According to the American Society for Plastic Surgery, liposuction is the third most common type of cosmetic surgery. It removes stubborn pockets of fat from patients’ arms, legs, buttocks, stomachs, or backs. At Galanis Plastic Surgery in Beverly Hills, CA, we help patients achieve their esthetic goals with this treatment. Read on to find out how lipo works and whether it could be right for you.
Does Liposuction Really Work?
Most people experience excellent results after lipoplasty. This treatment involves removing excess fat from the patient’s body with the help of a thin tube attached to a vacuum. Because adult bodies can’t produce new fat cells, it’s unlikely that the patient will ever experience the same issue again. As long as they maintain their weight, their results remain in place.
Although lipo is extremely successful, it’s worth noting that this treatment is not designed to help people lose large amounts of fat. Removing too much tissue from the body is dangerous, so we can only extract between six and eight pounds during the procedure. Patients who are obese aren’t eligible until they have lost the majority of their excess weight.
Who Benefits the Most from this Treatment?
Only people who are dedicated to their weight loss journey are good candidates for lipoplasty. Patients who have already worked hard to achieve their goals but are struggling with excess tissue that doesn’t respond to diet and exercise are eligible. We also treat those who aren’t overweight but are worried about stubborn pockets of fat that have appeared due to the natural aging process.
If you’ve never tried any other weight loss methods, we might ask you to optimize your lifestyle before being treated. During your initial consultation, we check that you are committed to maintaining your results after treatment. If you gain a lot of weight or eat unhealthy foods after the surgery, your results might be lost, so you have to come back for another operation.
You Are at Your Target Weight
Many people mistakenly believe that lipoplasty is a weight loss treatment. Unfortunately, it would be dangerous to remove more than eight pounds of fat from a patient. The safest and most sustainable way to lose large quantities of weight is to make the necessary lifestyle changes. They include dieting, exercising regularly, reducing stress, and sleeping at least seven or eight hours per night.
Some patients have trouble shedding their extra pounds without medical intervention. Don’t hesitate to see a weight loss specialist. They might prescribe drugs or even suggest gastric bypass surgery. Once you’ve achieved your target weight, you can come to see us at Galanis Plastic Surgery. We’ll help you to get rid of any remaining pockets of fat that didn’t respond to regular weight loss measures.
You’re Dedicated to Maintaining Your Results
Lipoplasty is designed as a one-off treatment. Once you’ve undergone surgery, you don’t have to come back to the clinic for maintenance treatments because your results are permanent. However, you might not look slim for the rest of your life if you fail to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Although you have fewer fat cells in the treatment area, you can still gain weight, and the remaining cells can expand.
That’s why we always make sure that our patients are dedicated to maintaining their excellent results. We speak about their lifestyles to determine whether they are at risk of gaining more weight. Some of the factors we consider are the patient’s diet, exercise routine, and weight loss history. Someone who has lost a lot of weight is likely to stick to the program because they have spent many months building up healthy habits.
Who Is a Good Candidate?
Not everyone who has stubborn pockets of fat is a good candidate for lipoplasty. Some people aren’t eligible because they are still overweight or because they are unlikely to maintain their results. We can’t treat people who are addicted to alcohol or drugs. Smokers have to quit for at least a month before they can be considered.
Sometimes, we can’t treat patients because they have a medical condition that makes lipoplasty unsafe for them. People with heart disease, high blood pressure, cancer, or other long-term diseases might not be good candidates. Fortunately, we also offer minimally invasive treatments at the clinic. If you can’t take part in liposuction, you might be eligible for one of our injectables.
How Does the Treatment Work?
The treatment process always begins with an initial consultation. If we determine that you’re eligible, we’ll book you in for the surgery. You’ll have to take some time off work afterward. The results are instantaneous, but it takes your body some time to adjust to them.
The Initial Consultation
The first appointment gives us a chance to meet you and find out more about your cosmetic concerns. Bring your health history, information about your allergies, and details of past treatments you have taken part in. The more information you provide, the better we can tailor your treatment plan to your individual needs.
If you’re a good candidate for lipoplasty, we’ll schedule the operation. There are several things you can’t do before surgery. Stop drinking alcohol, taking drugs, and smoking at least a month ahead of time. Don’t take blood-thinning medication, and follow our pre-treatment guidelines.
The Surgery
Depending on the treatment area and the amount of fat that is being removed, general anesthesia might be necessary. Sometimes, we perform this operation with the help of IV sedation, so the patient is conscious. Once the tissues in the treatment area are numb, small incisions are made, and a tumescent solution is injected.
Then, the suction cannulas are inserted, and the fat is removed from the patient’s body. We might use ultrasound or laser technology to make the process easier and safer. Lipoplasty takes between one and three hours. Most patients can return home on the same day. However, they won’t be able to resume their regular activities right away.
The Recovery
People need to take around two to three weeks off work after lipoplasty, but those who have a physically demanding job might not be able to return for over a month. Initially, patients have to rest and avoid moving around or touching their treatment site. After a few days, they can start walking and performing gentle stretches again. It’s important to wear a compression garment every day because it allows the tissues to heal and assume the desired shape.
Between Weeks 3 and 5, patients can start doing light to moderate workouts. In many cases, it’s still better to avoid lifting and participating in strength training. At that point, the results of lipoplasty begin to become evident, and the compression garment doesn’t have to be worn so much anymore. By Week 6, most patients can resume more strenuous workouts. There are very few restrictions, and the compression garment is no longer needed.
The Results
During the initial consultation, we’ll discuss the kinds of results you can expect. Although the excess tissue is removed from your body during the surgery, you won’t instantly experience excellent results. Your body needs a few weeks to adjust to the new situation, so you might not see your final results for several weeks or even months.
It’s important to lead a healthy lifestyle and follow the exercise recommendations after the surgery. If you don’t stick to the guidelines, your results might be affected.
Follow-Up Appointments and Treatments
We might ask you to come back to the clinic several times after your treatment. During these follow-up appointments, we check that your body is recovering from the surgery and that you’re experiencing the desired outcome. If you have other cosmetic concerns, we can suggest appropriate treatment methods.
Achieve Your Desired Body Shape Now
Liposuction is one of the most successful types of plastic surgery. It isn’t designed as a weight loss treatment, and it’s only suitable for patients who are very close to their weight loss goals. The purpose of lipoplasty is to help patients get rid of stubborn pockets of fat that don’t respond to lifestyle changes. Give us a call at Galanis Plastic Surgery in Beverly Hills, CA to book your consultation and find out whether you’re a good candidate.
