Liposuction is by far one of the most common cosmetic procedures both here and in the United Kingdom…in fact, over 400,000 liposuction procedures are done each year.
There are no medical reasons for undergoing a liposuction – it’s not a treatment for obesity and it doesn’t remove dimples, cellulite or stretch marks. Patients are interested purely in cosmetic related goals.
Liposuction essentially removes fat cells from the body, most commonly from the abdomen, thighs, buttocks, neck, chin, upper and backs of the arms, calves and back.
While there is a limit to the amount of fat that can be safely removed, it still makes a dramatic difference in the appearance of patients who choose to undergo it.
Without continued exercise though, the positive effects from the liposuction can fade away…we advise, strongly urge our patients in fact to be sure they maintain a regular exercise program. Often times, the effects of neglecting physical activity can put patients in a worse position than before.
Besides weight gain though, researchers at the University of Sao Paulo in Brazil have determined that people who undergo abdominal liposuction may experience an increase in visceral fat, which in turn raises their risk of cardiovascular disease.
Visceral fat can be described as fat that lies deep inside the abdominal cavity. Having excess amounts of this fat in your body puts you at higher risk of type-2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and other conditions related to obesity.
In the study published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, researchers examined 36 healthy female adults who underwent a liposuction procedure where a small amount of fat was removed. Two months following the procedure(s), each patient was randomly selected into one or two groups: ones who took part in a 4-month exercise program and ones who didn’t exercise.
It was determined the liposuction helped reduce subcutaneous abdominal fat found just under the skin but after 6 months, patients in the non-exercise group had a 10% increase in visceral fat over the exercise group.
“We believe patients should be informed of the possible compensatory visceral fat growth and the potential health risks associated with a liposuction procedure. Additionally, health professionals are encouraged to recommend exercise training as an intervention following liposuction surgery,” comments head researcher Dr. Fabiana Braga Benatti, PhD.
Studies like this show the absolute importance of maintaining an exercise regimen following a cosmetic procedure. While you need to allow adequate time to heel, you also need to be sure you slowly begin some sort of physical activity within a few days.