Maintaining Your Liposuction Results

July 1st, 2016 | Posted in: Beauty Tips, Liposuction |

The Best Ways to Maintain the Results of Liposuction

You finally did it. You decided to get liposuction and you’re thrilled with your results, but you can’t help worrying about gaining back the weight. This is a common fear among liposuction patients, and it is something that you should worry about. However, with the right mentality and healthy lifestyle, keeping the fantastic results of your liposuction is possible.

What Dramatic Weight Gain after Liposuction Could Mean for You

While liposuction is designed to remove stubborn fat cells from your body, massive weight gain and obesity after the procedure can result in two conditions known as hypertrophy and hyperplasia.

Hypertrophy is the condition in which fat cells grow excessively to the point that they can split into two or more cells.

Hyperplasia is the natural phenomenon of cells splitting or dividing that occurs at a specific point in an individual’s life to encourage growth (mostly in the early stages of life and during adolescence).

The remaining fat cells in the targeted areas from your liposuction can grow in number and size, adversely affecting the results of the procedure. However, even if this phenomenon doesn’t occur, weight gain can still happen in other areas that have not been treated by liposuction, causing an upset in the body’s overall balance and proportion achieved from surgery.

Keeping the Weight Off

Since liposuction is not a guarantee against weight gain, you’ll need to maintain your figure by developing a healthy lifestyle. Here are some tips on how to maintain you figure after your liposuction procedure.

Eat Healthy

Cut down on carbohydrates, sugars, and saturated fats. Instead of trying to eat less, you should focus on eating more vitamins and mineral-rich foods, such as fresh fruits, vegetables, healthy fats, whole grains, and lean proteins that are essential for a healthy diet. You should also focus on foods that are high in water content, but contain a lot of nutrients, such as melons, berries, grapes, green vegetables, and citrus fruits. These foods are low in calories, but are full of antioxidants and moisturizing water. You should also try to cut back on salty foods.

Drink Lots of Water

Although water consumption may vary depending on your body size and requirements, the general recommendation is that adults should try to consume about half a gallon of water a day – this amounts to eight 8-ounce glasses, or the 8×8 rule. Staying sufficiently hydrated can help you maintain a healthy metabolism and aid digestion. Also, water controls our sense of hunger, balances our bodily fluids, controls calories, and helps boost productivity.

Don’t Skip Meals

A nutritious breakfast can help keep hunger away and prevent you from overeating later in the day. Meal skipping is a dangerous habit to get into because it will slow down your metabolism, cause higher stress levels, and affect your ability to focus. Try eating smaller meals throughout the day, rather than waiting for when you’re hungry. This will help you maintain consistent energy levels.

Exercise Regularly

Strength exercises will help you stay toned, while aerobic exercises will keep fat off. It is important that you find an exercise routine that works with your lifestyle. Exercise can be something as little as taking the stairs or doing some easy cardio in front of the TV. Whatever your exercise routine is, you should make sure that you are getting up and moving around for a few minutes every 30 – 60 minutes.

Find an Accountability Partner

Having someone hold you accountable for your actions can go a long way in helping you maintain your ideal figure. Support and encouragement will help you be motivated in keeping up with your goals.

Consult with Dr. Chiu

Just like consulting with your doctor before a procedure, it is important to consult with your doctor after your procedure. After your liposuction surgery, your doctor will go over a list of instructions of post-operative care. Following these instructions will help you maintain your ideal weight, while also keeping you healthy after your surgery.

If you have any questions or concerns about post-operative care, or about liposuction itself, feel free to book a consultation with Dr. Gabriel Chiu of Beverly Hills Plastic Surgery, Inc.