If you have had or are planning to have liposuction surgery to enhance the shape of your body, you may be wondering the best way to maintain your results. Plastic surgery is an investment, both financially and in oneself. That investment should be protected so you can enjoy the confidence you feel in your new body for as long as possible. Here are six key ways to maintain and potentially improve your liposuction results after fully recovering from surgery.
#1 – Lay a great foundation and diligently follow your post-surgery instructions.
“Liposuction is so mainstream and familiar to people now that it can be easy to forget that it is, in fact, a surgery,” says Dr. Nathan Leigh, a board-certified plastic surgeon and partner at Edina Plastic Surgery. “As with any surgery, there are risks, and pre and post-care instructions must be strictly followed to ensure a patient recovers safely and has optimal results. Adhering to your post-surgery instructions after liposuction lays the foundation for a healthy recovery and the framework for excellent results. This includes observing lifting restrictions, how long you should wear compression garments, and when to return to daily activities. If you want to maintain your liposuction results, you first need to allow your body the opportunity to heal well so you get the best outcome.”
#2 – Increase your water intake.
As you recover from liposuction surgery, you’ll be advised to drink plenty of water. This increased hydration will help your lymphatic system flush out waste products, decrease swelling over time, and offset the chance of constipation that frequently accompanies pain medications. But your increased water intake shouldn’t stop three months after your surgery. Adequate hydration is crucial for fat metabolism, appetite regulation, and keeping all body systems running efficiently. Aim to build and keep a habit of drinking half of your body weight in ounces of water each day to help maintain your liposuction results.
#3 – Decrease your alcohol consumption.
“I’m like many of my patients and love a great glass of wine or two with a fantastic meal or when celebrating with friends,” laughs Dr. Leigh. “But excessive alcohol consumption, especially sugary drinks and calorie-dense beer, aren’t your friends if you’re serious about maintaining your liposuction results. Our bodies respond to alcohol in much the same way they do to sugar. That means the empty calories we consume while drinking are converted into fat. This can be especially prominent for women around the midsection, as alcohol can also disrupt hormone balance and influence cortisol and estrogen levels. So, yes! Enjoy alcohol on special occasions and in moderation, but remember that overconsumption can lead to fat gain over time.”
#4 – Eat clean, lean, and green.
If you have had or are planning to have liposuction surgery because you tend to carry extra weight in certain areas of your body, like the upper arms, abdomen, flanks, hips, or upper thighs, it’s essential to consider why you do. Many of us are genetically predisposed to carrying fat in specific places. Genetics seems to make this fat incredibly stubborn, and a patient can rarely lose it, even with diet and exercise. But, if the problem areas you are addressing with liposuction directly result from lifestyle, you’ll need to make some changes to your nutrition if you want to maintain your body contouring results.
“Investing in liposuction surgery and then continuing to visit the McDonald’s drive-through three times a week and eating a diet of predominately processed foods at home is probably one of the fastest ways to see your results disappear,” says Dr. Leigh. “But, a diet comprised of mostly whole foods, plenty of green vegetables, and lean proteins is a surefire way to maintain your liposuction results and potentially improve them. I’ve seen many patients use their surgery as a catalyst to overhaul their nutrition and lifestyles completely. As a surgeon, it is truly inspirational to see patients take the results we achieve in the operating room and build upon them to the extent that it transforms their entire lives!”
#5 – Add resistance training to your exercise regimen.
Cardiovascular exercise, like walking, hiking, and aerobics, is an excellent way to burn calories and definitely plays a role in maintaining your weight after liposuction surgery. But, as we age, maintaining and building muscle mass becomes increasingly important.
“Look at the muscles that lay beneath your fat and skin like the box spring to a mattress,” explains Dr. Leigh. “A box spring gives a mattress shape, structure, and support. As we age, we naturally lose about 3-8% of our muscle mass every year after age 30. This age-related muscle loss is called sarcopenia. This means that no matter how fantastic your liposuction results are, if you aren’t protecting and building the shape-defining muscle beneath your skin, your results will lose their contour and definition over the years. The great thing is sarcopenia can be reversed by developing a weekly exercise regimen that includes resistance training with body weight, bands, machines, or free weights. As an added plus, muscle burns more calories than fat and takes up less space. So, lifting weights can help maintain and enhance your liposuction results!”
#6 – Be mindful of your mind/body connection.
Chronic stress increases inflammation in the body, which, in turn, can act as a precursor to a whole host of unwanted conditions, from joint pain to weight gain. Stress can also wreak havoc on our hormone health, causing fat to accumulate in our midsection. Finding ways to manage life’s daily stressors isn’t just crucial for maintaining your results from liposuction, but also for living an overall healthier life!
“I know the practice of mindfulness can seem a bit new age to some patients, but there’s no denying the science,” says Dr. Leigh. “Daily habits like deep breathing exercises, meditation, gentle stretching and yoga, and journaling have all been proven to reduce inflammatory markers in bloodwork, like cortisol levels. That means stress management plays a pivotal role in maintaining a healthy weight and your surgical results. Plus, as a surgeon, I want more for you than the results we achieve together. I want to see all of my patients thriving and healthy in every aspect of their lives!”
Have you been considering liposuction surgery? Schedule a complimentary consultation with Dr. Nathan Leigh or another board-certified plastic surgeon at Edina Plastic Surgery by calling (612) 688-3221, texting (952) 925-1765, or CLICKING HERE!
