Informed patients usually make for the happiest patients. Understanding what you can reasonably expect after liposuction improves your chances of being satisfied with your overall result. Take a moment as Dr. Robert Graper and Dr. Garrett Harper of Graper Cosmetic Surgery explain what type of results you can expect from liposuction.
A Slimmer Contour in the Treated Area(s)
Initially after surgery, the treated area will be swollen and slightly bruised. But as the swelling and bruising subside, you can expect to look slimmer and more toned in the targeted area than you did before surgery.
Will you lose weight from surgery? Maybe, but try to avoid thinking about the procedure as a weight loss method. Although the procedure removes fatty tissue, it is not considered a viable option for weight loss. Rather, it is a way to sculpt your body’s contours.
Similarly, you may wonder whether you will drop a dress size after liposuction. The treated area will be slimmer and skinnier after surgery, but it is very difficult to predict whether you will need smaller clothing.
Finally, you may be curious whether liposuction can improve cellulite. Cellulite is a complex problem that involves the connective tissue and the skin (not just fat). Because of its complicated nature, liposuction will not make a noticeable improvement on cellulite.
Does Liposuction Treat Excess Skin?
When discussing liposuction results, it is important to understand liposuction is not an effective treatment to get rid of excess skin. If you have rolls or folds of loose skin in the treated area, you should not expect noticeable improvement. In fact, you are probably not a good candidate for liposuction. Our plastic surgeons can recommend an alternative body sculpting procedure that simultaneously treats excess skin and fat (e.g., tummy tuck, arm lift, body lift).
Gaining Weight after Liposuction
The best way to enjoy lasting liposuction results is to maintain your weight through healthy lifestyle habits. Once fat is removed during liposuction, it cannot grow back. But the remaining fat cells can enlarge if you gain a significant amount of weight after liposuction (i.e., more than 10 percent of your body weight). The more weight you gain, the less pleasing your liposuction results will be. For this reason, we encourage you to follow a healthy diet and exercise regularly after liposuction.
Learn More about Liposuction
If you have additional questions about what is reasonable to expect after liposuction, the team at Graper Cosmetic Surgery would be happy to speak with you and help schedule a consultation. Feel free to get in touch with us via phone or email.