Having a healthy diet (don’t be too hard on yourself by restricting calories though) helps your body heal fast and without complications. Gradual weight loss of less than 20 pounds will also benefit your liposuction results. The areas and contours you’ve gained will shrink and enhance your overall looks. Weight gain, of course, can sabotage your liposuction results. Not only will the fat return to the areas you’ve had treated, fat can also travel and accumulate in areas where you normally didn’t have.

What your diet should be like depends on your own individual health. Your liposuction surgeon is in the best position to recommend what your diet should be after the procedure.

Dr. Mulholland appeared on Cityline to discuss and perform BodyTite Liposuction.

You can return back to regular activities soon after liposuction.

“Patients can return to relatively low-impact activities the day after the procedure,” says Dr. Mulholland. With energy-assisted liposuction procedures like BodyTite or SmartLipo, the risks of pain, bruising and swelling are reduced. This provides patients with a faster opportunity to get back to regular activities. Some patients have had liposuction on multiple areas of their body and can go back to very light activities the next day. It’s not a bad idea to have 2-3 days dedicated to resting and recovery after liposuction, though.

If you’re into active physical activities like running and weight training, you’ll have to wait 4-6 weeks after your procedure to jump back into these activities.

Weight fluctuation is common after liposuction

As mentioned earlier, liposuction is not a way to lose weight. It’s a way to help you shape up contours and remove unwanted fat from pockets of your body that you don’t want. Dr. Mulholland says to focus on your contours and the inches you’ve lost, not your weight.

With that noted, you will lose some weight after liposuction. It’s also possible to see your weight fluctuate. Some reasons that cause weight gain are related to the stress of surgery and stress hormones—this shows up in the form of water weight. However, it’s a good idea to have a close follow-up with your liposuction surgeon to make sure everything’s fine if you have any worries about your weight.

These are just some of the things to consider before you decide to take the plunge and have liposuction. Do your research, pick a board-certified plastic surgeon with years of experience and don’t be afraid to ask questions. Leave a comment or book a consultation online if you have any questions about liposuction.