Key takeaways
Circumferential abdominal liposuction case: with a slowing metabolism she kept regaining weight despite dieting, and after earlier circumferential thigh liposuction she targeted her abdomen. After an assessment with Dr. Kuo-Chun Liao, she had VASER liposuction. She was back at work on day four, daily life was unaffected after about a week, and she wore a compression garment for about three months; her weight didn't change, but her sides are flatter and her waistline more defined.
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"I'm Rosie, I'm 31, and I'm a special education teacher. I've always watched my diet and even used an app to log what I ate each day and count calories. But I love food, haha, and now that I'm a bit older my metabolism is slower, so I bounce back and regain weight easily. That's why I thought liposuction could help me effectively reach the goal and shape I wanted..."
Prone to weight rebound, and chasing nicer body contours
I had circumferential thigh liposuction three years ago. I actually wanted abdominal liposuction back then too, but because of budget I did my legs first and hid my belly with clothes. Now I've saved enough, so I came back for circumferential abdominal liposuction. I'm not sure if it's just my body, but after liposuction I felt a bit of compensation, with fat building up more easily in other areas. I already watch my diet, but sometimes I overeat and the weight rebounds. Exercise makes me firmer, but my body proportions aren't great to begin with, so removing the fat with liposuction first and then exercising is the way to get the contours I want
Many people online talk about fat freezing. From what I've read, results seem to vary from person to person and aren't better than liposuction. Since I'd had liposuction before, I knew roughly what the process and results were like, and after reading lots of people's experiences, I felt liposuction would get me closer to the look I wanted, so I chose liposuction.
Key points of abdominal liposuction: say goodbye to belly fat and hello to a stunning back view
Spot fat reduction compared: VASER liposuction vs. Cooltech fat freezing
Why I chose VASER, the latest liposuction technology, and NAISS CLINIC...
VASER is a newer technology with a shorter recovery, and I'd also had VASER for my circumferential leg liposuction, so at the consultation I was sure I wanted VASER. I know many people combine VASER with breast fat grafting, but I think my breast size is just right and I don't want them much bigger. I also have a rounder build, and bigger breasts would make me look heavier, so I didn't choose fat transfer to the breasts
I came to NAISS because I happened to see an ad. After an online consultation, the customer service team responded very proactively. I didn't decide right after my first consultation, but considering the convenient location and how friendly and proactive the staff were, I finally chose NAISS CLINIC. Also, NAISS CLINIC includes post-op recovery IV drips, laser treatments and more, which I thought was great. Maybe thanks to that aftercare, my swelling went down quite quickly. At the consultation, Dr. Liao was very professional and enthusiastic and suggested adjustments to the approach based on what I wanted.
Get to know VASER liposuction: sculpting V-lines and ab lines
Back to daily life in 7 days, twice as fast as my leg recovery
On the day of surgery I was super excited and couldn't wait to get rid of the fat, haha. Having been through surgery once, I wasn't nervous at all. The surgery was actually quite quick; it was in the morning and I left the clinic around 2 or 3 p.m. But I'm fairly sensitive to anesthesia, so I was dizzy for about two days, and walking normally was hard when I got home that day. On day two the symptoms improved a bit and I was just a little slow moving around. The pain wasn't very noticeable for me. By about day four I was back at work, with just a little pressure on my belly, so when I got home I'd lie down and stretch out the muscles so they wouldn't adhere. From days four to seven I was basically either sitting or lying down. After seven days it didn't affect my daily life at all. Compared with my leg liposuction, recovery was about twice as fast (one week versus two). I wore the compression garment for about three months, and full recovery also took about three months. On day two there was only mild swelling; on day three it still felt a bit puffy to the touch, but I could start to feel my muscles!
About the risks of liposuction: the essentials to help you lower your risk
Instant results: a flatter belly in profile
I could see results on the day of surgery. My belly was instantly much flatter; from the side my body looked slimmer, and from the front my waist looked more defined. I think the advantage of liposuction is that you see results right away. It's now been more than three months since surgery, and the biggest difference is in my clothes. I had pants I could pull up over my legs but couldn't button at the waist, and now they button. The other big difference is my exercise habits. I used to exercise rarely, but since I spent so much money, from six weeks after surgery I've exercised an hour and a half every day. I think the most important part is stretching, so any areas that have adhered can loosen up.
When I decided on surgery, I actually just told my family and friends rather than discussing it, haha. Of course they first thought there was no need, but after hearing my reasons they respected my decision. After surgery I'd happily show them: "Look how defined my waist is now!" and they were happy for me. Friends often ask, "Have you lost weight again recently?" I always tell them honestly that I had liposuction. My weight hasn't changed at all, but I look slimmer.
Know this before liposuction: "Liposuction is not weight loss!"
After my surgery I realized many people seem to think liposuction lowers your weight, but I knew beforehand that liposuction is really a way to sculpt your body shape. Many people can't get rid of localized fat (like inner thighs or the waist) through exercise or dieting, and if that's your problem, liposuction is an option.
If you choose liposuction, first understand your body, your eating habits and the look you want, and be sure to have a doctor assess you. Liposuction is major surgery; besides fat, some blood and tissue fluid are also removed, and removing too much can even be life-threatening. So I think communicating well with your doctor before surgery is extremely important
I really recommend liposuction for anyone troubled by their body shape. If your figure really bothers you, I think you should do it early; younger skin is firmer and recovery is relatively shorter!
Must-read before liposuction! What determines the pain, and does liposuction equal weight loss?
Does liposuction reduce your weight? Are there side effects? A quick Q&A guide!
This story reflects one patient's experience. Results and recovery vary from person to person; please consult a doctor in person about your own treatment plan.
