Can I tone up my muscles after lipo?

Question

Okay so about 15 months ago I got full body lipo I was only about 125 pounds and 5’4” so I was small to begin with. I work out at least 5 times a week and I train HARD. I lift heavy heavy weights and I do 15-20 minutes of cardio. I eat a clean diet of 1500-2000 calories. I have been sticking to this since I was healed from lipo. I have a flat stomach from the lipo, but I literally cannot see ANY definition. I am wondering if lipo has prevented me from natural fat loss.

Sacha Obaid, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question! Yes, it is possible to tone your abdominal muscles post liposuction. Liposuction does not affect your muscles at all, it only removes the subcutaneous fat above them. I hope this helps!

Kenneth Hughes, MD · Answer

Liposuction will not reduce the muscle mass in an individual.  To be sure, all of the effects of liposuction on lipid metabolism have not been worked out.  Talk with a trainer to determine if you are performing the appropriate exercises for you to see definition. Reps may be more beneficial than heavy lifting.

Jason Emer, MD · Answer

you of course can tone after liposuction but that doesn't mean you will get more toning out of the liposuction, likely you need fitness and muscle building, but at the same time may want a VASER HD liposuction procedure.
You need a formal evaluation by an expert in body shaping and contouring to determine what is best.  Traditional liposuction awake and smart liposuction are old methods and do very poorly for tightening skin or significant skin tightening or contouring.  Small problem areas can be improved slightly by these methods.  The best in body contouring not only removes fat with energy devices like VASER ultrasound but also internally heat the skin with radio-frequency devices such as J PLASMA/RENUVION, InMode BodyTite, ThermiRF to heat the under surface of the skin and tighten it at the same time as fat removal. These combinations are called 4D HIDEF VASER contouring and can only be done by a well . trained body contouring specialist. At the same time fat should be harvested, PRP and stem cells added and injected into muscles or indentations/cellulite to get body shaping and contouring.  This is known as a brazilian butt lift when you inject the fat to the buttock for contouring and lifting, but fat can also be used in areas such as the chest/breast, arms/shoulders, calves and face.  Cellulite should also be treated with cellfina, sculptra, subcision and/or fillers such as bellafill, renuva synthetic fat, or sculptra.  If skin is very loose before surgery then it will need to be removed such as lower abdominal skin (tummy tuck/abdominoplasty), breast skin (breast lift), arm skin (brachioplasty).  Overall you need a full assessment, but simple liposuction alone will not tighten skin and needs a combination of various methods -- fat removal, skin tightening, defining, fat grafting, skin removal -- to get the best in body contouring and body sculpting.  Dr. Emer.

Best, Dr. Emer.

Robert M. Tornambe, MD · Answer

Crazygirl1234.  I appreciate your frustration however definition comes from muscle tone, and decreased layer of fat overlying the muscle.  Liposuction does not prevent natural fat loss. It sounds like you are doing all the right things, but perhaps your weight training is not targeting the right muscles to trigger a better definition. Check in with a personal trainer to evaluate your weight training. Good luck.

Tania Medina de Garcia, MD · Answer

Hello dear!!
Thanks for the question and provided information as well.After a BBL, you lose or gain weight in the same way as before. So, if you exercise regularly, you should tone up the same as before surgery.  
If you have any concerns, please follow up close with your plastic surgeon.
Good luck :)

Lee B. Daniel, MD · Answer

Without a photo, it’s difficult to advise as to what could be standing in your way of achieving the muscle definition you want. However, it is absolutely still possible for you to lose additional weight after liposuction. Just keep in mind that there is no way to target specific areas of your body for fat loss, such as your abdomen. Additionally, it can take a fair amount of time and exercise to achieve a six-pack look, as there needs to be very little fat covering up toned muscle underneath. This can be easier for some people and more difficult for others.

Mats Hagstrom, MD (license on probation) · Answer

showing muscle definition is easier for some than others. Generally it requires tight skin and very thin layers of fat  . Some patients may have achieved low subcutaneous ffat layers by diet and exercise or liposuction but still do not show muscle definition because of skin laxity.

Women will also have a much harder time to show muscle definition because of the much lower testosterone levels in their bodies. 
 My suggestion is to work with what you have to stay lean and continue as strong exercise regiment 
 More than anything else previous pregnancies will hinder women from showing of abdominal definition. This is because of skin laxity and muscle separation from pregnancies.

Best, 
Mats Hagstrom M.D.

Can I tone up my muscles after lipo?

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