I Had Liposuction, So Why Do I Have to Work Out?

Liposuction is a body contouring procedure that permanently removes fat cells from the body. Since the body loses these fat cells for good, most patients assume their fat cannot return. But is this really true? Some patients claim their fat returned to “weird places” or that they “gained it all back.” Liposuction is not a weight-loss technique, nor is it designed to provide patients with a permanent lock on their ideal weight. Your plastic surgeon will likely recommend you keep up your exercise routine even after all of those fat cells are gone.

But do you really need to?

Liposuction Isn’t Forever

After you spend all that money on your liposuction procedure and all that time recovering from it, the last thing you want to hear is that it isn’t a permanent result. The sad truth is that the body is always changing and there’s no such thing as permanent when it comes to body-contouring surgeries, even those that remove fat cells. Not only can your fat come back, but it might get redistributed deep within the abdomen where it’s even harder to control. Before you start panicking, there is good news: your liposuction results will last as long as you allow them to.

The Secret to Long-Lasting Liposuction

Long-term studies have shown that patients who take an active interest in maintaining their body shape and fitness levels will have more success with lasting results from liposuction. Not engaging in exercise can increase your amounts of visceral fat in a matter of months. It’s just like before you had liposuction surgery: if you don’t exercise, you lose form and contour while your body fat percentage increases. This doesn’t stop just because you’ve trimmed down specific areas of body fat. Your commitment to your body and your health should only increase once you’ve invested in yourself through liposuction treatment.

How Much Exercise Is Enough?

If you’ve already developed an exercise routine before the time of your liposuction, nothing needs to change in order for you to maintain your results. If you haven’t been great about exercise, it’s time to spend some time caring for your body through a combination of cardio and strength-training exercises. Even for those who haven’t been active before, adopting a moderate exercise plan can make a difference when it comes to keeping the fat off. Aim for 30 to 60 minute sessions three times each week to help your body maintain its form after liposuction.

Why Not Just Have More Liposuction?

If it sounds like it might just be easier to have a second (or third or fourth) liposuction surgery to stay ahead of your fat gain, think again. When fat does return after a liposuction, it comes back deep in the abdomen as visceral fat that surrounds your organs. Liposuction can’t do anything to treat this hard-to-reach fat. Furthermore, it can be detrimental to your health and lead to a higher risk for certain health problems like heart disease and diabetes.

The truth is that taking a proactive health stance is always your best option, even after you have consulted with a plastic surgeon to trim your figure with liposuction. Visceral fat can appear even in patients who have never had liposuction, yet exercise can always keep it at bay. If you’re concerned about maintaining your own exercise routine after liposuction, have an open conversation with your surgeon about your worries and how you can plan ahead for post-operative success.

Planning for Your Own Liposuction Surgery

Schedule your consultation with Dr. Robert Kessler, a board certified general and facial plastic surgeon, and find out if you’re a good candidate for liposuction surgery. He completed his medical degree with honors from Tufts University in Boston as well as a distinguished General Surgical Residency with North Short/NYU in New York. Prior to that, he completed a Plastic Surgery residency with the US Air Force and the University of Texas.

Today, Dr. Kessler operates two practices in California, has worked as a surgical consultant and surgical assistant on ABC’s Extreme Makeover, and has lectured nationally and internationally on topics including facial rejuvenation, plastic surgery, and body contouring. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Kessler, contact his office, located at 2121 East Pacific Coast Highway, Suite 200, in Newport Beach, CA, by calling (949) 644-6544.