It is not uncommon for patients to seek liposuction treatment as a means to lose weight and get the physique they’ve been wanting. What many patients don’t know, however, is that liposuction is a minimally-invasive surgery that is best performed as a complement to weight loss efforts. In fact, liposuction is considered a surgery that is primarily aimed at re-shaping the body, not losing weight. While the procedure does get rid of unwanted fat, liposuction usually can’t achieve the full weight loss that patients would like. This blog will help you to understand the differences between liposuction and weight loss and guide you towards a realistic plan that will help you to achieve your aesthetic goals.
Patients should be in good general health and close to their target weight before having liposuction.
A good diet, exercise routine, and overall healthy lifestyle is important for everyone. Eating plenty of whole foods, avoiding sugary and processed foods, and participating in movement of some sort each day can go a long way towards helping you to meet your weight loss goals. While there are many nuances to weight loss, you can generally rely on the fact that consuming less unhealthy food and doing more exercise will help you lose unwanted fat. Many of our patients have great success through these efforts, but you should know that it requires commitment and consistent work. We know it is not easy to lose weight, and we applaud your efforts towards a healthier you, as it takes time and dedication.
Liposuction is a procedure that is best performed on individuals who are in good general health. If you are significantly overweight, we ask that you get closer to your target weight before undergoing liposuction for several reasons. You will be more likely to heal well if you are generally healthy. And, patients who are close to their ideal weight are able to experience better, more lasting results from their surgery. Further fluctuations to your weight can affect your results.
What can liposuction do for me?
Liposuction simply isn’t a good alternative to weight loss. It can, however, address stubborn “problem areas” for patients who have worked on their bodies through diet and exercise but can’t seem to get rid of unsightly bulges. If you are within 10-15 pounds of your ideal weight but have resistant fat in areas such as the upper arms, abdomen, buttocks, or thighs, liposuction can be strategically performed to re-shape these parts of your body for a smoother, sleeker contour.
We know how much hard work it takes to lose weight and build a healthy body, and it can be frustrating to have one or two spots that simply won’t change despite your efforts. Unfortunately, many of us have genetic tendencies to store fat in certain areas, and these are often the first to expand during weight gain and the last to shrink during weight loss. And, once you have added fat cells to these areas, the cells will shrink but not go away when you lose weight. This is why liposuction can be an excellent approach to addressing these problem spots. By dislodging and removing the fat cells, your surgeon can reduce the fat deposits in these areas and permanently get rid of excess fat. As long as you maintain a relatively stable weight after your procedure, the fat cells will not grow back!
If you are close to your target weight but have problem spots you’d like addressed, contact us at 952.562.5940 today to discover how liposuction can help you to finally achieve the body you’ve been working hard to get!