Can Fat Come Back After Liposuction?

Submitted by Dr. Joyesh Raj on Mon 07/20/2020 - 09:00

Have your diet or exercise efforts not translated into noticeable improvements to your physique? You may see the results you want with liposuction, a body contouring procedure that slims and sculpts targeted body areas.

When so many products and procedures promise a “quick fix,” it is reasonable to question how long the results of liposuction last. Dr. Joyesh Raj is your best resource for information about liposuction treatment outcomes. Read on as he explains whether fat can come back after liposuction.

Fat Can’t Grow Back

During liposuction surgery, Dr. Raj uses a slender, hollow tube called a cannula to selectively break up and remove fat cells from a specific area of the body. The areas most commonly treated with liposuction include the stomach, hips, thighs, buttocks, upper arms, neck and under the chin. By removing fat cells, Dr. Raj significantly improves the aesthetics of the treated area.

Once fat cells have been removed through liposuction, those cells cannot grow back, and we cannot develop new fat cells. As adults, we have a fixed number of fat cells.

However, our remaining fat cells can enlarge and shrink with weight gain or loss.

If you gain a significant amount of weight after liposuction, your body’s fat cells will enlarge. You may notice new “problem areas” appear — for example, if you had liposuction on your abdomen and then gain weight, your body may start to store it in your thighs or buttocks.

It is also important to keep in mind that liposuction does not remove all of the fat cells in the target area. Dr. Raj has to leave a thin layer of fat cells in the treated area of the body to maintain a smooth, normal looking contour. If you gain weight after liposuction, the remaining fat cells in the treated area can enlarge, but you will see less fat accumulation in that area since there are fewer fat cells remaining.

As you can understand, it is imperative to maintain your weight after liposuction to enjoy your sculpted results as long as possible. Dr. Raj encourages you to stick to a consistent exercise regimen and eat a nutritious diet after your surgery. You will probably find that you are more motivated to eat healthy and work out often after seeing your own dramatic transformation.

Learn More About Liposuction

If you have additional questions about liposuction or would like to discuss the procedure in person with Dr. Raj, please request a consultation at our practice.