While non-surgical body contouring treatments have been gaining popularity lately, the truth is that these alternative options are not always as effective as they can be. To date, there is only one body contouring treatment that produces reliable, long-lasting results for all patients. At Chernoff Cosmetic Surgery in Santa Rosa, CA our priority is to provide each patient with the best care possible, which means recommending surgeries such as liposuction to help you reach your aesthetic goals.
Is Liposuction Permanent?
This is the most common question prospective patients have about this treatment. Will the results last forever? Will I have to have this surgery again? The permanency of this surgical procedure has been well-documented by decades of successful surgeries and happy patients. To be perfectly clear: yes, the results are permanent.
Why Is Liposuction Permanent?
Physicians have been able to pin down what makes this treatment permanent for so many patients because of recent advancements in research studies. As far as medical science is concerned, this treatment is considered permanent because of how fat cells in the body behave.
Removing Fat Cells
This surgery involves removing fat from the body with a suction device. But beyond removing fat, this surgery actually does something much more important. What many patients don't realize is that all bodies have a set number of fat cells. Some bodies have more and some bodies have less, but after a fat cell is removed, it does not grow back.
Of all the cells in the body, fat cells are the ones that behave the most strangely. Most cells in the body have a natural regenerative ability, meaning that they can grow back after they die. Fat cells are different because once they are gone, they are gone for good. This is why this procedure is considered permanent by physicians. The science of this surgery says that the removed fat cells do not return.
Is Liposuction Permanent for Everyone?
This surgery can be permanent for everyone, and for the vast majority of patients (at least 80% or more), the results do last a lifetime. But there are some patients who see a return of weight after the surgery. Why? There are a few explanations.
Genetics
The amount of fat cells we have in our bodies is determined by genetics. Adipose fat, which is the fat that pockets around our organs, is a fat cell that is used for the storage of energy, which means it is the fat that is usually removed by this surgery. Adipose fat behaves somewhat like a sponge, meaning that it can bloat up and expand to store more fat within itself. The amount of fat each adipose fat cell stores is something that is determined by genetics.
How do you know if your genetics might factor into your results from this treatment? For most, it's as easy as looking at immediate family such as parents and siblings. If your family has a tendency to form double chins or store excess fat around the middle, then the chances are that you also have fat cells that behave in the same way. Understanding your genetic factors is helpful in determining how much unwanted fat needs to be removed to produce the desired long-lasting results.
Gender
Women have a tendency to gather more fat in their bodies than men. Why? There are some competing theories about this, but most agree that a combination of hormones and the functional needs of a woman's body during pregnancy cause this. During pregnancy, the body heavily relies on extra energy storage for the health and safety of the woman and her child. Though it is still unusual for the body to generate new fat cells, for women who become pregnant it's slightly more likely.
What Can Extend Results?
If genetics and your gender are playing against your goals, is there a way to extend the results of this treatment and make it last for as long as possible? Absolutely. It is important to remember that although removed fat cells do not grow back, remaining fat cells can expand and make it appear as if you have gained all the fat that was removed during the surgery. Here are some things you can do to protect the results of your treatment:
Exercise
All physicians agree that regular exercise is the best way to maintain both your health and the results of your treatment. Exercise is the best way to create a caloric deficit in the body, which means that the burning of calories balances out the calories you intake each day. While most people can burn about 2,000 calories a day just by breathing, blinking, and normal involuntary organ function, it is still important to exercise regularly for the sake of metabolism, which is how quickly the calories in your body are processed.
The faster energy moves through your body, the less likely that energy will be captured and stored by fat cells. If a slow metabolism is a contributing factor to weight gain, then speeding up your metabolism through exercise is a good way to maintain results. In terms of the exercise required, most people should aim to burn 300 to 500 calories through exercise at least three times a week. Exercising for 30 minutes by walking, jogging, or swimming are easy ways to maintain your weight.
