Weight Management Key to Long-Lasting Liposuction Benefit

TARRYTOWN, N.Y., Aug. 6, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Liposuction is a highly effective method for removing fat from specific areas to improve body contour, but patients who maintain results through diet and exercise have the best chance of long-term benefit versus those who proceed to gain excessive weight, according to C. Andrew Salzberg, M.D., a board certified reconstructive and plastic surgeon with the New York Group for Plastic Surgery and assistant professor of surgery at New York Medical College.

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Liposuction is a surgical procedure that uses a suction device to remove fat cells from targeted areas of the body, such as the abdomen, buttocks, hips or thighs.

"Patients are thrilled when they see their improved body contour following liposuction, and frequently ask how long the results will last," said Dr. Salzberg. "Liposuction results will last indefinitely, but calories consumed and not burned off will find a place to reside in the body as fat, so maintaining that trimmer physique requires keeping the weight off."

Liposuction removes many of the actual fat cells from targeted areas, and these fat cells do not grow back or regenerate. However, extra fat taken into the body has to go somewhere and will end up in areas that may not have had excess fat before, such as the upper arms or legs. The good news is that barring extreme weight gain, or even with a few pounds gained, the body typically retains the improved, more balanced proportions achieved through liposuction. 

"Liposuction is incredibly effective at removing deposits of stubborn fat a person can't shed despite consistent efforts with dieting and exercise," Dr. Salzberg said. "At the same time, liposuction should be viewed as an initial phase of body contouring that should be kept up or enhanced by maintaining or losing weight and exercising to hone body tone and musculature."

"Undertaking a liposuction procedure involves a degree of effort and expense, and patients owe it to themselves to keep up the body contour results they've achieved," Dr. Salzberg added.

The type of liposuction used depends on each patient's body type and the body area targeted for fat removal, but may include:

• SmartLipo MPX™, which uses a laser to heat fat and make it easier to suction out. The laser also facilitates maximal skin retraction, or tightening, around the newly contoured areas. Smart lipo is very useful for the upper arms, neck and inner thigh, where skin is usually thin.
• Aqualipo® Liposuction (Body Jet) System, which uses a fine spray that gently loosens fat as it is removed with high-powered suction. This technique results in less bruising and helps prevent damage to the collected fat, which is ideal when it's being transferred to enhance areas like the breasts or buttocks with a procedure such as NaturalFill™.

About the New York Group for Plastic Surgery
The New York Group for Plastic Surgery is comprised of highly trained reconstructive and plastic surgeons certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS) and recognized for their specialized medical and cosmetic surgical skills and personalized patient care.  The New York Group for Plastic Surgery serves patients from communities in the entire Hudson River Valley, New York City, Northern New Jersey, Eastern Pennsylvania and Western Connecticut, as well as patients who travel from across the United States and internationally for their expertise. http://www.nygplasticsurgery.com.

Contact:
Andrea Ziltzer
AZ Healthcare Communications
[email protected]
914.923.3547

SOURCE New York Group for Plastic Surgery