Life After Weight Loss: How Liposuction Can Boost Confidence
Contrary to popular misconception, liposuction is not a weight-loss method. However, this surgical procedure can be incredibly useful for excess fat removal. Especially after significant weight loss, many patients opt for liposuction to feel more confident.
How does liposuction work?
Also called body contouring, the procedure can remove fat from specific areas of the body, such as the abdomen, buttocks, upper arms, or neck. When people gain weight, fat cells increase in both size and volume. Liposuction targets these fat cells to reduce the size of areas that haven’t responded well to diet and exercise.
Lipoplasty candidates
The treatment may be recommended for patients who still have stubborn areas of unwanted fat, even after maintaining a healthy weight through diet and exercise. People who have good skin elasticity will likely experience good results from liposuction as skin bounces back. People who have health complications such as diabetes, a weakened immune system, heart disease, or restricted blood flow may not be good candidates for the treatment.
Preparing for the procedure
Once a patient has opted for liposuction, a doctor may recommend stopping certain medications before the procedure. Certain blood thinners or non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) may need to be stopped up to 3 weeks before the surgery. If the area of fat removal is minimal, liposuction may be done in an outpatient setting. If there is a large amount of fat to target or if liposuction is going to be combined with other surgical procedures, patients may need to have liposuction done in a hospital setting.
What to expect
Liposuction can take a few hours, depending on the extent of the treatment. In some cases, patients may receive a local anesthetic. If the procedure is more complex, patients may need general anesthesia. During the surgery, a team of clinicians will monitor the patient’s vital signs and will continue to do so for a few hours after the procedure.
Recovery and follow-up care
Most patients experience some swelling and bruising after liposuction. Patients may go home with a medication to help control pain and reduce the risk of infection. Often, people will need to wear compression garments for a few weeks to reduce swelling. There is some downtime after liposuction, and patients may need to wait a few days to return to work and a few weeks to return to normal activity levels.
Boost your confidence
After significant weight loss, many patients still have stubborn areas of fat that cause self-consciousness. Thankfully, there are treatment options to help people get back to feeling confident. Ask a healthcare provider about liposuction treatment to boost confidence.
