Does Fat Return after Liposuction? How to Maintain Your Results

As you prepare to undergo liposuction, you may wonder how permanent the results will be. You may wonder, can the removed fat return after liposuction?

Liposuction results generally take around three months to become visible, but what happens after that? What if you struggle with gaining weight after liposuction? What if you’re still working on losing weight?

From healthy eating choices to which exercises to do regularly, learn how to maintain your liposuction results.

How do liposuction procedures work?

Liposuction works by inserting a small instrument called a cannula under your skin. The cannula is attached to a device that vacuums fat cells. Your surgeon will skillfully work on body contouring your shape by removing different amounts of fat in each targeted area.

Some procedures include re-injecting fat cells into different parts of your body. This is known as fat transfer.

Because of how the procedure works, the fat cells your surgeon removes cannot return. But unfortunately, that doesn’t mean your results will necessarily last forever. The remaining fat cells can still change shape, your skin will age, and your overall fitness level may also alter.

All of these factors will affect how the results of your procedure work as time goes on.

What results can I expect?

The exact results you can expect from liposuction will vary depending on your shape before the procedure and the treated areas. Vaser liposuction is not a weight loss surgery. Instead, look at it as a way of fine-tuning your ideal physique.

As a rule of thumb, you should expect to lose no more than 5 pounds during a procedure. In the end, the treated areas will lose volume and appear more toned.

Your plastic surgeon will discuss realistic results with you during your consultation before surgery and make sure you understand what to expect.

How long will the results last?

The length of time your results will remain will depend on your diet and exercise, how your weight fluctuates, and how your body ages. Ultimately, the longevity of your liposuction results will depend on a range of factors. Some of which you can control while others are out of your hands.

As you can tell, your choices determine some of these elements, and your genetics decides others.

Research found that 43% of patients had weight return after liposuction within two years. Now, that doesn’t mean the fat returned in the same places, but it shows you how easily you can let results slip.

To help you understand what it takes to maintain your lipo results, we’re going to focus on the factors you can control: your diet and exercise.

Which diet should you follow after lipo?

Incorporating more portions of fruits and vegetables into your daily food intake is crucial. Add in whole grains, lean meats, or meat alternatives. You can still enjoy indulgent foods, but keep a balance to maintain your new figure.

The American Society of Plastic Surgeons advises that a balanced diet is critical.

If you struggle with your diet, it may be worthwhile having a consultation with a dietician. They will consider your lifestyle, your medical history, and any other dietary requirements to design meal plans to help you stay on track after surgery.

Which exercises are best after liposuction?

Toning the problem areas you had lipo on will benefit you because your results will be visible more quickly with the remaining fat cells covering them.

If you haven’t found the right exercise regimen for you just yet, start by building up some cardio exercise such as running or cycling. Gradually increase the frequency and intensity of your workouts over time. It’s about finding a routine that you’re able to stick with over time.

Once your liposuction doctors clear you to start exercising again after surgery, you will want to make exercising a pillar of your maintenance plan. If you already exercised regularly before: awesome! Keep it up, and you shouldn’t have any issues.

Maintaining your liposuction results

Getting liposuction is a commitment if you want the results to last in the long run. It’s also a procedure – like most cosmetic surgeries – that can’t be expected to look its best forever. Your body will continue to age, and your weight might fluctuate. These factors both affect how your liposuction results will look in the long run.

As we outlined above, staying active, exercising regularly, and eating a healthy balanced diet will help you maintain your ideal weight and stave off early signs of aging.