Whether we are talking about SculpSure, Liposuction, or Tummy Tucks, my answer is the same regarding the return of fat - none of these procedures can be thought of as equivalent to weight loss. Unless you lose some weight after these procedures, fat can accumulate anywhere, whether it's in a new area or the area that was treated. For best results after any fat-reducing procedure, surgical or non-surgical, I always recommend a healthy diet and regular exercise to maintain and even improve upon the results. Think of it as protecting the investment you have put into yourself. If I remove, say, 3-5 lb. of fat from someone during a liposuction procedure and then I see them a year later and their weight is identical to what is was pre-operatively, then they have essentially gained that 3-5 lb. back. Those extra pounds will be stored as fat. It may or may not be in the treated areas (usually, it appears in other areas, but not always), but will be stored somewhere. These procedures are better thought of as addressing the overall shape or distribution of fat and not as changing the size or total amount of fat. What to do about fat deposits accumulating elsewhere? Make sure you are eating a healthy diet, which I generally describe as a "whole foods, plant-based diet," with occasional animal protein thrown in if you are a devout carnivore (like me). That means, you are eating a LOT of veggies and whole fruits, little to no sugar, and zero heavily processed foods. By the way, when I say "sugar," I mean the obvious, like candy, soda-pop, and desserts, but I also mean the not-so-obvious, like white rice, potatoes, bread, honey, pasta, bran muffins (muffins are just cupcakes without the icing, lol), breakfast cereal, and, the kicker for many people - alcohol. I follow my patients' body fat percentage too, because that can be an important factor - many people are what we call "skinny-fat," meaning that they may have a normal weight for their height, but their body fat percentage is elevated, due to a sedentary lifestyle and lack of exercise - very common in our culture. Those with higher body fat percentage are going to be the ones most likely to notice these unwanted fat deposits after treatments for fat reduction. Unfortunately, there is not a quick and easy fix for this. It will require a "lifestyle change." I am very sympathetic to those who struggle with this, as I find it challenging too. For me, the best approach is to incorporate new healthy habits into my "routine." Try to add things one at a time and do not give yourself unrealistic goals. Have your eye on the "long game" and don't expect vast changes over short periods of time. You've taken your whole life to get where you are right now, so getting to where you want to be is not going to happen overnight. "Rome wasn't built in a day" and persistence pays off - be persistent.
