Exercise or Liposuction? (photo)

Hi: I'm considering Liposuction on my abs and flanks but I'm not quite sold on whether or not I could be achieving the same or better results by working out rigorously. I don't really like the idea of having a swollen body for the whole summer, and incision scars for the rest of my life. Any advice on what decision I should make would be very much appreciated!

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abdomen flanks exercise

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14 Doctor Answers | Asked by MarcusOC79

Doctor Answers (14)
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Liposuction or exercise?

As an avid exerciser, I congratulate you on considering this as an option. In my view, liposuction is not a substitute for an active lifestyle and diet. You said that when you would vigorously exercise which tells me that you are not doing this right now. If you are exercising and are not seeing any improvement, then you should look at what you are eating and consider changing your diet. If you are exercising and eating properly and still aren't seeing improvement in your stomach and love... more

Liposuction or exercise

It is really a choice that you have to make. From your photos you look like a good candidate for liposuction and could potentially see nice results.

Steven Wallach, MD

12 reviews

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Exercise or liposuction for a good shape

Thank you for your question about liposuction to improve your abs and flanks. Liposuction will improve your shape quickly. I have excellent results and happy patients with standard Microaire liposuction. If you wear the compression garment for 6 full weeks, you should look great for the summer. Liposuction incisions are very small and rarely noticeable. In an ideal world - we'd all be super-fit and if you have time to exercise instead of or in addition... more

Liposuction vs exercise

Marcus- Thanks for the questions and photos. If your procedure is done in the next month or so, you should easily see results and not be swollen in the summertime. I would suggest Smart Lipo Triplex, as it can be done under a local anesthetic and the downtime is less than tradional liposuction. I have had several male patients that have worked out vigorously and were never able to get rid of the love handles and "beer belly." Liposuction helped them achieve... more

Until You're Absolutely Sure, Exercise is Probably Better

Thank you for the pictures. Are you currently exercising rigorously? It is hard to tell whether you would benefit from liposuction because I don't know the amount of exercise you do at the moment, and if you are complementing your regimen with a calorie-wise diet that allows you to burn more calories than you consume. If you have been going at it for a while and have not noticed any improvement, then liposuction is definitely an option for you. You most likely won't be swollen if you have... more

Jerome Edelstein, MD

13 reviews

Toronto Plastic Surgeon

Exercise or Liposuction

As a bodybuilder I can tell you that by continuing to diet down and increase energy expenditure you can achieve a reduction in overall body fat. However, if you are not having any success after long term efforts, liposuction can be a useful adjunct. You only need 2 tiny incisions below your pants line to perform liposuction of the abdomen and flanks. If you decide to go ahead with the liposuction, find the board certified plastic surgeon with ELITE credentials... more

Exercise results vs. liposuction

Liposuction is not a substitute for eating healthy and exercising. It can however, accentuate all of the hard work you put in to looking your best. If your weight is stable and you are not seeing further progress even with diet and exercise, liposuction may be a good option to help you achieve the look you want.

Mennen T. Gallas, MD

8 reviews

Houston Plastic Surgeon

Working out vs surgery

This should not be an "either/or" type of question- exercise is the most important modality in question because it benefits your health in addition to your shape. Liposuction can help in your contour and should be considered if the few persistent areas of fat don't improve with exercise. Another excellent option for you is non-invasive CoolSculpting which is made for patients like you who want to improve local areas of fat but don't want significant swelling and down- time and... more

Exercise or liposuction?

I usually recommend a healthy lifestyle, exercise and weight loss first, prior to any consideration for body contouring. Certainly, you would want to get down to or near your ideal weight in order to obtain the best results. This lifestyle should consider after your surgical procedure in order to maintain the benefits obtained from this modality. I would try diet and exercise first, if you haven't done so already. However, looking at your photos, it appears that... more

Exercise or Liposuction?

The answer is Yes to both. It looks like you have reasonable definition of your abdominal and obliques with a little extra fat on the flanks. Liposuction could further define these areas. However, even with the liposuction, you will need to continue to maintain a healthy lifestyle to prolong your results. There is no spot training with excercise, if you are looking for that "ripped' look, it involves a lot of exercise, minimal carbs, and a single digit body fat... more