With all the reality shows revolving around plastic surgery, liposuction is becoming quite popular as a method of removing those last few pounds. The process actually sucks out fat cells from stubborn areas of the body, like the hips and belly. Everyone from celebrities to the common farm girl is getting liposuction these days, but how effective is it at preventing future weight gain?

Though often shown as part of a larger makeover, liposuction is usually performed as an outpatient procedure using local anesthesia. The majority of people have this procedure done to help them get rid of fat in an area that just won't come off with exercise and dieting. Common areas to have fat removal include the hips (saddle bags), the back and waist (love handles), face, upper arms, and stomach. The results can be astounding, though you probably won't be able to see them for a week or two.

Immediately after liposuction treatment, the area treated will need to be tightly wrapped. The area is compressed for a week or so and then you can really take a look at the results of the liposuction treatment. The swelling may continue for several months, and it can take up to 6 months for the skin to tighten up over a freshly liposuctioned area.

The liposuction procedure is very effective for removing small fatty deposits, but it won't help you actually lose weight. The areas treated by liposuction have the fat cells permanently removed and the new, enhanced body shape is more or less permanent, provided you don't gain an excessive amount of weight.

Patients who do gain weight after liposuction tend to simply increase in size. The fat cells in other areas of the body will expand, so the new shape won't be destroyed by gaining a few pounds. However, there is always the risk of gaining too much weight, which can stimulate the growth of new fat cells. This usually occurs after a 10% increase in body weight, which is more than the average person should gain if they are attempting to stay in shape.

To avoid weight gain after a procedure like liposuction, it's a good idea to continue eating well and follow an exercise regimen. This will prevent the body from putting on too much weight and beginning to produce new fat cells, a process which can occur even in the areas that have been liposuctioned.

Is liposuction a permanent solution to stubborn fat deposits? Yes, if you take care not to gain extraordinary amounts of weight after the procedure. Your body will retain its great new shape and you will find that your body has fewer fatty deposits than before. This won't change as long as you take care not to eat in excess.

Liposuction is not a procedure for losing weight, but rather to get rid of the last few pouches of fat cells that simply won't surrender to exercise. This usually permanent solution for fat deposits can be the perfect way to get rid of fat in stubborn areas so you can enjoy the body shape that you've always dreamed of.