Can Liposuction Help Me Lose Weight?

Liposuction can eliminate unwanted fat, but it’s not a solution for weight loss. Learn how a minimally invasive liposuction procedure can slim your existing body contours to give you a more attractive figure.

Liposuction is a minimally invasive surgical procedure that can slim the contours of your body and eliminate stubborn fat deposits that you can’t lose with diet and exercise. At Pearce Plastic Surgery, our experienced surgeon Paul Pearce, MD, specializes in liposuction procedures to remove unwanted fat from many areas of your body. Dr. Pearce offers comprehensive health evaluations to determine if you’re a candidate for this type of body contouring procedure. He also provides you with guidance beforehand to prepare yourself for a safe, complication-free recovery. How liposuction works Dr. Pearce makes small incisions over the treatment area during a liposuction procedure. He inserts a cannula (narrow tube) that breaks apart stubborn fat cells and vacuums them out of the body. 

You can address unwanted fat in areas like your:

• Arms
• Back
• Chin
• Neck
• Thighs
• Waist
• Abdomen

Liposuction aims to slim down your natural body contours to enhance your appearance and boost your self-confidence. The minimally invasive nature of this type of surgery means you can heal faster than you might after traditional open surgery. Good candidates for liposuction While liposuction can eliminate unwanted body fat, it’s not a solution for weight loss. In fact, to be a candidate for liposuction, you should be in good overall health and be within 15 pounds of a healthy body weight. People who qualify for liposuction typically move forward only after losing weight. Dr. Pearce also ensures you have the right expectations for your liposuction results. He discusses your overall goals ahead of your procedure to ensure body contouring is the best treatment option. Liposuction doesn’t address other issues associated with stubborn fat deposits, such as cellulite and stretch marks. If you want to treat those issues, Dr. Pearce can recommend other procedures to smooth and tighten your skin. 

What to expect from your liposuction results Liposuction is an outpatient procedure, so you can expect to go home soon after surgery to start your recovery. Because the incisions Dr. Pearce makes are small, they generally heal fully within a few weeks. You can also expect to wear a compression garment to minimize swelling It can also take several weeks for you to see the benefits of liposuction. Because of swelling in the treatment area immediately after your procedure, you may be unable to see your results immediately. 

The more your body heals, the more visible your results are. As part of your recovery process, you will need to limit your strenuous physical activity for about a month. Dr. Pearce can determine when it’s safe for you to return to work and your usual routine during a routine, post-surgical checkups. Within a few months of liposuction, you should notice that your contours look leaner and your clothing fits better. 

Following a healthy diet and engaging in regular exercise can help you maintain your results and prevent weight gain.  Call Pearce Plastic Surgery in Austin, Texas, to schedule a liposuction consultation or book an appointment online today.