Blog Article

Exercise May Prevent New Fat From Forming After Liposuction

Posted on June 7th, 2012 in Body Surgery, Liposuction

A recent study by researchers from the University of São Paulo has revealed that exercise after liposuction surgery may do more than simply maintain the results of the procedure. According to the study results, which were published in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, a lack of exercise after recovering from liposuction can cause an increase in harmful visceral fat. The Brazilian researchers, who wanted to learn about the health benefits of exercise after liposuction surgery, followed 36 women in the months after they received the liposuction to remove abdominal fat. The women all admitted to not having engaged in regular exercise before the surgery. Two months after their liposuction surgery, half of the women were asked to begin a regular exercise routine, working out three times per week. Four months after the surgeries, the researchers found that all of the study participants still had flatter bellies. However, the women who had not exercised experienced an increase in visceral fat, which did not develop in the group that had exercised.

What is visceral fat?

These are fatty deposits that surround the internal organs, especially the liver. They lie deep within the abdominal cavity and can often go undetected; unlike subcutaneous fat, they cannot be pinched. Visceral fat has been linked to a number of health issues, including:

• metabolic disturbances
• heart disease
• diabetes
• breast cancer
• gallbladder problems

The researchers concluded that “if one should choose to undergo liposuction, it is very important [to] exercise after surgery.” Of course, preventing an increase in visceral fat is only one among many benefits of regular exercise It’s commonly believed that liposuction is a miracle weight-loss strategy, but this couldn’t be further from the truth, as this and other studies attest. Liposuction is a surgical procedure designed to remove fatty deposits in places that have not responded to diet and exercise. Although often used for body contouring after major weight loss, it is no substitute for a healthy lifestyle.