What’s the Best Way to Maintain Liposuction Results?
Liposuction can transform your body, giving you the defined curves you’ve always wanted and restoring your confidence in your appearance. But as life-changing as liposuction can be, you also must commit to maintaining your results. In this blog, we discuss some of the best ways to keep your liposuction results looking as stunning as possible for as long as possible.
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Table of Contents
Will Weight Gain Affect My Liposuction Results?
Wear Compression Garments During Liposuction Recovery
Maintain a Balanced Diet
Exercise Regularly
Make Healthy Lifestyle Choices
Have a Good Support System
Keep Your Goals Realistic
Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff
Learn More About Liposuction in San Diego
Will Weight Gain Affect My Liposuction Results?
Liposuction results are typically long-lasting because the procedure permanently removes fat cells in the treatment area. However, that doesn’t mean your results aren’t affected by weight gain. Weight fluctuations of five pounds or so aren’t anything to be concerned about, but a significant increase in your weight could affect your liposuction results. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), gaining ten percent or more of your total body weight can impact your results. However, the ASPS also states that even with significant weight gain, the areas treated with liposuction will still look better than they did pre-procedure.
So, knowing that weight gain can have an adverse effect on your liposuction results is one thing, but what are the best ways to maintain your results?
Wear Compression Garments During Liposuction Recovery
The compression garments your surgeon has you wear during your liposuction recovery serve several purposes. They support the treatment area and minimize swelling, bruising, and fluid buildup. They also boost circulation, assisting in recovery. Finally, they help the skin around the treatment area retract, shaping and contouring your body for optimal results.
Maintain a Balanced Diet
Have you ever heard the phrase “abs are made in the kitchen?” It essentially means that no matter how active you are or how much you exercise, an unhealthy diet can hinder your aesthetic goals. As mentioned above, gaining a considerable amount of weight after liposuction can have a negative effect on your results, so one way to help keep your weight stable is by maintaining a healthy diet. Making sure you’re adequately hydrated, choosing whole foods over processed foods, and ensuring you’re getting enough protein are all ways to keep your body healthy and your weight in check.
Exercise Regularly
Along with a healthy diet, it’s important to stay active. Exercise offers a myriad of benefits, both physical and mental. Finding a type of movement that you love to do is essential to staying active. You don’t have to be an elite athlete; you just have to spend time moving every day. Exercise will help keep your newly slender shape intact, as well as help you sleep better, reduce stress, and feel good about yourself—everyone can use extra endorphins, and exercise can provide that.
Make Healthy Lifestyle Choices
Speaking of better sleep and stress relief, making healthy lifestyle choices can also help you maintain your results after liposuction. Avoiding empty calories from alcohol and managing stress can not only help you feel better overall but also help you get better, more restorative sleep. You may not think sleeping more can keep you from gaining weight, but studies show that people who get less sleep tend to eat more and choose higher-calorie foods. Lack of sleep also contributes to changes in the hormones that regulate our appetite and signal us that we’re full, so if you struggle with getting enough sleep, you may see the numbers on the scale creeping upward.
Have a Good Support System
One way to ensure that you are making good choices for your health is to have a sound support system. Spending time with people with similar interests can boost your mood, and exercising with friends makes the time fly by. Surrounding yourself with people who encourage you and cheer you on for reaching or maintaining your goals is also helpful, as positive reinforcement and accountability make it easier to succeed.
Keep Your Goals Realistic
One of the things most plastic surgeons agree on when patients ask if they’re a good candidate for liposuction is that the patient needs to have realistic goals for their results. Liposuction is a great way to boost your confidence and help you feel better about yourself, but it isn’t the only way to achieve satisfaction with your body. The above tips for maintaining your liposuction results are also excellent ways to live your life whether you’ve had cosmetic surgery or not. Is it realistic to swear you’ll never gain a pound after liposuction? No. People’s weight fluctuates daily due to a wide variety of factors, so it’s not helpful to fixate on that. Instead, focus on what your body can do, whether it’s new activities you can participate in or functional improvements in your daily life.
Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff
Finally, while gaining weight can affect your liposuction results, it’s not worth obsessing over. Do your best to maintain your weight and live a healthy lifestyle, but also take time to enjoy what the world has to offer. An occasional indulgence is fine as long as you indulge in moderation and get back on track.
Learn More About Liposuction in San Diego
If you’ve been thinking about addressing the pockets of excess fat on your body that refuse to respond to diet or exercise, liposuction is an excellent solution. Liposuction can be performed alone, or for maximum body contouring, you can combine it with a tummy tuck, breast augmentation, Brazilian Butt Lift, or even create a Mommy Makeover treatment plan. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Pollack to discover what liposuction can do for you, call us today at 858-450-9100 or complete the online contact form.