What is the Relation Between Fat, Scar Tissue, and Collagen?

asked 2 years ago by mademosell in Dallas Texas
Latest answer by Ronald Shelton, MD
Question viewed 771 times
Tags: abdomen, belly button, collagen, fat, scar tissue

I had my son 6 weeks early and did have previous Liposuction on a small patch above my belly button, where scar tissue developed. I was waiting to see if it would burst into stretch marks, but it never did. Now that I will have Smart Lipo done, I'm curious--what is the relation between fat, scar tissue, and collagen? Is it made by fat? I will post everyone if I decide to get pregnant in a year or two. A friend of mine had a tummy tuck and got pregnant she had and NO stretch marks.

6 answers to What is the Relation Between Fat, Scar Tissue, and Collagen?

Liposuction and scar tissue

You describe what might be a hypertrophic scar from the prior procedure. This type of scar should not improve as a result of further liposuction, and in fact, could be stimulated by the procedure possibly and get worse. Scars are made of collagen, a protein that you manufacture. Fat cells are not related to collagen. Any procedure can induce collagen, though, and this helps the fat cells that remain contract together to some degree. Some people heal with excessive collagen, and the... more

Ronald Shelton, MD
Manhattan Dermatologist

Scar, collagen and fat

Scar is predominantly composed of collagen, a protein. This is a relatively inactive tissue which does not dramatically change once stable Fat is a tissue which is composed of adipocytes. It is very active and can respond to weight gain and loss.

Otto Joseph Placik, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Fat scar and stretch marks

First, if you just had a baby I would not have any surgery performed. You should wait at least a year. The cause of stretch marks is unknown and probably genetic in nature.

Steven Wallach, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Relationship between fat, scar tissue, and collagen

Fat is a living tissue made up of cells specialized to store unused calories as fat. All injuries heal by deposition of scar tissue, a biological glue which is constantly modified over a 8 - 12 month period after the injury / operation. But as stretch marks demonstrate it is permanent. You cannot permanently erase scars or remove it. Collagen is but a component of scar tissue. It is produced by and deposited by scar cells (Fibroblasts) found in nearly all tissues. When we say that something... more

Peter A. Aldea, MD
Memphis Plastic Surgeon

Relation between fat, scar tissue, and collagen

Fat in the human body is referring to specialized cells that accumulate and store fat as energy for future use. It is fairly soft and is what is removed with liposuctioning. Scar tissue is what the body makes to heal injuries. It does have collagen as part of it. Scar tissue will be found in any area of injury including liposuctioned areas. Collagen is a protein that is found naturally in the body in many areas inclusing aroud fat and in scar tissue.

John P. Stratis, MD
Harrisburg Plastic Surgeon

Stretch marks

Fat is composed of lipids and fatty acids. Collagen is a protein, and there are 29 forms in the body. Scars contain Collagen Type I which makes up about 30 % of all protein in the body. Liposuction will cause minute scar tissue which helps contract and hold the results. Laser purports to further help in this regard. Some people just don't get stretch marks at all. I do not know of any studies suggesting liposuction preventing stretchmarks of later rapid weight gain, pregnancy, or... more

Donn Hickman, MD
Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon

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