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Why Do I Weigh More After Liposuction?

The goal of liposuction surgery is not to lose weight, but to have a more desirable body shape by removing stubborn areas of fat.

Patients often experience a rapid weight gain following the procedure as the body aims to recoup fat and the affected areas will fill with fluid that the body uses to heal.

This is a common misconception and you should seek to understand this before getting liposuction as there are much more reliable ways of losing weight, and the process can actually cause you to gain weight instead.

In the following guide, we have summed up the process of liposuction and what it actually entails, and what you can expect to experience following the procedure.

What is liposuction?

Liposuction is the procedure of removing fat cells in certain areas of the body to change the figure and create a different silhouette. Liposuction can facilitate weight loss in some circumstances, but it is not a weight loss procedure.

If you are seeking to lose weight, you should instead manage your diet and exercise regularly.

There are a number of methods that the process can be done in - including ultrasound, tumescent or laser, followed by using a needle attached to a vacuum machine to suck out fat cells, reducing the size of, for example, the tummy. Read more about these methods here.

What causes weight gain after liposuction?

As stated above, weight gain following liposuction can be caused by a number of contributing factors. The first thing to understand about the healing process of any cosmetic procedure is that it is just as important as surgery, and takes time and patience.

When fat cells are removed from the body, they can leave excess skin and space which the body will naturally attempt to correct. Fluid will fill the wounded areas and likely cause swelling and sensitivity which can be painful and lead to temporary weight gain.

Your body may also attempt to redistribute fat across your body, so shifting in weight is also natural.

While this may be uncomfortable and frustrating at first, it is part of the natural healing process. To ensure that this process goes well, make sure to have a healthy diet, rest well and often, and allow your body to properly heal and recoup.

You should completely avoid doing strenuous exercises such as sports, jogging, or heavy lifting, but going on walks is recommended to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

What is the healing process following liposuction?

Directly after the surgery, your surgeon should advise you on how to best care for yourself over the coming months - completely healing from liposuction can take around three months, but you can expect to be work-ready after a week.

You will be given an anaesthetic that will last between 12 and 24 hours, and dressings to help aid the healing process. During this time, you may see a coloured fluid leak from the wounds.

This is a natural process that helps to heal the wounds so do not worry about this. If the drainage is excessive and you are worried, you should contact your surgeon for advice. Ensure to drink lots of water to make up for the fluid that is lost during this period.

You may feel pain and discomfort as your body repairs, and the bruising and swelling in the affected areas will get worse before getting better.

Stay clean and hygienic to avoid infection in the wounds - chance and clean your clothes regularly, and shower daily - avoid baths, as these will increase your chances of infection. Instead, allow shower water to drain onto the affected area, and wash any soap away before drying.

Do not rub or scrub your wounds as the skin will be sensitive and may become damaged. Keep in touch with your surgeon about this as they will be able to assess your condition and recommend what to do and what to avoid.

What should I do if something goes wrong?

Unfortunately, things can go wrong during the healing process and may do so for a number of reasons. If you have been suffering from swelling, pain and excessive fluid drainage for an extended duration, you may be dealing with an infection and should seek a diagnosis as soon as possible.

Other symptoms include a high temperature and feverishness.

If you feel as though the reason you are suffering is due to the actions or inaction of a medical professional, you may have been treated with medical negligence and could be entirely to claim compensation.

Medical negligence occurs when a surgeon or other medical professional does not follow the correct procedure, subsequently causing suffering or the worsening of a condition.

You should first seek a diagnosis from an independent medical professional, then speak to a professional solicitor, such as those at Cosmetic Surgery Solicitors.

When you contact us, we will assess your situation and recommend what steps to take next. We will be able to help you through the whole process, providing advice, support and representation if necessary.

Claiming compensation is a very important part of dealing with any form of medical negligence as it will afford you the finances to seek the support and corrective surgery that you need.

Contact us today by calling 0808 159 1205, or fill out an online contact form.

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Mike

Mike Saul

Partner

Michael Saul is a partner at Cosmetic Surgery Solicitors, where he brings his extensive specialist legal expertise and passion for helping people to the forefront of his work. With a proven track record of success in cosmetic surgery negligence cases, Michael has dedicated his career to providing clients with the highest level of representation and achieving favourable outcomes.

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