Liposuction before & after photos
70%
435 reviews
Worth It Rating Our index shows the percentage of community members saying this was "Worth it". See cosmetic treatment rankings
Liposuction Cost $5,800 average cost

Does Cellulite Always Get Worse After Liposuction?

my understanding is that a liposuction side effect is cellulite. how common is it? 100% of the time, 1%?

Tags:
Sort 10 expert answers by:
+2

Causes of Cellulite: Hormones, Genetics, and Caffeine

Cellulite is a result of the fibrous septa in the subcutaneous layer of your skin. It is influenced by the percentage body fat, the resiliency of the skin, and the overall quality of the skin. It occurs most commonly in women as a result of several factors: Genetics Hormones Caffeine Generally, it cannot be eliminated with diet, exercise, or liposuction. Creams do not work on the condition. One of the treatments with clinical efficacy is from France and is known as Endermologie.... more
Raffy Karamanoukian, MD
Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon
+2

Cellulite should not be worse after liposuction

Liposuction is a way to remove fat from problem areas. Until recently, we advised patients that whatever cellulite was present before liposuction would also be present after. Essentially, we would expect the cellulite to be no better and no worse after liposuction. Our liposuction patients can now benefit from laser liposuction. We offer Smartlipo MPX, which tightens the skin at the same time as we remove the fat from problem areas. There are alternative treatments geared specifically for... more
Francisco Canales, MD
Santa Rosa Plastic Surgeon
+2

Hopefully you won't see it get any worse

Although much effort has been spent on developing techniques to get rid of cellulite, none have been effective to any significant or consistent degree. What we generally try to do is to not create cellulite when it isn't already there and not make it worse when it is there. This is especially of concern when considering Smart liposuction. For years, plastic surgeons have known NOT to pass the liposuction cannula too close to the underside of the skin because it will cause rippling and... more
Richard P. Rand, MD, FACS
Seattle Plastic Surgeon
+1

Does Cellulite Always Get Worse After Liposuction

Liposuction does not cause cellulite. Cellulite is due to irregular and clumpy deposition of fat mostly in the thighs of females. The lumps are excess fat and the dents are tight bands extending from the skin down to deeper layers. The bands pull the skin down, similar to seams in the surface of mattresses. Liposuction in cellulite has to be performer very conservatively, otherwise the dents may become deeper.
Ivan Thomas, MD
Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon
+1

Properly performed liposuction does not increase cellulite

Liposuction performed by an experienced, Board Certified Plastic Surgeon does not increase cellulite.  Experience is extremely important.  Increased appearance of cellulite may result when a surgeon attempts to remove too much fat. 
Malcolm A. Lesavoy, MD
Encino Plastic Surgeon
+1

Liposuction does not treat cellulite

Liposuction is a safe, popular, and effective way to contour the body. Although liposuction is very effective in removing fat in the deep layers of the skin, it will not treat cellulite. Cellulite is caused in the superficial layer of the skin where liposuction does not reach.  
B. Pat Pazmino, MD
Miami Plastic Surgeon
+1

Cellulite and liposuction

It is difficult to predict what liposuction will do to cellulite. Sometimes the cellulite looks better, and sometimes it looks worse. I do not promise alot with cellulite for this reason.
Steven Wallach, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon
+1

Cellulite often gets better after liposuction.

Hi. I know this not what you have heard, but it depends how one does the liposuction.  Superficial liposuction immediately followed by subdermal tunnelling often leads to improvement in cellulite.  If cellulite is worse afterwards, either you were not a good candidate, or it wasn't done right.
George J. Beraka, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon
+1

The problem is not cellulite, it is contour irregularities

By its very nature, liposuction almost always causes contour irregularities. The question is how noticeable these irregularities are to the eye. I describe it to patient as like trying to rake a sandbox smooth with a chopstick. For example, it is a hard to suction a smooth surface smoother, but it is easy for a smooth surface to become less smooth with liposuction. For someone who already has irregularities from "cellulite", the risk of making things more irregular with... more
Robin T.W. Yuan, MD
Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon
+1

Liposuction does not cause cellulite

K, Liposuction does not cause cellulite. If liposuction is not done properly, you can get lumps, but this is different than cellulite. Additionally, some types of liposuction, such as Smartlipo MPX, can sometimes help cellulite by tightening the skin. This occurs through collagen remodeling stimulated by the laser. I hope this is helpful. David Shafer, MD Liposuction New York City
David Shafer, MD
New York Plastic Surgeon
Use of this website and the posting of any reviews or other content on this website constitutes acceptance of the RealSelf® Terms of Service. The material on this site is for informational purposes only, and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment provided by a qualified health care provider. © 2011 RealSelf, Inc. All rights reserved.