Deciding to undergo bariatric (weight-loss) surgery is serious and should not be undertaken lightly. These procedures can save the life of patients who are so overweight that they may be in danger of dying from a variety of obesity-related health issues, such as cardiac disease or complications from diabetes. Bariatric surgery will help patients lose a large amount of weight rapidly during the first year following surgery.

However, many post-surgery patients may still have stubborn pockets of fat that remain, despite having improved their eating and exercise habits. In these cases, Dr. Paul Pin may recommend liposuction as a means to remove this excess fat to help patients put the final touches on their incredible efforts to improve their health.

Which Type of Fat Can Liposuction Remove?

There are actually several different types of fat cells. Visceral fat is located around the internal organs, such as the liver or the pancreas. It is the fat most often associated with cardiac disease, high blood pressure, and diabetes, among other obesity-related chronic conditions. Visceral fat is considered to be the most dangerous, given its connection to serious health issues.

On the other hand, subcutaneous fat is what you can see and feel right under the surface of your skin. If you have ever undergone a fat analysis test that uses calipers to “pinch an inch” of your arm or waist, your subcutaneous fat is what the calipers are measuring. Although subcutaneous fat does not present the same risks as visceral fat, it may not completely respond to regular exercise and a sensible, low fat diet. This type of fat will develop most often in areas such as the abdomen, thighs, hips, buttocks, and back. Because it is just under the surface of the skin, it is easier to remove with liposuction and can help streamline your new body contours following surgery.

Why You Should Consider Liposuction after Your Bariatric Surgery

By reducing the amount of food that you can eat before feeling full, bariatric surgery does a great job of removing visceral fat. However, you may wish to further remove subcutaneous fat following your first year of weight loss. A liposuction procedure is specifically designed to remove that excess subcutaneous fat that can remain, even after you have completely changed your lifestyle habits to exercise more and consume less food.

Furthermore, a liposuction procedure can target more than one location on the body at a time. This allows you to cut down on the number of procedures you must undergo to remove all the subcutaneous fat necessary to meet your goals. This can be important, considering that your body has undergone a great deal of stress from the bariatric surgery. Being able to keep further procedures to a minimum will help your overall well being.

The key to success with your liposuction following bariatric surgery is to wait until your weight has stabilized. Dr. Pin has found that waiting at least a year will provide the most optimal results, rather than having liposuction done too early, while you are still working toward your final weight goal. Once you have reached that goal, a liposuction procedure can provide just that little extra boost that allows you to show off the efforts of all your hard work.