When stubborn fat deposits resist your weight loss plan, liposuction may look like the perfect adjunct to diet and exercise. However, it is agreed upon by many prominent plastic surgeons that while liposuction – a popular and frequently-performed procedure – is effective in reshaping and contouring fat deposits in the body, it’s important to remember that it isn’t a fix-all solution.

It is important to keep in mind, that, while we all should be able to choose to look however we want in our own bodies, that electing cosmetic surgery is a multifaceted decision that shouldn’t be rushed. The success of any treatment is dependent solely on lifestyle choices before and after surgery.

Those who struggle with poor exercise and eating habits that may have contributed to retained unwanted weight will not get good results with liposuction alone. You cannot exercise enough to compensate for poor eating habits – and those eating habits produce the fat deposits within your body. The cornerstone of any change is diet and liposuction alone can’t provide permanent results.

Experts agree, there’s no magic formula or dietary regimen to eliminate unwanted fat, – everyone’s body, needs and lifestyle is unique.

That being said, the first step to changing the appearance of your body is to determine what your ‘healthiest’ lifestyle means for you. If you’re still struggling with unwanted stubborn fat and deposits despite your best efforts at exercise and eating healthily, then liposuction may be a good path to consider. Always remember though, as with any treatment, the procedure varies from person to person, and results will differ depending on the body parts treated.

Following liposuction, you can expect to see visible results – in inches, not abstract numbers. Going into the surgery, it’s important to set realistic goals about the long-term results you expect, and many surgeons recommend picking a weight that’s both manageable and healthy for you, then developing a lifestyle that incorporates good eating habits, good sleep and regular physical activity.

For those interested in pursuing fat reduction, two different options are available: surgical or non-surgical.

New non-surgical developments offer innovative technology that essentially melts or destroys fat through the skin. In a process known as SculpSure, a patented laser is attached to the skin, destroying up to 25% of fat reserves within a 25-minute session. Best suited for addressing small areas, this type of procedure involves virtually no downtime and anecdotal evidence shows that it really is an amazing way for someone to reach their goals.

Surgical options are most effective for larger areas of concern, including removal of loose skin left after extensive weight loss. Most liposuction is performed in conjunction with procedures such as tummy tucks, body contouring, and arm, breast or thigh reductions, which focus on removing the unwanted fatty deposits from those areas.

Even with surgery, recovery time is minimal; usually a weekend at most. The surgery is performed under general anesthesia.

A person’s weight tends to be a very sensitive topic. When exploring choices to attain your goals, no procedure done in a doctor’s office can substitute for diet, exercise, health and well-being. These procedures should be viewed as ‘tidying up’ any unwanted areas that are too stubborn to be moved after the main work has already been completed. Research continually emphasizes that natural-looking, long-lasting results will best benefit from a healthy diet and lifestyle.

Liposuction is an excellent option for those who have established a health first perspective to their lifestyle, but still need a little nudge along the way to help remove deposits that are resistant to change through diet and exercise. Also be sure to check out our new article on the aging of skin and how to prevent it.

Your skin is your largest organ – and the only one exposed for everyone to see. With its complex, multilayered structure, it allows you to interact with your environment and helps you in multiple essential ways. It protects you from dehydration, regulates your temperature, provides sensation, and even produces essential vitamins like Vitamin D.

Skin color and type vary as a result of genetics, evolution and body chemistry. The color is affected by various components, including blood vessels. Carotene can give the skin a yellow color – especially if you often binge on carrots!

Melanin is a colored substance produced by a particular skin cell known as the melanocyte. The amount of melanin varies, producing the extensive array of colors we see in human skin.

Skin color is the result of evolution, based on geographical location. The more ultraviolet radiation skin is exposed to, the more melanocytes it produces. For example, if your remote ancestors dwelt in colder regions, your skin color will be lighter than if they’d originated in India or Africa. The more sun exposure indigenous populations received, the darker their skin colors evolved.

What’s your skin type?

Experts grade skin according to a scale that was developed by a dermatologist. Called the Fitzpatrick scale, it classifies skin types based on responses to ultraviolet light. Physicians use this skin classification clinically to determine programs to rejuvenate and treat aging skin.

Type I   will always burn and never tan                   These patients are fair, freckled and have pale eye color

Type II usually burns, but can sometimes tan      Patients are also fair, often with light-colored eyes

Type III can burn, but will usually tan                       These patients have a light brown skin color

Type IV will tan and rarely burn                                 The skin tone is olive

Type V rarely burns                                                         This skin color is brown

Type VI will not burn                                                      This skin color is black

The Aging Skin

Skin will age in two ways:  intrinsically and extrinsically.  Intrinsic, or “built-in” aging is a component of your genetic makeup.  In other words you will age in a way that is similar to your parents or grandparents.  This is something that’s governed by your genes.  Over time, intrinsic aging will result in loss of the elastic component of the dermis, the dense inner layer below the skin’s surface, and the skin becomes thinner and drier.

Extrinsic aging is the aging your skin undergoes when exposed to environmental factors such as sun, wind and extremes in temperature. The good news? This type of aging is in part preventable and reversible.

When doctors evaluate the skin, they look at multiple factors relating to aging skin, such as laxity or sagging, wrinkles, color, texture, thickness, pigmentation, sun exposure and abnormal growths such as moles or cancers. Patients whose skin type falls within I, II and III on the Fitzpatrick scale will experience more rapid aging of the skin than those in the IV to VI range. If your skin type is within the first three categories, it’s important to be more diligent about preventing sun damage before it can occur.

When it comes to preventing or lessening extrinsic aging of your skin from environmental exposure, the cornerstone of treatment is sunscreen, or sunblock.

Best Practices for Prevention

Sunblock is an opaque substance that will block the absorption of the sun when applied. Two of the main ingredients are titanium dioxide and zinc oxide. These chemicals stay on your skin and are not absorbed, forming a physical block that prevents the sun from penetrating the skin.  If you shy away from gooey sunscreens, take heart: Many newer products whose formulations incorporate these chemicals are more elegant, easier to apply and with a thinner consistency that spread onto the skin smoothly, and are very effective in protecting the skin. They also have the added advantage of not penetrating the skin, minimizing reactions such as rashes or irritation.

Without regular use of sunblock, substantial skin damage from the environment, or “photo-aging” can occur. Sun-damaged skin has damaged collagen, with a resulting loss of elasticity. The skin appears tanned and blotchy, with spots of discoloration and redness from dilated, damaged blood capillaries. Over time, environmental skin damage may progress to a coarse, yellow, waxy appearance, particularly on the lips. Long exposure to sun can result in two common types of skin cancers:  squamous cell carcinoma and basal cell carcinoma.

Second only to using sunblock, applying Retin-A cream to your skin may be the most valuable method to help prevent, delay or treat photo-aging. It contains retinoic acid, essential for normal skin growth, which is lost or diminished with excessive exposure to ultraviolet radiation from the sun. Other products to help combat environmental skin damage include those containing antioxidants, such as topical vitamin C.

Since Retin-A is a prescription-only item, a consultation with a skin specialist is essential to make sure you receive the optimal results from use of clinically effective products. At Maxwell Aesthetics cosmetic plastic surgery center, we provide a comprehensive Skin Care Evaluation and make recommendations based on your degree of photo-aging and individual needs, to create a more healthy and beautiful skin. Also be sure to read about other services that focus on things such as liposuction, tummy tucks, breast augmentation and more.