Liposuction, sometimes referred to as lipo, is an incredibly safe, effective procedure used to improve contours in one or more areas of concern. We proudly offer this procedure at East Bay Aesthetic Surgery in Danville and Pleasanton, CA because we understand how frustrating it is to maintain a healthy diet and lifestyle and struggle with contours.
This procedure has been used around the world for decades to help people improve their self-esteem. However, that doesn’t mean that it’s outdated. Today, it is the gold standard in fat removal due to the results it reliably provides. We also understand that surgery isn’t right for everyone. To help you determine whether this body contouring procedure is right for you, keep reading to learn more about it, including how long the results last.
Is Liposuction Permanent?
Liposuction permanently removes a significant number of fat cells from the area or areas targeted for treatment. However, that doesn’t mean that the results of the procedure will last forever. Once your recovery process is complete, you’ll be able to enjoy your sleek, new contours. This procedure works by suctioning out a significant portion of fat cells in the targeted areas.
You can feel completely confident that your fat removal results will be permanent because the human body stops growing fat cells at the age of 25. Therefore, you don’t have to spend a second worrying about your body regenerating fat cells to replenish the ones that were removed. The reason your body contouring results may fade over time is that the fat cells not suctioned out from the targeted areas can still expand to store extra energy.
What Can I Do To Maintain My New and Improved Contours?
Stay Hydrated
The only way to ensure your lipo results last a lifetime is to do a pretty good job of maintaining your weight. How much weight you can gain without noticing a change in your treated contours depends on several factors. However, it’s a pretty good rule of thumb to not gain more than 10 pounds of adipose tissue after surgery. One of the most effective ways to maintain your weight is to remain hydrated.
Water is essential for life. Over half of your body is made up of hydrogen dioxide, and if you don’t get enough of it, all of your body’s systems suffer. Your metabolism slows down. You feel fatigued, so you can’t get your evening workout in after work and soccer practice. You feel thirsty, but you mistake your thirst cues for hunger and chow down on a salty snack. The sodium helps your body retain this precious chemical compound, but it’s not enough.
Tips for Staying Hydrated
The only way to know if you’re hydrated is to check your urine. If it’s bright, clear, or very pale, you’re in the clear. You can keep doing what you’re doing because it’s working. If your urine is dark, you need to increase your intake of hydrating fluids. If you forget to drink water during the day, set alarms on your phone with a memo to remind you and keep you on track.
If you don’t drink enough water because you can’t get up and get yourself a drink, buy a large water bottle and keep it next to you. Depending on your personal preference, body mass, and activity level, you may need to refill this bottle once or twice. However, if you eat water-dense foods, like citrus fruits, vegetables, ramen, and other broth-based soups, you may not need to drink as much water.
Lift Weights
Getting at least 30 minutes of anaerobic exercise two to five days per week will also help to prevent weight gain. Muscle mass is approximately 2.5 times more metabolically active than white fat cells. Therefore, if you build 40% of the muscle mass that you lose in fat mass, you’ll be able to consume the same number of calories that you can at your current weight.
If you don’t have a problem consuming fewer calories to maintain your lower weight, you don’t have to worry about building muscle mass. However, you should still get anaerobic exercise multiple times per week to help you maintain your muscle mass. Depending on the intensity of your anaerobic exercise, you may even rev your metabolism significantly for up to 48 hours. Thanks to EPOC, you can burn extra calories even at rest and indulge in extra calories.
Walk On Your Lunch Break
Anaerobic exercise is great for your health, but you shouldn’t fail to make time for aerobic exercise, too. The CDC recommends people with a healthy BMI should get 30 minutes of cardio per day with only two rest days per week. Moreover, the CDC recommends that people who need to lose weight for their health should get 60 minutes of cardio daily with only two rest days per week.
The aforementioned guidelines apply to individuals engaging in moderate exercise. If you exercise at a vigorous intensity, you can halve the recommended guidelines. It bears mentioning that you should double the recommended guidelines if you need to lose weight. Lipo can result in the removal of up to roughly 11 pounds of fat, but some people still have a ways to go in their weight loss journey after surgery.
Eat Plenty of Protein
Eating plenty of protein is another very effective step you can take to maintain your weight. It is not uncommon for people to struggle with weight maintenance because they feel so hungry so often. For most people, protein is the most satiating macronutrient, with healthy fats coming in a close second. Even if you find healthy fats to be more satiating, protein will go a long way toward quelling your hunger.
Moreover, it is important to eat plenty of protein to help you maintain or build your muscle mass. Even better, adequate protein consumption will help you recover from surgery faster. Protein is made up of amino acids, and when your body breaks down the protein in your diet, it uses the amino acids for several functions. One of those functions is collagen production, and collagen is crucial for your skin cells to heal themselves.
Remember Your Why
Sometimes, people don’t put on fat because their hunger causes them to consume too many calories. Sometimes, people put on fat because they overeat for other reasons. It’s okay to have a pizza slice or two at a birthday party. You just have to make sure it fits into your calorie budget for the day or week. If you find yourself overeating free food at the office or finishing your partner’s leftovers at dinner, do your best to be mindful of your caloric budget.
The more mindful you are, the more likely it is that you will make better decisions. If you’re an emotional eater, you may find it helpful to remember why you want to maintain your weight.
Am I a Good Candidate for This Procedure?
You’ll need to sit down with Dr. Eric P. Bachelor, MD, FACS to discuss your health, concerns, and goals before knowing for sure if lipo is the right cosmetic procedure for you. There is a very good chance you will qualify if you are a relatively healthy non-smoker with areas of concern containing a moderate amount of extra subcutaneous fat. If you are displeased with the appearance of your abdomen due to visceral fat, you won’t be considered a good lipo candidate.
This is because lipo can only suction away fat cells that are close to the skin. The suction device attached to the end of the very narrow cannula cannot effectively suction away deep fat nestled up against your internal organs. Note that there is a chance you’ll qualify for lipo if you’re a smoker. However, you must be relatively healthy and able to refrain from tobacco consumption for two weeks before and after surgery.
Schedule Your Initial Consultation Today
Lipo’s fat removal results are permanent, but the body contouring results may not be. This procedure results in the removal of roughly one-quarter to four-fifths of the localized fat cells. The remainder of the fat cells in the targeted areas may expand to accommodate surplus energy storage in the future. If you think liposuction is a good fit for you, contact us now at East Bay Aesthetic Surgery in Pleasanton and Danville, CA to schedule an initial evaluation with Dr. Bachelor.