In your efforts to treat stubborn belly fat, you’ve probably eaten your fair share of salads, spent countless hours at the gym, and performed approximately 10 million crunches. If your efforts are to no avail and you’re disappointed by the results, there is a safe and effective alternative to consider: liposuction.
The American Society of Plastic Surgeons estimated that over 258,000 liposuction procedures were performed in 2018, up from about 246,000 the previous year, which places this very popular cosmetic treatment among the most common performed in the U.S. Still, it’s not unusual for patients to have questions and concerns when it comes to any surgical procedure. If you’re considering liposuction as a way to finally get rid of unwanted fat, knowing what to expect can help to put your mind at ease.
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Safe, Effective Fat Removal
Generally speaking, there’s always some amount of risk associated with surgical procedures, but liposuction has been perfected over decades of use, and with proper care, experienced practitioners can prevent the most common risk factors for complications.
Risks can be significantly reduced by paring modern surgical techniques with proper screening, testing, and precautions. Certain conditions, such as obesity, heart disease, and diabetes, may be determining factors in your suitability for liposuction.
Lasting Results with Liposuction
It’s important to understand what liposuction can and can’t do for you. The procedure involves the physical removal of fat cells from target areas. Once these fat cells have been removed, they will not return. However, this procedure alone does not tighten or tone the skin or muscle in these areas, so while you will definitely enjoy size reduction in treated areas, you may still have some appearance of cellulite or excess skin.
In addition, weight gain following treatment could result in fat pockets forming in other areas of the body, which is why it is recommended that you try to avoid weight gain after liposuction. This treatment works best when paired with healthy lifestyle habits, including balanced diet, regular exercise, and maintaining body weight. This will help to ensure satisfaction and lasting results.
Recovery and Results
One of the best things about liposuction is that you’ll see immediate results. Some amount of swelling, bruising, and discomfort is common after the procedure, and these symptoms may last 1-2 weeks following treatment. You can reasonably expect to return to normal daily activities (including work) about a week after surgery, and within 2-3 weeks, you should be able to resume more strenuous activities like exercise.
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Final results can usually be seen within about three weeks, although you may continue to experience some tenderness in treatment areas for up to several months as your body heals and adjusts. This is no different than any other surgical procedure. In the end, you’ll have the flatter tummy and slimmer physique you crave.
If you’re interested in undergoing liposuction to achieve the figure you’ve always wanted, contact Dr. Beverly Fischer and the talented team at the Advanced Center for Plastic Surgery today at 410-308-4700 or reach out online to request a consultation and learn more about the procedure.
