Despite spending hours at the gym each week and counting every calorie, do you have a few extra pounds that just won’t seem to budge? You’re not alone. Many men and women struggle with stubborn pockets of fat that don’t respond to traditional diet and exercise in the same way – or at the same rate – as the rest of their body. This can be extremely frustrating, not to mention discouraging, particularly for patients who have worked so diligently to reach their weight loss goals. Fortunately, cosmetic surgery can help. At Sanchez Plastic Surgery, board-certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon Dr. Erick Sanchez is proud to offer Baton Rouge, LA patients a permanent fat removal solution in the form of liposuction.

To find out how liposuction may be able to help you achieve the physique you are after, it is important to first have a basic understanding of the procedure and its potential results, including what may happen if you gain weight after your surgery.

What is liposuction?

Liposuction is an invasive surgical procedure designed to permanently remove small to moderate deposits of fat from various areas of the body. Liposuction is most commonly performed in the following areas:

• Abdomen
• Hips
• Thighs
• Buttocks
• Flanks
• Back/bra line
• Neck

In many cases, liposuction is performed as a secondary procedure in conjunction with another surgery, such as a tummy tuck, to enhance the patient’s results. Liposuction is also used to extract fat for subsequent injection into other areas of the body – a procedure known as fat grafting or fat transfer. Dr. Sanchez is highly experienced in all of the valuable ways in which liposuction can be used to produce a smooth, beautiful body contour. During your initial one-on-one consultation, Dr. Sanchez and the knowledgeable team at Sanchez Plastic Surgery will determine how liposuction can best be used to address your concerns and help you achieve your ultimate aesthetic goals.

Are the results from liposuction permanent?

With the physical, emotional, and financial investment that goes into any surgical procedure, it is only natural to wonder how long you can expect your results to last. One of the most beneficial aspects of liposuction is that it is able to permanently remove fat cells from the body. However, it must be noted that it is still possible for a patient to gain weight in or around the treated areas even after the procedure. While the fat cells that are removed via liposuction will never return, the remaining fat cells will still swell with weight gain, and new fat cells can also be generated. For this reason, it is essential that patients avoid significant weight fluctuations after a liposuction procedure by maintaining a healthy diet and regular exercise routine.

I gained weight after liposuction. Now what?

Even with the best of intentions, there are times when patients experience a significant amount of weight gain at some point after their liposuction procedure. For some people, a stressful life event can trigger weight gain, while others may suffer a physical injury that keeps them out of the gym for a long period of time. For women, one of the main causes of weight gain after liposuction is pregnancy, which is why it is highly recommended that women be certain they are done having children before undergoing the procedure. Regardless of what caused you to gain weight after your liposuction procedure, it is certainly possible that your results can be compromised. Fat cells that remain in or near the originally treated areas will swell with weight gain, and new fat cells may generate.

If you have gained weight after your original liposuction procedure, it is possible that Dr. Sanchez may be able to perform a second or subsequent touch-up surgery. This may depend on the amount of weight you have gained, how much scar tissue is present, and a variety of other factors.

Is there an alternative to liposuction?

For men and women looking for a minimally invasive fat loss solution that requires less downtime than liposuction, BodyTite may be a fantastic option. Sanchez Plastic Surgery offers this revolutionary procedure, which usually only requires local anesthesia, to help patients reduce stubborn fat with a shorter recovery period that traditional liposuction. If you are interested in obtaining a tighter and more toned contour but don’t have time for a lengthy recovery period, ask Dr. Sanchez if BodyTite may be right for you.

Am I a candidate for liposuction?

For the most part, otherwise healthy men and women can be considered candidates for liposuction. Some of the main considerations for patients interested in undergoing a liposuction procedure include:

• Smoking: The patient is a non-smoker.
• Weight: The patient is within 20-30 pounds of their goal weight.
• Anesthesia: The patient has no contraindications to anesthesia.
• Pregnancy: The patient is not pregnant or planning to become pregnant.

The best way to determine if you are a candidate for liposuction is to be evaluated by a qualified, certified, and highly experienced plastic surgeon. Call the convenient Baton Rouge, LA office of Sanchez Plastic Surgery to schedule your consultation with Dr. Erick Sanchez today, and learn more about how liposuction can help you finally get rid of those last few pounds and achieve the sleek, smooth look you have always wanted!