Modern life, including the increase in working and learning from home over the last couple of years, has caused a surge in obesity worldwide. It is estimated that nearly 45 million Americans go on a diet plan each year with an annual $33 billion spent on weight-loss products. Nearly 60% of Americans say that they want to commit to a healthier lifestyle with almost 50% of Americans attempting to lose weight. The most common weight-loss methods are exercising, eating less food, consuming more fruits and vegetables and increasing water intake. Drinking more water increases metabolic rate by 30% aiding weight loss. Reducing carbs and adding more protein helps to decrease appetite and food cravings while preventing weight gain.

Aside from diet and exercise, can liposuction be a weight loss solution? Losing weight gets harder as we age. Lifestyle and family history play roles in obesity. For some, diet and exercise are not enough. Bariatric surgery has become the common go-to surgery for weight loss. Different variations of bariatric surgery are available depending on the BMI category of the patient as well as needs of the patient. These major surgeries provide significant weight loss and the solutions to maintain that weight loss long term. Liposuction on the other hand, is a cosmetic procedure used to contour localized areas to help eliminate stubborn fat that will not go away with diet and exercise alone. Liposuction is intended for patients who are already at or close to their healthy, ideal weight. Liposuction is not a weight loss solution or a treatment for obesity. Most patients lose only an average of 2 to 5 pounds with liposuction as the amount of fat that can be safely removed is limited. Liposuction is primarily used to improve appearance rather than providing any health benefits. Liposuction also works best for patients who have good skin tone and elasticity.

Liposuction and traditional weight loss through diet and exercise have very important distinctions. Liposuction sucks out subcutaneous fat under the skin via a small tube called a cannula. The goal is to shape the body for a more desirable appearance by permanently removing fat, not to lose weight. Diet and exercise aim to burn more calories than consumed to reduce the size of fat cells by forcing the body to use existing fat deposits for energy. The goal of weight loss is for losing pounds all over the body while increasing good health while liposuction targets small amounts of fat in a targeted area only.

To learn more about how liposuction may benefit you, contact David W. Allison, MD by 703-754-8228 or schedule conveniently online at WEBSITE.