Congratulations! You’ve successfully completed a liposuction procedure and are on your way to recovery. If you’ve undergone the procedure, chances are that you did thorough research on it and understand the risks involved if you don’t maintain a healthy weight. So how do you avoid gaining back all the weight you’ve lost after liposuction? A healthy diet and regular exercise are often the best choices. At the same time, it may be risky to exert yourself with excessive physical exercise right after the procedure. So here’s a useful guide to help you exercise correctly and maintain a healthy weight after getting liposuction.
Why You Should Exercise After Liposuction
Liposuction alone can get rid of unwanted or excess body fat like love handles and muffin tops. However, studies have shown that undergoing the procedure puts you at a risk of gaining excessive belly fat and cause even more damage to your health. The study, conducted by a group of Brazilian researchers, involved 36 women who underwent a minor liposuction procedure around the abdomen.
Half of the participants were made to begin a four-month exercise regimen, which they started two months after the operation. After six months, it was found that this half did not gain back body fat while the other half ended up with a 10% increase in visceral fat than before the surgery.
So you understand that liposuction isn’t like other types of plastic surgery procedures like breast augmentation or a face lift, although both have certain challenges of their own. You have to actively make an effort to maintain the effects, which is also a good thing for your overall long-term health as exercise has a multitude of health benefits.
When to Start Exercising
The wait time to start exercising after liposuction can differ based on the size of the area involved, lifestyle of the patient, and so on. It would be best to consult your surgeon regarding this as they’ll be able to provide you with accurate advice according to your personal health history. However, you can get involved in light movement and less strenuous activities like easy walking and basic household activities around two days after the procedure. This light activity will prevent blood clots and sores and help you make a smooth transition back to your regular routine.
Normally you can resume routine exercising about a week after the procedure, but make sure you don’t start off with something too strenuous. The general recommendation is that you start off with about 25% of your usual exercise regime and then increase the amount as the days go by. It’s important to know your limit and avoid pushing yourself too much for the first few months after undergoing liposuction.
Recommended Exercises after Liposuction
As you already know, you need to give yourself time to recover after liposuction. So it’s best to start off with light exercises that will help you make a healthy transition to your regular exercise routine. Take a look at some of the recommended exercises you can try after undergoing the procedure:
- Aerobics – Your best option is to start off with light aerobic exercises like walking two days after the surgery. Go for short walks inside the house or around the neighborhood to prevent blood clots in your legs and lungs. At the same time, it’s important to listen to your body and avoid pushing yourself if you’re experiencing dizziness or severe soreness.
Wait at least three weeks (or more depending on your recovery) before you start higher-impact aerobics like running, cycling, or dancing. You need to wait for the operated areas to recover properly before you put a strain on them. - Resistance exercises – You can start with resistance training about two weeks after liposuction, although the duration can again be subjective. Just like aerobics, it’s best to start off slowly and then gradually get back to your usual routine. Resistance exercises are highly recommended for people who’ve undergone liposuction as they can help I tightening the skin. So you have a natural and healthy solution to the loose or excess skin after liposuction. Make sure you wait at least two months before hitting the gym and starting rigorous strength training.
Maintaining the Effects of Liposuction
So now you have a good idea how to go about continuing or starting an exercise regimen after undergoing liposuction. Remember that liposuction is only recommended for candidates who are prepared to change their lives for the better.
As mentioned earlier, you need to make an active effort in liposuction maintenance to keep the fat off. It’s important to remember that the procedure isn’t a quick fix or an ultimate solution for weight loss. It’s not a replacement for exercise or a balanced diet either. Positive lifestyle changes such as a healthy diet and an active lifestyle will have a tremendous impact on your overall health.
Author Bio: Renu Sharma is an Inbound Consultant at The Maercks Institute, a Plastic Surgery Institute. She is a health and fitness lover who loves to share her ideas on health, fitness and beauty. You can check her out on Twitter and LinkedIn.