Excess body fat has always been a struggle for many people.
Despite a healthy diet and an exercise regimen, some will still experience unsightly fat bulges in certain areas of their body. Although diet and exercise can get rid of it, it’ll take months, sometimes even years, to fully get the contour you’d like.
One of the most effective ways to get rid of fat bulges and get rid of them fast is to undergo liposuction. The fat-reduction procedure is one of the fastest ways to get rid of fat in the hips, the thighs, and the abdominal region. That being said, liposuction has always had a relatively negative reputation for being invasive and expensive. And to be fair, liposuction was those things. But not anymore.
Effective laser liposuction procedure are now widely available and completely non-invasive. However, there are still certain things about liposuction that people need to know in order to manage realistic expectations about the procedure.
Scarring Can Be Minimal or Non-existent
Traditional liposuction procedures involve creating tiny incisions in the target area. These incisions will be the entry point for the needle that will essentially suck out the fat cells from the sub-epidermal layer of the skin. The incisions are usually very small, made in inconspicuous areas, and are made with extremely sharp surgical blades in order to reduce instances of scarring. With this method, lipo scars are so minimal, they’re almost invisible.
For laser lipo, on the other hand, scarring is effectively non-existent because it is a non-invasive procedure. Laser lipo uses powerful lasers that penetrate beneath the epidermal layer to essentially liquefy the fat cells and break them apart.
The plastic surgeon can then choose to either remove the fat further using a traditional procedure, or allow the patient to lose it naturally via diet and exercise. Laser lipo procedures have also been shown to stimulate collagen and elastin production, which can result in tighter, firmer and ultimately youthful looking, skin.
What to Expect Right After Liposuction
Traditional liposuction procedures will almost-always cause mild discomfort in patients, with bruising, swelling and redness usually observed in the target area. Doctors will often instruct patients to wear compression garments to help reduce the swelling and to promote faster healing.
With traditional liposuction procedures, swelling and redness usually go away after the 1st week, although doctors will often recommend that a patient continue to wear their compression garments for up to a week.
For laser lipo, the post-procedure discomfort is usually milder, although there will still be swelling and redness that lasts for a couple of days. Local anesthesia is usually applied to both types of procedures, so pain during liposuction is usually either mild or non-existent.
Proper Aftercare Promotes Speedy Healing
Regardless of the type of procedure you go for, liposuction is very effective at removing a large percentage of fat cells from the body. However, the fat cells that do remain will eventually store more fat and will continue to grow in size.
To mitigate this, doctors will usually recommend a post-procedure diet that patients are expected to follow for the next few months after the procedure, along with plenty of water and a regular exercise regimen once your surgeon clears you for it.
These are all meant to promote healing of the cells, which in turn, allow your body to burn off the fat that’s being stored in cells quickly and more efficiently.
You’re Not Going to See Immediate Results
Many people often believe that the results of liposuction are immediate; this is not the case. In fact, for the next few days after your liposuction, you’ll feel bloated and will feel like you’ve gained weight. This is because the areas in which you had liposuction will be swollen, bruised, and retaining fluids.
This is completely normal and part of the natural healing process of the body. Once the swelling goes down (usually after 4 to 6 weeks), then you can see the results.
However, many people will notice that traditional liposuction procedures will often result in loose and saggy skin in the areas that were targeted. This is because liposuction can remove up to 5 kilos of fat in a single procedure.
To minimize this, your doctor will often recommend skin tightening procedures, medicines, and/or ointments as part of your overall body contouring routine. Laser lipo is often recommended as a part of this routine because of the procedure’s ability to encourage collagen and elastin production in the body.
Switch to a Healthier Lifestyle for Permanent Results
Although liposuction is a fast, safe and effective way to lose fat, keeping the fat off your body permanently still requires a complete change in lifestyle. A healthier diet consisting of balanced proportions of carbohydrates, fat, and protein, along with an exercise regimen that builds muscle strength, are the best ways to achieve permanent results.
Cutting down on alcohol consumption and completely rejecting cigarettes are also great for your skin, as both will usually result in tighter, more hydrated skin.
As mentioned, liposuction is safe and effective, but you still need to keep your expectations realistic.
