?Liposuction has become one of the most popular cosmetic surgical procedures in the U.S. and Europe over the last decade. The process is also known as liposculpture suction lipectomy, but today it is most commonly known as simply “lipo.” Liposuction is a surgical procedure that can remove fat from the human body, but it is mainly performed on the abdomen, thighs and buttocks. Although part of the attraction may lie in the fact that liposuction can result in a person looking like they lost more weight than the surgical process actually removed, there are limitations as to the amount of fat that can be safely removed. If too much fat is removed in any one area, it can result in the appearance of unnatural lumpiness or dents in the skin. Although the procedure has generally been considered safe, the more fat removed, the higher the risk of complications.
The procedure has proven so successful over 200,000 people per year now get liposuction in the U.S. alone. However, a new unwanted and unhealthy side effect of the procedure has just come to light following a study conducted by a team of researchers from the University of Sao Paulo in Brazil. The researchers discovered many patients have actually gained more belly fat several months after abdominal liposuction surgery. Bell fat is the visceral” fat surrounding the abdominal organs and unlike superficial abdominal fat that lies just under the skin, excess visceral fat can increase a patient’s risk of developing type 2 diabetes and heart disease
For the study, the Brazilian team followed three dozen women of normal weight who had undergone liposuction and were of normal weight, but led sedentary lifestyles before the procedure. Half the women in the study were told to continue their sedentary lifestyles, while the other half were instructed to exercise at least three times a week on a treadmill as well as perform some light strength training. Not so surprisingly, that those who did not exercise showed a 10 percent increase in visceral fat, and the more active group gained no significant weight.
The fact that liposuction could make you fatter and more unhealthy will certainly have an effect on those people considering an abdominal lipo procedure, even in today’s quick-fix society. The good news is that there is an effective solution to preventing this buildup of visceral fat after liposuction in the form of regular exercise and if more people were aware of the long-term benefits of regular exercise and a healthy diet, fewer might need liposuction to begin with.
