According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, liposuction was performed over 222,000 times in the United States during 2015 alone. It’s a fast and effective way to guarantee immediate results, allowing patients to get rid of small pockets of fat (6-8lbs) that are difficult to lose through diet and exercise. Unfortunately, liposuction is only a permanent solution if you can maintain your post-procedure weight. Below we look at how to keep the fat off after liposuction.
To keep your new shape, you will have to stay hydrated and follow a responsible diet and exercise regime. You don’t have to be obsessive. It is expected that your weight will naturally vary by a few pounds from day-to-day. However, you do want to avoid noticeable weight gain.
Minor fluctuations may cause all existing fat cells to swell, but will usually not create new fat cells. Given that liposuction physically removes the fat cells from the treatment area, minor fluctuations of a few pounds should not change the physical appearance of the area treated with liposuction. However, if you start to see more significant weight gain, anything more than 10% of your post-procedure bodyweight, additional fat cells will start to develop even at the site of treatment.
Fortunately, you can easily prevent new fat cells from developing by maintaining healthy behaviors. Practice the following, and you should keep your ideal body.
- Eat a nutritious diet
- Stay active
- Drink enough water
- Take better care of your body
Your Relationship to Food Post-Liposuction
Although you should work to maintain a healthy diet after liposuction, it is more important than ever to maintain a healthy relationship with food. You want to keep fat off after liposuction. But you shouldn’t go to extremes. When you are making dietary choices, don’t force yourself into a total elimination diet. Trying to make sudden, extreme changes will increase your chance of binging later, which will ruin your liposuction results.
Instead, make small dietary changes. Eat several smaller meals throughout the day and reduce your portion sizes. Do this particularly for foods that contain refined sugar or unhealthy fats. If snacking is a major source of additional calories for you, then try replacing the types of snacks you keep around. Individual servings of Greek yogurt, dark chocolate covered almonds, and even hummus can make it easier to make improved choices without feeling like you’re sacrificing.
Exercise for You
As effective as running three miles a day may be for keeping weight off, the truth is that it isn’t for everyone. You will need to maintain a moderately active lifestyle if you want to stay healthy and protect your liposuction results in the long-term. Rather than forcing yourself to do something you hate every day, find an activity that suits you.
Yoga, bicycling, soccer, dance classes, basketball. The list of activities you can use to get your heart pumping a few times a week is practically endless. Note that not all of these activities burn the same number of calories. So, you will have to adjust your activity schedule and diet accordingly.
In addition to regular exercise, you can make small changes throughout your day to prevent yourself from seeping into a completely sedentary lifestyle. Experts suggest getting up from your desk every 20-40 minutes to allow for proper circulation. If possible, you should also stand as much as you can while working. Research shows that people burn 0.15 calories more per minute simply by standing rather than sitting while they work. It doesn’t seem like much, but that’s an extra 72 calories a day if you work at a standing desk.
Drink Up
Staying hydrated is also key to maintaining your post-lipo look. Not only is water necessary for your general well-being, but drinking cold water increases the number of calories your body burns off naturally. The average person needs to drink about 64 oz. of water per day, but you can check how much water you should be drinking by using this quick and easy water calculator.
To help make hydration easier, try an insulated water bottle. The 32 oz. models weigh about two pounds while full and will easily get your through until lunch. Keep an ice tray and a water filter jug in your work refrigerator for easy refills. In most insulated bottles, two or three ice cubes will keep your water cold for about 36 hours. This prompts increased calorie burning, as your body works to keep you warm.
Self-Care after Liposuction
The truth is that keeping fat off after liposuction is as easy as taking the necessary steps to take care of yourself in general. At Beverly Hills Plastic Surgery, their team of plastic surgeons will help you to reach your body image goals with liposuction and any additional procedures you may desire. Afterward, it is up to you to practice self-care to safeguard your results and your health. By controlling your portions, eating foods that provide your body with adequate nutrition, drinking plenty of water, and staying active, you can make your liposuction results permanent. Your organs and your reflection will thank you.
