While liposuction may be one of the most popular cosmetic surgery procedures performed today, there still seems to be a lot of misinformation available that causes confusion among my patients. To set the record straight, I am going to address a few common liposuction myths to provide you with correct information about liposuction recovery time, exercise after liposuction, and more.
Myth 1: I don’t have to work out again after having liposuction.
Not only should you work out in order to lead a healthy lifestyle, but you should also work out to ensure that you do not gain weight after you have experienced satisfying results from your procedure. I tell my liposuction patients that the procedure should not be regarded as a weight loss technique, but rather, an “inch loss” technique.
Myth 2: Fat cells won’t return once suctioned.
While it is widely thought that when we reach adulthood our fat cells do not increase in number—just in size—this actually isn’t the case. While we do have most of our fat cells by the time we reach adulthood, if we do not lead an active and healthy lifestyle, not only can these cells expand, but they can increase in number. You can learn more about how fat cells can multiply in our related blog post.
Myth 3: Liposuction recovery time is long and will make you take a lot of time off work.
In the past, recovering from liposuction may have taken up to several weeks. Now, with advances in procedural techniques, recovery from liposuction is generally straightforward and simple. Typically, most people spend a week or two recovering, depending on the amount of fat removed from the target area. As a general note, the more fat removed, the longer the recovery will be.
However, if you’re set on little to no downtime, you might consider nonsurgical CoolSculpting® Elite. CoolSculpting “freezes” fat cells in a process called cryolipolysis. The body gradually eliminates the damaged fat cells over several months.
The Takeaway
What can you take away from this? Well, for one, there will always be misinformation regarding liposuction available, so it is important to discuss the procedure with a specialist in the field. They can tell you if you are a good candidate, and determine whether liposuction can help you achieve your goals.
If you’re ready to explore your body contouring options, including liposuction, request a consultation at Dr. Kevin Johnson’s Advanced Aesthetics or call us at (208) 676-8346
Originally published July 2011; Updated April 2024
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