Liposuction FAQs - Everything You Need to Know About Liposuction Procedure
Can liposuction be performed on patients of all ages? Yes.
In the early years, it was thought that the only good candidates were patients under 40, because of the youthfulness and elasticity of their skin.
But in the years since, it has been found that patients through their 70s can undergo liposuction with good results.
At what age do most people have liposuction? A: Very, very few teenagers have liposuction.
A few people in their 20s have the procedure, but the numbers of people having liposuction peak for people in their 30s and 40s.
How long does the procedure usually take? The first visit or consultation takes about an hour.
The surgical liposuction procedure itself involves three parts:
Where is liposuction usually performed? Liposuction is also done in ambulatory surgery centers and in hospital settings, depending on the type of procedure performed and the surgeon performing it.
How much time does a typical patient have to take off from work? It depends on what they do.
If they have a very physical job - lots of manual labor, for example - they might need to take off for a week or more.
People with desk jobs can often be back at work in two or three days.
Again, it's an individual matter, with some patients taking longer to return and others going back sooner.
Approximately how long do the results last? The results of liposuction can last indefinitely.
The procedure removes fat cells, not just the liquid fat.
So if the patient maintains a good diet and exercise program after liposuction, there will probably be no return of the fat.
What happens if patients don't eat properly or fail to exercise regularly? Patients make a big mistake if they are careless and start eating more man they did before, or ignore their exercise regimen because they think they will have an "out" later on.
They might think.
"Oh, if I gain back any fat, I can just do more liposuction, or.
You know what, I had liposuction, so I can cancel my gym membership and save that time and money to go shopping or go out with my friends.
" Before you know it, they put the fat back on.
Does the fat return to the same areas where it was removed? It can, because even with the most extreme liposuction, not all the fat cells are removed.
Some fat cells remain.
So some of the fat they gain will go there, but proportionally.
It is very rare that all the fat gained back goes into the area where it was surgically removed.
Instead, it is distributed in a more general way.
Where does the new fat tend to go? There are some areas that are more resistant to diet and exercise.
When you put weight on, then take it off, then put it on again, there are certain areas that tend to retain the fat.
In women, it's often me belly and the outer thighs, while in men, it's the love handles (flanks).
They tend to build up more and more each time there's an increase and decrease cycle.
Do many people gain weight after liposuction? Some do.
One of the reasons is that after liposuction, you have reduced your weight and your fat stores.
So if you go back to eating exactly what you ate before the surgery, it's quite possible that you will gain a little weight, because you no longer need the same number of calories as before.
The best approach is to decrease your caloric intake and/or increase your exercise a little bit.
If you do that, you should be able to maintain the correct weight and not put back on any weight.
Although liposuction is not intended for weight loss, does it help people lose- weight? Yes, it does.
The effect is not only physical, but psychological, as well.
There have been reports of patients with realistic expectations who had problems trying to stick with their diet and exercise program before liposuction.
But once they had one area done and saw the good results, they had a bigger incentive to maintain their program.
They undergo the procedure and say, "Wow, look at me.
There really is hope.
After all these years, I finally reduced that bulge, it looks great, and I'm going to maintain it no matter what.
I'm going to watch my diet, say no to mat extra piece of cake, and go to the gym three times a week.
" And they do.
So we often find that people have greatly improved attitudes toward their bodies after liposuction, and that motivates them to keep the weight off and continue working to improve themselves.
In the early years, it was thought that the only good candidates were patients under 40, because of the youthfulness and elasticity of their skin.
But in the years since, it has been found that patients through their 70s can undergo liposuction with good results.
At what age do most people have liposuction? A: Very, very few teenagers have liposuction.
A few people in their 20s have the procedure, but the numbers of people having liposuction peak for people in their 30s and 40s.
How long does the procedure usually take? The first visit or consultation takes about an hour.
The surgical liposuction procedure itself involves three parts:
- preparation
- the procedure to remove the fat
- application of the dressings afterward
Where is liposuction usually performed? Liposuction is also done in ambulatory surgery centers and in hospital settings, depending on the type of procedure performed and the surgeon performing it.
How much time does a typical patient have to take off from work? It depends on what they do.
If they have a very physical job - lots of manual labor, for example - they might need to take off for a week or more.
People with desk jobs can often be back at work in two or three days.
Again, it's an individual matter, with some patients taking longer to return and others going back sooner.
Approximately how long do the results last? The results of liposuction can last indefinitely.
The procedure removes fat cells, not just the liquid fat.
So if the patient maintains a good diet and exercise program after liposuction, there will probably be no return of the fat.
What happens if patients don't eat properly or fail to exercise regularly? Patients make a big mistake if they are careless and start eating more man they did before, or ignore their exercise regimen because they think they will have an "out" later on.
They might think.
"Oh, if I gain back any fat, I can just do more liposuction, or.
You know what, I had liposuction, so I can cancel my gym membership and save that time and money to go shopping or go out with my friends.
" Before you know it, they put the fat back on.
Does the fat return to the same areas where it was removed? It can, because even with the most extreme liposuction, not all the fat cells are removed.
Some fat cells remain.
So some of the fat they gain will go there, but proportionally.
It is very rare that all the fat gained back goes into the area where it was surgically removed.
Instead, it is distributed in a more general way.
Where does the new fat tend to go? There are some areas that are more resistant to diet and exercise.
When you put weight on, then take it off, then put it on again, there are certain areas that tend to retain the fat.
In women, it's often me belly and the outer thighs, while in men, it's the love handles (flanks).
They tend to build up more and more each time there's an increase and decrease cycle.
Do many people gain weight after liposuction? Some do.
One of the reasons is that after liposuction, you have reduced your weight and your fat stores.
So if you go back to eating exactly what you ate before the surgery, it's quite possible that you will gain a little weight, because you no longer need the same number of calories as before.
The best approach is to decrease your caloric intake and/or increase your exercise a little bit.
If you do that, you should be able to maintain the correct weight and not put back on any weight.
Although liposuction is not intended for weight loss, does it help people lose- weight? Yes, it does.
The effect is not only physical, but psychological, as well.
There have been reports of patients with realistic expectations who had problems trying to stick with their diet and exercise program before liposuction.
But once they had one area done and saw the good results, they had a bigger incentive to maintain their program.
They undergo the procedure and say, "Wow, look at me.
There really is hope.
After all these years, I finally reduced that bulge, it looks great, and I'm going to maintain it no matter what.
I'm going to watch my diet, say no to mat extra piece of cake, and go to the gym three times a week.
" And they do.
So we often find that people have greatly improved attitudes toward their bodies after liposuction, and that motivates them to keep the weight off and continue working to improve themselves.