Liposuction is a fat removal procedure that has been FDA-approved for decades to help people sculpt their ideal contours. At SkinMD in Orland Park, IL, we offer this procedure to help our clients get the body they’ve tried to achieve for years. Today, we’re taking a closer look at this procedure, including how long the results last.
How Long Do Liposuction Results Last?
Liposuction results are considered permanent due to the unique nature of fat cells. However, to understand how long your results will last, you need to understand a little more about fat cells and the results of the procedure.
What You Need To Know About Fat Cells
Fat cells are unlike any other type of cell in your body. Every other type of cell in your body can be regenerated. On the other hand, your body stops being able to produce fat cells at the age of 25. Therefore, after your fat removal procedure, there will never be as many fat cells in the targeted area.
What You Need To Know About Your Lipo Results
While your body will never grow new fat cells after this procedure, lipo does not remove all of the fat cells in the targeted area. Instead, it removes between 20 and 80% of the localized fat cells depending on the size of the area being targeted and how much subcutaneous fat there is in the targeted area. The remaining subcutaneous fat in the area can still expand and hold onto energy if too much energy is consumed post-op.
How Can I Help My Results Last Forever?
To help your results last for as long as possible, you need to commit to a healthy lifestyle. For example, you must commit to eating nutritious, reasonably portioned meals most of the time. If you consume more calories than your body needs, you will store excess fat somewhere. Since your genes primarily determine where you will store fat, there is a good chance that you will store excess fat in your trouble areas if you gain weight in the future.
However, you can help your results last for the rest of your life by maintaining your weight. At the end of the day, you need to consume no more calories than your body needs to maintain its weight. This means you need to balance what you eat and what you do. Here are some of the best exercises to consider if you want to maintain your weight.
Run
Running is a great way to help you maintain your ideal contours following lipo. It is a fairly accessible way to get in cardiovascular exercise because it can be done nearly anywhere. Also, there is no need to invest in expensive workout equipment. Ideally, you should get at least 150 minutes of moderate activity or 75 minutes of intense activity weekly if you’re trying to maintain your weight.
On the other hand, if you’re trying to lose weight, you should double your activity level until you have achieved your ideal weight. Note, the benefits of regular exercise are cumulative. If you don’t have 30 minutes in a row for exercise five times weekly, you can get in two 15-minute sessions.
Lift Weights
Lifting weights is another great way to help you maintain your ideal weight. Specifically, you should lift weights for the purpose of building more muscle mass. The more muscle you build, the more calories you can burn even when you are at rest. For the most effective results, focus on large pulling and pushing muscle groups.
Row
Indoor rowing is another great way to maintain your ideal weight. Affordable, high-quality ergometers (indoor rowing machines) are easy to find and not difficult to use. Indoor rowing is a great way to maintain your ideal weight because it uses almost every muscle in your body. It can be used to increase muscle strength and may build muscle mass. However, it is always a great way to get your heart pumping without putting too much strain on your joints.
Cycle
Cycling is another great way to get in cardiovascular exercise to help you maintain your desired contours. If you bike at a moderate pace, you will need to bike for 30 to 60 minutes per day five days per week. Again, the length of time you should exercise weekly depends on whether you are trying to lose weight or maintain weight. Similarly, you can bike at an intense pace for 15 to 30 minutes per day five days per week.
Swim
Swimming, like rowing and cycling, is a low-impact exercise. In other words, it is an ideal cardiovascular exercise if you have joint problems. Also, swimming is great because it uses almost every muscle in your body and burns a lot of calories quickly. If you had one too many slices of pizza for dinner, it won’t take too long for you to burn off the extra energy you consumed and maintain your weight.
How Quickly Will the Results Become Apparent?
Your liposuction results will become apparent one to three months after the procedure. To see your results as quickly as possible, you must follow all post-operative guidelines and focus fully on your recovery.
What Should I Expect During the Recovery Process?
You can expect to feel exceptionally tired for at least 24 hours following your procedure. This is a natural reaction to general anesthesia and will fade faster if you don’t try to push yourself too hard. Some people feel exceptionally tired for a few days after their procedure.
How Can I Make My Recovery Period End Sooner?
You can heal from your procedure and see your final results sooner by listening to your body and giving it what it needs. If you need rest, take a nap or go to bed early. If you’re feeling a little thirsty, drink a lot of water or tea. If you’re feeling peckish, eat a nutritious snack.
If you’re craving a particular food, consider why you may be craving that food. For instance, you may be craving a hamburger because your iron levels are low. Instead of eating a large, greasy burger with fries and a soda, eat a spinach and chicken salad to give your body the iron it is craving. If you’re craving salty foods, you may be dehydrated. Here is some more advice on how to eat after your procedure.
Focus on Protein
It is very important that you get enough protein in your diet after lipo. To see your final results as quickly as possible, you need to get your skin to heal itself. For your skin to heal itself, it needs a sufficient amount of amino acids, the building blocks of protein. Amino acids will facilitate rapid skin healing by providing some of the building blocks necessary to build a special type of protein, collagen.
Great sources of protein to incorporate into your post-op diet include Greek yogurt, peas, lentils, black beans, poultry, tilapia, and tuna. During your initial consultation, we will advise you on how much protein you should eat daily during your recovery period.
Incorporate Fruits and Veggies
Amino acids are a key piece of the collagen production puzzle. However, it is not the only important piece. It is also very important to make sure you get enough vitamin C during your recovery period. Vitamin C is also essential for the production of collagen. Some of the most common foods that are high in vitamin C are oranges, tangerines, nectarines, blackberries, and blueberries.
However, there are also plenty of vegetables that are high in vitamin C. For instance, spinach, kale, and broccoli are great choices because they are high in both vitamin C and protein. Also, dark green vegetables are great to eat after your procedure because they are high in fiber.
Get Enough Fiber
It is also advisable to eat plenty of fiber following your procedure. Typically, men should consume roughly 34 grams of fiber daily and women should consume roughly 23 grams of fiber daily.
Learn More Today
Liposuction is a safe, effective body sculpting procedure that can provide results that last for a lifetime. However, you must be committed to maintaining a healthy lifestyle if you want to get the most out of the procedure. To find out if lipo is right for you, contact us today at SkinMD in Orland Park, IL, and Skokie, IL to schedule your initial consultation. We look forward to meeting you and helping you on your journey to realizing your ideal physique.