Healthy Eating
Eating a healthy, balanced diet is another reliable way to extend the results of this treatment. A balanced diet includes eating a variety of fruits, vegetables, grains, and dairy products to provide your body with the right macronutrients, micronutrients, and vitamins it needs to maintain healthy function. A healthy diet is one that helps balance your caloric intake, which means eating foods in the right quantities and at the right times of the day.
Weight Management
Managing your weight is the best way to ensure the permanency of your results. Weight management typically involves a balanced diet and regular exercise routine, but it can include making the right lifestyle and environmental choices. Another important factor for weight management might also be addressing hormonal imbalances, particularly for women in menopause and men in andropause. Talking with your primary care physician about your weight management goals is the best way to start a weight management plan that works for you.
Lifestyle
There are some lifestyle habits that factor into maintaining the results from this treatment. For example, excessive alcohol consumption and tobacco use have both been linked to weight gain. Other lifestyle factors might include sitting too much at work and sleep disturbances, both of which interfere with your natural metabolic rate and can lead to excessive weight gain.
Family Planning
For women, one factor that needs to be considered when trying to extend the results of this treatment is family planning. Women gain an average of 20 pounds during a pregnancy, only half of which can be contributed to the weight of the baby or water retention. The other half is in the form of fat. As we already know, fat is used for energy storage, which is more important for pregnant women to have even after childbirth.
Even for women who have had this procedure, the remaining fat cells in the body will expand during a pregnancy to store energy for the fetus. Women tend to gain pregnancy weight in the breasts, arms, buttocks, and stomach. A pregnancy after this procedure will undo most of the results, so it is important to wait for this procedure until your family planning is finished.
When Can Results Be Seen?
Many patients want to know how quickly the results of their treatment can be enjoyed. After you have recovered from your treatment, a process that takes about 2 to 4 weeks, you will notice two stages to your results.
Immediate Results
The immediate results are those you notice as soon as your recovery is almost over. After about four weeks, you will be healed enough to notice how much fat has been removed from your body, which are the immediate results. The immediate results of this treatment last for one to three months before moving to the final stage.
Final Results
The final stage of your results occurs about four to six months after your procedure, which is when the results of the treatment settle in your body. "Settling" refers to the gradual redistribution of the remaining fat cells, meaning how the cells rest beneath the skin after excess cells have been removed. The final results can continue to improve with appropriate diet, exercise, and lifestyle changes.
Can Results Come Sooner?
Yes. You can help speed up your results by following the post-treatment instructions, which will include advice to exercise lightly during your recovery. Light exercise refers to walking or other cardio movement, like dancing or cycling, that will help you burn calories and encourage further depletion of fat cells.
Are There Other Treatments to Make Liposuction Permanent?
Can other additional treatments help maintain the permanency of this treatment? Absolutely. There are two additional types of treatment that can help complete your body contouring journey.
Fat Reduction Treatments
Energy-based fat reduction treatments can help bridge the gap between what this surgery can complete by itself and your ideal aesthetic goals. Radiofrequency, ultrasound, or cool sculpting can help reduce the remaining fat on your body, smooth away the appearance of cellulite dimples, and tighten loose skin from surgery.
Dieticians and Nutritionists
Every body is different, and that means that everyone's definition of a healthy, balanced diet is different. The best way to maintain your weight with diet is to understand how your body metabolizes food, which can be done through scientific testing from a dietician or nutritionist. With help to create a diet plan for your specific needs, you will be able to maintain your weight and intake all the nutrients you need to ensure the overall health of your body.
Who Are Good Candidates?
Candidates for this treatment are determined by a consultation. Qualified candidates include those who have at least 30% body fat that can be safely removed and those who will commit to maintaining a healthy weight. You might be a good candidate if you want to remove unwanted fat on your:
- Chin
- Arms
- Breasts
- Stomach
- Hips
- Buttocks
- Thighs
Get Permanent Results With Liposuction!
It's time to take the guess-work out of your body contouring treatments. Skip the trial and error of non-surgical treatments that aren't as effective at removing large quantities of unwanted fat from the body. If you're ready to take the plunge and get permanent results with liposuction.