Liposuction is one of the best ways to get rid of fat. More than 258,000 people underwent the procedure in 2018. If you have stubborn fat deposits that diet and exercise just won’t get rid of, liposuction can be the cherry on top of your fitness journey and put the finishing touches on your new body contour.
At Desert Hills Plastic Surgery, Dr. Hayley Brown has more than 20 years of experience helping her patients achieve their ideal bodies. One of the questions her liposuction patients ask most frequently is whether their fat will return after their procedure. The answer to that question isn’t black-and-white. Here’s an examination of how fat can return after liposuction — but only if you let it.
What is the Liposuction Procedure?
Liposuction is performed under general anesthesia as an outpatient procedure. After you’re sedated, Dr. Brown will infuse a mixture called tumescent fluid into the fat in your target areas to help control blood loss and make the fat easier to remove.
Then, she’ll make small incisions over the treatment area and insert through them a long, thin metal tube called a cannula. The cannula will suck your fat out using a vacuum. If your fat is denser and more fibrous, Dr. Brown may use ultrasonic liposuction to break up your fat before she removes it.
Is Liposuction Permanent?
When Dr. Brown removes your fat cells using liposuction, those cells are gone forever. Fat should not return to the treated areas because they don’t regenerate. In that sense, liposuction is permanent.
However, you can still gain fat in other areas of your body. If you put on weight after your procedure, your body will store the fat in those places. For example, if liposuction treated your abdomen, then fat you gain may develop in your thighs, buttocks, or arms. This can lead to uneven proportions that harm your body contour, even if the treatment area remains unaffected.
If you gain an excessive amount of weight, the remaining fat cells in your treatment area may grow and expand, which will hamper your results.
How Can I Maintain Liposuction Results?
The key to making sure your liposuction is permanent is maintaining your post-procedure weight. Put simply, if you don’t gain more fat, your outcome will be positive. With that in mind, these steps will help ensure that you keep the body you want:
- Follow Dr. Brown’s post-procedure recovery instructions
- Maintain a caloric intake at or below your daily energy expenditure
- Eat a diet focused on protein, healthy carbohydrates, and fresh fruits and vegetables
- Drink lots of water to stay properly hydrated
- Exercise regularly
See Our Liposuction Before-and-After Gallery
Schedule Your Las Vegas Liposuction Consultation Today
Dr. Brown is one of Las Vegas’ top plastic surgeons. She strives for excellent, natural-looking results that honor her patients’ expectations. If you trust her with your liposuction, she will do her utmost to deliver the results you desire.
Dr. Brown serves Las Vegas, Henderson, and nearby areas of Nevada. Call (702) 260-7707 today to schedule your consultation.
