Should I Lose Weight Before Having Liposuction Surgery?
Dr. Joshua Greenwald reminds patients that liposuction is not a tool for major weight loss. Instead, liposuction is intended to contour the body. Therefore, patients who are about to undergo liposuction surgery should be close to their desired body weight.
In other words, while gaining or losing a few pounds before liposuction is fine, it is best if you go into the liposuction procedure at a stable weight that you feel you can maintain after having liposuction. If you lose such a large amount of weight prior to the procedure that it is difficult for you to maintain it after the procedure, you may be disappointed down the road.
When a patient gains a lot of weight following liposuction, it can be frustrating for both the patient and Dr. Greenwald alike. Why opt for liposuction simply to ruin the aesthetic effect later on?
How Fat Cells React After Liposuction
Fat cells that are removed during liposuction will not grow back. A patient who gains a small amount of weight after having liposuction will simply have a slightly larger version of the contoured body that he or she obtained with the procedure. This is because the remaining fat cells, including fat cells in untreated areas of the body, will grow larger with mild weight gain.
On the other hand, a patient who gains more than 10 percent of his or her body weight following liposuction may grow new fat cells in the treated and untreated areas of the body. Thus, gaining a substantial amount of weight following liposuction may counteract positive liposuction results.
To find out if you are a suitable candidate for liposuction, please contact Dr. Greenwald at (914) 421-0113.
Dr. Greenwald also offers additional body contouring procedures, such as SmartLipo and Zeltiq CoolSculpting. For more dramatic results, patients may opt for tummy tuck.
Dr. Joshua Greenwald is a board-certified plastic surgeon in New York City who studied and trained at prestigious educational institutions including Columbia University, Emory University, and New York University School of Medicine. His keen aesthetic eye and refined surgical techniques have led him to be a top choice for cosmetic face, breast, and body procedures in NYC. His exceptional patient care has earned him the distinction of “Top Doc” by both Westchester Magazine and Castle & Connolly for over 10 years running. Dr. Greenwald is an active member of the American Board of Plastic Surgery, the American Medical Association, and the Westchester County Medical Society.