Myths About Liposuction

With the immense popularity of liposuction comes misinformation; this blog will discuss the top myths about liposuction to encourage readers to better understand the truth about this transformative procedure.

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What Is Liposuction?

Liposuction is consistently ranked as one of the most popular cosmetic procedures nationwide. One of the reasons it is so popular is its versatility: liposuction can be applied nearly anywhere on the body, including the neck and chin, and is a fantastic accessory treatment when combined with body contouring procedures. It’s also the first step in any fat grafting procedure, including the popular Brazilian Butt Lift.

Despite its popularity, there are a few long-standing myths about liposuction. We’ll discuss them below.

“Liposuction Gets Rid of Cellulite”

Liposuction removes excess pockets of subcutaneous fat in very specific areas of the body. For best results, your surgeon will examine the treatment area and ensure that you are an ideal candidate, meaning you are in good health, your skin has good elasticity, and you have an adequate amount of fat.

Cellulite, on the other hand, occurs just underneath the skin and is the result of fat pushing against strong fibers of tissue. For women, these fibers are parallel, and the skin is thinner than in men, which is why cellulite is found more commonly in women. Cellulite is not even indicative of an excess of fat on the body, as there is a genetic component as well, and it can appear generously on people with little body fat.

There are a few problems with this myth. First, liposuction treats fat that is much deeper below the skin than cellulite. Second, if performed more aggressively than recommended, liposuction can actually make cellulite appear more stark.

However, patients who want to treat their cellulite may be able to do so with a combined treatment of liposuction and laser therapy.

“Liposuction Is a Great Way to Lose Those Last Few Pounds”

This myth stems from the idea that liposuction is a weight loss solution—it is not. Liposuction is more of a refining, contouring procedure. In fact, it’s recommended that patients undergo liposuction once they are as close to their goal weight as possible. This is because, for best results, only a small amount of fat should be removed in order to contour and shape the body, rather than removing a large amount of fat. Not only is this dangerous, but it can cause the skin to remain stretched after the procedure, detracting from results.

It might seem counterintuitive that a procedure that removes fat isn’t a weight loss solution. But liposuction can still offer stunning results for many people. Most liposuction candidates are pretty close to their ideal weight but are having trouble with stubborn pockets of fat.

“Liposuction Replaces the Need for Diet and Exercise”

In line with the above point, liposuction is not a substitute for a healthy lifestyle. As stated, liposuction is a way to remove stubborn pockets of fat in select areas of the body—for most patients, the stomach, hips, thighs, upper arms, or chin. But this is only one step in the process, as you’ll have to maintain your results and encourage healthy living through diet and exercise.

For many people, liposuction looks like a good option only after they are unable to see their ideal results with diet and exercise. Post-partum women, for example, harbor fat a little differently after they’ve had children than they did before. They often express frustration at being unable to shed their “mom pooch” or belly, and liposuction can help in many cases. But it’s never a substitute for continuing to care for your body and even improve upon your results with core exercises. Many patients find more confidence to work out and sculpt their bodies once the stubborn fat has been eliminated.

“Fat Cells Can Grow Back After Liposuction, Reversing Your Results”

This is untrue, although your liposuction results can certainly become reversed, but not in the way the above myth states. Adults have a select number of fat cells—they do not grow more, and the cells do not grow back after they have been removed via liposuction or any other process. What does happen, however, is that if you do not maintain a stable weight, your fat cells can (and will) grow larger, effectively reversing the results. This is why maintaining a good diet and exercise routine is crucial for maintaining your health and liposuction results.

The same is true for fat transfer—when the fat cells are removed via liposuction and then replaced back into another area of the body, they can also expand in that new location.

“Nonsurgical Fat Reduction Gives You the Same Results as Liposuction”

It’s true that there are a few nonsurgical fat reduction treatments on the market, although they offer nominal results as compared to liposuction. The problem with these treatments is they are only ideal for patients with minimal concerns and who have good skin elasticity, whereas liposuction provides more impactful results. Additionally, these treatments usually take many more sessions to achieve very subtle results.

Lastly, liposuction allows your surgeon to utilize their artistic abilities to create a cohesive look, as they can blend the new contours with surrounding areas of the body for a more natural look.

Want to Learn More About Liposuction in Scottsdale, AZ?

Liposuction is one of the most popular cosmetic procedures—for good reason. If you want to treat stubborn pockets of fat and reveal more sculpted contours, call Dr. Robert Spies today at (480) 359-1019 or fill out our online contact form to get started.