4 Hidden Benefits of Liposuction

Liposuction is a popular procedure for both men and women because it allows them to target problem areas which have resisted the effects of diet and exercise. The most popular areas of treatment include the calves, arms, thighs, buttocks, and love handles. This is especially evident for patients at our Houston plastic surgery office. While it is best known for improving body contour and providing a slimmer silhouette, there are a growing number of hidden benefits as well.  While people will always turn to liposuction for cosmetic reasons, the additional benefits shouldn’t be ignored.

Liposuction May Lower Risk of Heart Disease

A study presented at the American Society of Plastic Surgeons conference in 2011 and published in “Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery: The Journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons” reported that liposuction patients with high triglyceride levels often see a significant reduction in those levels following their procedure.  Over the past few decades, high triglyceride levels and elevated white blood cell counts have been associated with a higher risk for a variety of conditions including stroke, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.

Patients with normal triglyceride levels before liposuction surgery did not report a change in their levels.  Patients with elevated (at-risk) levels noted a significant reduction (over 40%) following their surgery.  There is no doubt further research is needed before liposuction could be considered anything but a cosmetic procedure, however it a positive side effect to keep in mind.

You May Want to Have Your Fat Stored

While removing stubborn fat deposits is the primary goal of liposuction, you can also re-inject the fat into other areas of your body.  If you are considering fat re-injection soon or farther down the road, then you may want to consider having your fat stored.  There are a growing number of doctors who believe freezing the fat and storing it is a simple solution compared to removing additional fat to reinject it later on.  It is important to keep in mind that there is still a large segment of doctors who believe freshly removed fat is superior for re-injection.

Liposuction Can Be Done at the Same Time as Medical Surgeries

If you are undergoing a medical surgery in the near future, liposuction could be an additional option.  Depending upon the reason for your surgery, liposuction could be performed at the same time.  There are certainly a number of medical surgeries which should never be combined with liposuction; however it is an option in most situations.  If this is something that interests you, it is important to speak with your medical doctor, medical surgeon, and cosmetic surgeon.

Liposuction Can Make Staying in Shape Easier

An interesting study released by the University of Colorado in 2011 reported that most women who receive liposuction will gain back the initial weight they lost within a year.  The important caveat is that it was gained back in other areas of the body.  One woman in the study removed fat from her stomach and started accumulating it in her buttocks, which was exactly what she hoped for.  The liposuction procedure destroys the net-like structure under your skin where fat is located.  As a result, the fat will come back somewhere else.

The good news is you are using liposuction to target areas of your body which are difficult to control with diet and exercise alone.  This means any weight gain after liposuction will be distributed to areas of your body which you can more easily maintain with healthy lifestyle choices.  While battling weight gain is always an issue, liposuction provides an opportunity to fight battles you are more likely to win.

While liposuction is definitely a cosmetic–only procedure, there are a number of benefits you should be aware of.  The more you know about a procedure, the more comfortable you will be with your results.  As always, in order to truly understand your liposuction options and the potential benefits you can gain consult with a trusted board-certified plastic surgeon.