If you struggle with excess body fat, you know how discouraging it can be. Even when you eat a healthy diet and exercise often, it doesn’t guarantee a slim figure. 

With liposuction surgery, you can get the body contouring effects you want. Liposuction permanently removes body fat to contour and slim your body. Here’s what you need to know about getting lipo. 

Subcutaneous Fat Removal

There are two types of body fat: subcutaneous fat and visceral fat. When you are extremely overweight or obese, you collect lots of visceral fat. This fat settles around your organs and poses extreme health risks. 

In contrast, subcutaneous fat sits directly under your skin and is more visible on your body. Anyone can get stubborn subcutaneous fat that won’t go away with diet and exercise. Liposuction surgery is designed to remove subcutaneous fat pockets. These pockets may be found around your abdomen, thighs, arms, or chin. 

Lipo is not a weight loss procedure but rather a body contouring surgery. This procedure will sculpt your figure to give you a slimmer, more flattering appearance. If you are close to your goal weight, liposuction is an ideal fat removal procedure for you. 

How Liposuction Surgery Works

When you come to Soler Cosmetic Plastic Surgery in Tampa, FL, you are getting the best care from Dr. Pedro Soler. Our board-certified plastic surgeon will perform your liposuction surgery using techniques he has perfected over the years. 

First, Dr. Soler will make incisions around the treatment areas. Then he uses a suction device to remove subcutaneous fat in various areas of your body. These fat cells are permanently removed; they will never come back unless you gain new ones. Some patients pair liposuction with a tummy tuck to tighten the skin around fat loss areas. 

Liposuction surgery is an outpatient procedure. This means that you can go home after your surgery is over. Dr. Soler will monitor your progress with follow-up appointments to make sure you are healing properly. He will give you specific postoperative instructions to ensure you get optimal body contouring results. 

What to Expect During Liposuction Recovery

Since lipo is a surgical procedure, you will have a recovery period to relax and heal afterward. You should plan to schedule five to seven days off work so your body can heal. You will need plenty of rest during this time. Plan for help with childcare and household tasks for a few days so your incision sites can heal. 

We will give you compression garments to wear after liposuction surgery. These garments help control blood flow to the treatment areas and speed up the healing process. After about a month, you will likely feel comfortable in your normal clothing. 

Wait at least two weeks to one month before resuming intense physical activity. Sports, gym sessions, and strenuous labor should wait until you are fully healed. Dr. Soler will check on your progress throughout the recovery period and let you know if you are ready to get back to your normal physical activities. 

Body Contouring Results

After three to six months, your liposuction results will start to show. Once your body heals, you can show off your stunning new figure. 

We recommend continuing to work out and maintaining a healthy diet to support your results. While liposuction does permanently remove fat cells, gaining weight can introduce more subcutaneous fat cells. This will reverse the body contouring results you have achieved with liposuction. 

Take good care of your physique after lipo. This procedure can give you a head start on sculpting and slimming your figure. Once you feel as good as you look, you will be motivated and ready to stay healthy. 

Good Candidates for Lipo

Many people want to get liposuction surgery to look slimmer and more fit. However, there are some guidelines for patients seeking this procedure. You should be in good health before going under general anesthesia. This is true for all surgical procedures. 

We will discuss your medical history during your initial consultation to determine whether you are healthy enough for lipo surgery. 

Nonsmokers

You should be a nonsmoker by the time you have surgery. Smoking is bad for your overall health and can interfere with the surgical process. You should also practice general healthy habits like good nutrition, frequent exercise, and getting enough sleep. The healthier you are before your surgery, the faster you can heal. 

Healthy BMI

Patients should have a body mass index (BMI) under 32 before considering getting lipo. BMI is the ratio of your weight to your height and determines your weight category. For patients who are very overweight or obese, liposuction is not an effective surgery. Once you are at or near your goal weight, you can start the liposuction surgery process. 

Realistic Expectations

You should have realistic expectations for your lipo results. This is not a weight loss procedure. You can expect effective body contouring and fat loss from this procedure. 

However, if you still have a lot of weight to lose, this surgery will not resolve obesity. Only traditional weight loss methods like consuming fewer calories and staying physically active can help you permanently lose visceral fat. 

Lipo at Soler Cosmetic Plastic Surgery 

If you are near the Tampa, FL, area and want to slim down, consider liposuction at Soler Cosmetic Plastic Surgery. Dr. Soler has years of experience with body contouring procedures. He will deliver premium body sculpting results so you can enjoy your new physique. 

Book a consultation with Dr. Soler to get started with liposuction surgery today!