Liposuction results can be long-lasting, but they are not necessarily permanent. The fat cells removed during the procedure are gone for good. But your body can still gain weight in other areas or even in the treated spots if you don’t maintain a healthy lifestyle.
After undergoing liposuction surgery, it’s crucial to stick to a healthy diet and regular exercise routine to maintain a healthy weight. This helps you keep the benefits of the surgery for years to come. While liposuction can give you a slimmer figure, it’s not a substitute for overall weight loss or a quick fix for obesity.
Essential Information
- The liposuction procedure permanently removes fat cells from treated areas but it’s not a permanent solution.
- The results can be maintained long-term with a consistent diet and exercise routine.
- This surgery is not a replacement for maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
Understanding Liposuction
Liposuction surgeries are popular cosmetic procedures that remove stubborn fat deposits in various areas of your body. It can reshape specific areas of your body, but it’s not a weight loss procedure.
What Is Liposuction?
Liposuction surgery is a cosmetic procedure that removes excess fat cells from targeted body areas. It’s done to improve body shape, not for weight loss. A plastic surgeon uses a thin tube called a cannula to permanently remove fat cells. The cannula is connected to a vacuum device.
Liposuction can target many body parts. Common areas include the tummy, thighs, and upper arms. It works best for people at a stable weight with firm, elastic skin. The results can be long-lasting if you keep a healthy weight. But liposuction doesn’t stop new fat from forming. A healthy and balanced lifestyle is key to maintaining results.
Liposuction Techniques at West Coast Plastic Surgery
Suction-assisted liposuction (SAL): is the traditional liposuction procedure where fat is manually loosened and suctioned out using a cannula. While effective for various body areas, suction-assisted liposuction may cause more bruising and require a longer recovery period compared to newer techniques.
Vaser Liposuction: Uses ultrasound technology to break down fat cells while preserving surrounding tissues, making it ideal for precise body sculpting. This technique often results in less bruising and quicker recovery compared to other methods. It also assists with skin retraction secondary to heat stimulation from the ultrasound promoting collagen reorganisation and formation.
Power-Assisted liposuction (PAL): Employs a vibrating cannula to assist in breaking up fat cells, which reduces procedure time and surgeon fatigue while offering greater precision.
In each of these methods, the surgeon injects a fluid called a tumescent solution, which includes ingredients of saline, lidocaine (local anaesthetic and epinephrine. Applying this solution improves the safety, comfort, and effectiveness of the procedure.
Liposuction Procedure Explained
Liposuction is typically a day procedure, allowing you to go home the same day. During the surgery, you’ll receive either local or general anaesthesia, depending on the area being treated.
Plastic surgeons make small incisions in your skin to insert a cannula, which is moved back and forth to break up the fat cells. These loosened fat cells are then suctioned out using a vacuum. The procedure generally takes 1 to 3 hours, depending on how much fat is being removed.
After surgery, you’ll need to wear a compression garment to reduce swelling and help shape your body. While some results may be visible in a few weeks, it can take several months to see the full outcome.
Are the Results Permanent?
Liposuction procedures results can last for many years, but several factors affect their long-term results. Your actions after surgery play a big role in keeping the new shape you’ve gained.
Effect on Fat Cells
After the liposuction procedure, the fat cells don’t grow back. The fat cells that remain in fatty tissue can still get bigger if you gain weight. However, the treated areas will have fewer fat cells, so they may not enlarge as much as untreated parts.
Your body has a set number of fat cells by adulthood. When you gain weight, these new fat cells grow larger. This can change how your body stores fat in the future.
Impact of Lifestyle
Your habits after liposuction greatly affect how long the liposuction results last. A healthy balanced diet and exercise help keep your new shape. If you gain a lot of weight, the remaining fat cells in the treated areas may grow larger.
Your body might also store new fat in other places. This could change your overall shape. Keeping a steady body weight through good eating and an exercise regime is key. It helps you hang onto the results you got from surgery.
Remember, liposuction isn’t a weight loss method. It’s a body-shaping tool. To keep your new look, you need to stick to a healthy lifestyle. This means watching what you eat and staying active.
Potential Risks and Complications
Liposuction, like any surgical procedure, comes with potential risks and complications. While many patients undergo liposuction and achieve positive results, it’s crucial to be aware of possible issues that may arise during or after the procedure.
Common Side Effects
After liposuction, you might experience bruising and swelling in the treated areas. These effects usually fade within four to six weeks after. Pain and discomfort are common in the first days after surgery. Your doctor will likely prescribe pain medications to help manage this.
Numbness in the treated areas is another common side effect. This typically resolves on its own over time. You may also notice some fluid drainage from the incision sites. This is normal and should stop within a few days.
Temporary changes in skin sensation are not unusual. You might feel areas of increased or decreased sensitivity as your body heals.
Serious Complications
While rare, more serious complications can occur with liposuction. Infection is a risk with any surgery. Signs of infection include fever, redness, swelling and increased pain. Seek medical help if you notice these symptoms.
Damage to blood vessels or nerves can happen during the procedure. This might lead to numbness or changes in sensation that last longer than expected. In some cases, these changes can be permanent.
Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a rare but serious risk. This is when blood clots form in deep veins, usually in the legs. DVT can be life-threatening if the clot travels to the lungs and cause Pulmonary Embolism.
Long-Term Risks
Long-term risks of liposuction often relate to the appearance of the treated areas. Uneven contours or bumpy skin can occur if fat removal is not uniform. This might leave you with an uneven or “wavy” appearance.
Changes in skin elasticity can affect your results over time. If your skin lacks elasticity, it may not shrink to fit your new contours. This can lead to loose or sagging skin in the treated areas.
Scarring at incision sites is possible, though most scars fade over time. In rare cases, more noticeable scarring can occur. Some patients experience persistent swelling and fluid retention or firmness in treated areas. This can last for several months or, in some cases, become permanent.
Aftercare and Recovery
Proper care after liposuction is crucial for achieving the best results and ensuring a smooth recovery. The following information covers key aspects of post-operative care and long-term maintenance.
Immediate Post-Operative Care
After your liposuction surgery, you’ll need to wear compression garments. These special clothes help reduce swelling and shape your body. Your doctor will give you pain medicine to keep you comfortable.
In most cases, you will go home the same day. In case of extensive large volume liposuction involving multiple body areas, you may stay in the hospital for a day or two. When you go home, you’ll need to rest and avoid heavy lifting. It’s normal to have some bruising and swelling.
Your surgeon will give you instructions on how to care for your wounds. Follow these carefully to avoid infections. You might need to take antibiotics as well in case of a suspected infection.
Long-Term Health and Maintenance
The results of liposuction can last a long time if you look after yourself. Eating well and exercising regularly are key to keeping your new shape.
Your skin’s elasticity plays a big role in how you look after surgery. If you have good skin elasticity, it will shrink to fit your new body shape. But if your skin is less elastic, you might have some loose skin requiring further treatment.
Regular check-ups with your surgeon are important. They can help you track your progress and address any concerns you might have.
Contact West Coast Plastic Surgery Today!
Considering liposuction? The team at West Coast Plastic Surgery is here to provide personalised care tailored to your individual needs. We focus on delivering safe and effective results, with an emphasis on your long-term health and well-being. Contact us to schedule a consultation today to discuss your options and make an informed decision about your care.