Its that time of year again: resolution time! Weve all made promises to ourselves to eat better, sleep more, make use of that old gym membership, and more. If youre one of the dedicated few, youve stuck to it this first week of the year and are well on your way to a newer, healthier, slimmer you. But what do you do if you stick to your new diet and exercise plan, but still have stubborn fat around your middle, legs, arms, chin, and other areas? What do we do when our bodies just dont respond to our hard work?
Some people are genetically predisposed to having fat accumulate in certain areas of the body, and no amount of dieting or working out will make those deposits budge. It doesnt have anything to do with your diet or lifestyle, and its not a verdict on how hard you have been working or not working at the gym. Its just a fact of nature, and it does not mean that you dont deserve the body you want. Liposuction is an excellent option for those of us whose body doesnt always respond to the hard work we put in to be healthy.
What Is Liposuction?
Liposuction is a surgical procedure wherein a plastic surgeon removes fat deposits. The most common areas for liposuction include the thighs, abdomen, knees, buttocks, and neck, though you can get liposuction in other areas. Liposuction involves the actual removal of the fat cell itself, so you wont bulk up in that area after the procedure. Liposuction is the most popular procedure for men, and the second most popular for women, after breast augmentation.
Why Get Liposuction?
If youve kept your resolution and maintained a healthy diet and exercise plan, youve lost weight. Youre probably close to your ideal weight for your frame, if only you could get rid of those love handles, or those saddle bags, or the extra weight under your chin. If thats you, you should get liposuction to make your body more accurately reflect your state of health and hard work. Its not cheating, and its not an easy way out of working out. You need to be close to your ideal weight in order to get liposuction. Its just a simple way to refine your silhouette to show how much effort youve put into your health.
What Is Liposuction Like?
The procedure itself is very simple. Youre given local or general anesthetic, depending on the location of the surgery and how much fat needs to be removed. A small incision is made at the site, and a cannula (long, thin metal tube) is inserted to loosen the fat. A syringe or vacuum attached to the cannula then uses suction to remove the loosened fat. Some surgeons also use a vibrating cannula or one with ultrasonic wave capabilities to help loosen the fat before final removal. If you are having very large volumes of fat removed, you may also need to have the excess skin removed at the same time.
What Is Liposuction Recovery Like?
Any swelling or bruising will dissipate after about a week, and youll be able to go back to work within ten days to two weeks. You might have drains in the surgical site- those will be removed at your post-op check up. Youll need to refrain from strenuous activity until your surgeon clears you. Youll also be instructed to wear a compression garment around the site to keep it smooth and tight- that will need to be worn until your surgeon gives you the OK to take it off. After the garment comes off and any swelling has gone down, youll be able to see your final results.
After surgery, part of your recovery will be long-term weight maintenance. If you gain large amounts of weight after liposuction, the distribution may look disproportional because the fat cells in the surgical site are gone (and they dont grow back). Maintaining a healthy diet and exercise routine after surgery will help you maintain a sleek and slim silhouette.
Liposuction is a reward you can give yourself after youve done the work of changing your diet, sticking with your exercise program, and reaching your desired weight. Theres no reason every area of your body shouldnt match your hard work.
If you have any questions or want to schedule a consultation for liposuction in Northern Virginia, call our office at (703) 574-2588!