What Causes Weight Gain 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. 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. The side effects of liposuction can actually cause you to gain weight instead.

Liposuction patients often experience rapid and significant weight gain following the procedure as the body aims to recoup fat and redistribute the remaining fat cells. The affected areas fill with fluid that the body uses to heal, which will cause weight gain in some areas of the body and may leave you feeling as though the procedure has failed.

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. Your body contains healthy fats that are essential for your health. If you permanently remove fat cells that your body relies upon, you may experience complications such as fatigue and other issues that arise from dropping below a healthy weight. One of our clients experienced the severe side effect of skin necrosis following an ill-advised procedure. You can read more in our case study.

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 immediately after liposuction?

Weight gain after 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 the surgery itself, and requires 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 filling the wounded areas can 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.

After a liposuction procedure, 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. If you are concerned about weight gain, do not worry - the new fat cells your body creates will contribute to a healthier and happier body in time.

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, provided you take the appropriate time to rest.

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. If the drainage is excessive and you are worried, you should contact your surgeon for advice. Make sure to drink lots of water to make up for the fluid that your body loses 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?

While weight gain after liposuction is an example of a harmless side effect, 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 an 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.