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Does Liposuction Cause Cellulite?

asked 4 years ago by anon
Latest answer by Robert E. Zaworski, MD
Question viewed 7,880 times
Tags: cellulite, risk

I wont get lipo if it means cottage cheese thighs afterwards. Should i be concerned about cellulite will result from lipo surgery?

23 answers to Does Liposuction Cause Cellulite?

+3

Cellulite may look worse after Liposuction

Liposuction does not cause cellulite but at times the appearance of cellulite may be worse after lipo. We combine Endermologie, Therapeutic Massage, and surgical liposuction (mainly using Vaser technology) for most all of our lipo patients to improve results and shorten recovery. We also have a nurse practitioner who works one on one with patients to help with metabolic issues.
Edmond A. Zingaro, MD

San Francisco Plastic Surgeon
+3

Cellulite and Liposuction

Thanks for the question - Liposuction typically will not cause or treat cellulite.  It is possible that after significant volume changes (especially on the thighs) cellulite can become more prominent. Unfortunately there is not a great permanent treatment for cellulite. I hope this helps.
Steven H. Williams, MD

San Francisco Plastic Surgeon

www.trivalleyplasticsurgery.com

+3

Causes of Cellulite on the Legs: Effective Treatment with Endermologie

Cellulite has several causes, including: Hormones Genetics Loss of skin elasticity Abnormal fat deposits within fibrous septa There is no cure for cellulite and it is not caused by liposuction. In fact, laser or ultrasound assisted liposuction may help improve the appearance of cellulite. Endermologie, which is a technology developed in France, is effective in improving the appearance of cellulite. It is also therapeutic for contour irregularities and fat transfer nodules. more
Raffy Karamanoukian, MD

Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon
+3

No, liposuction doesn't cause cellulite

Liposuction does not cause cellulite. You can, however, get some irregularity of the skin depending upon your skin tone. If you already have some cellulite, it will not neccesarily get better with liposuction. If the skin tone is very lax, you may need a skin tightening procedure along with the lipo.
Scott Tucker, MD

Winston Salem Plastic Surgeon
+2

Liposuction but could result in what appears to be cellulite

No, Liposuction does not cause cellulite but could result in what appears to be cellulite. Cellulite is the dimpled skin look that is seen in women and results from a specific structural design of the female skin not found in men. One of the challenges we surgeons face with liposuction is in determining how evenly the fat has been removed. There are no devices to measure how uniformly distributed the remaining fat is. Basically, the surgeon relies on on pinching and feeling the skin to... more
David A. Ross, MD

Chicago Plastic Surgeon
+2

No. Cellulite is not caused by liposuction

Liposuction does not cause cellulite - it is due to fibrous septae connections from the deeper tissue to ther dermis and can be seen in both overwieght and thin patients.  Liposuction is also not a treatment for cellulite.
W. Tracy Hankins, MD

Las Vegas Plastic Surgeon
+2

May make it better or worse

The first big question to answer is what is cellulite? Who know! Okay but here's what we do know and some hypotheses that explain what happens during lipo. Cellulite occurs much more frequently in women than in men. And in males with disorders that result in lack of male hormones and thus a relative increase in female hormones (we all have both kinds) it is more common. So we assume it has some thing to due with female hormones. Next it is more common in the more obese. Thus it is a... more
Christopher L. Hess, MD

Fairfax Plastic Surgeon
+2

Cellulite generally not treated by liposuction

In many ways, cellulite is more related to the way the skin is attached to the muscle and not necessarily the fat. That is why you can have an anorexic individual who is underweight, yet has cellulite on their thighs. Some people believe it is related to the fluid that spreads among the fat cell layer and some of the more successful treatment modalities will target reducing the water content (Endermologie). To answer your question, liposuction does not generally treat cellulite. When... more
Otto Joseph Placik, MD

Chicago Plastic Surgeon
+2

Liposuction does not cause cellulite, but could make it worse.

Liposuction does not cause cellulite, nor does it treat it. In some instances, liposuction could make cellulite appear a bit worse as it may leave the skin looking a bit more 'loose' if there is poor elasticity. Newer technologies, such as VelaShape are FDA approved devices using radiofrequency, deep suction massage and infrared laser to help improve the appearance of cellulite.
Sanjay Grover MD

Orange County Plastic Surgeon
+2

It doesn't cause cellulite but can create contour abnormalities

Cellulite is the dimpling of the skin that eliminates the smooth youthful look that people desire. Many efforts have been directed at treating cellulite including external efforts such as Endermology and various internal efforts including tissue release and fat grafting. None have been particularly successful unfortunately. If a patient is considering liposuction and already has cellulite, our efforts are to not make it worse. We also don't want to create contour irregularities from... more
Richard P. Rand, MD, FACS

Seattle Plastic Surgeon
+2

Short answer is no but ....

The short answer is no but aggressive liposuction could leave you with a picture similar to cellulite with skin surface irregularities. The key in liposuction is what you leave behind and not what you remove. One thing for sure if you already got cellulite it could make it worse. 
Hisham Seify, MD, PhD

Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon
+1

Liposuction and Cellulite

There is no connection between Liposuction and Cellulite. One does not cause the other. It is best to be at your desired body weight before under going liposuction.
Robert E. Zaworski, MD

Atlanta Plastic Surgeon
+1

Liposuction and Cellulite?

Thank you for the question. “Cellulite" refers to irregularities that occurred on the surface of the skin. Liposuction will not cure cellulite; it will remove fat and reduce contour. Patients with severe cases of cellulite will not benefit from liposuction surgery and may require skin excision (for example tummy tuck or thigh lifting) to achieve the desired results. If you are considering the procedure I would suggest in person... more
Tom J. Pousti, MD

San Diego Plastic Surgeon
+1

No correlation between liposuction and cellulite

Prior to the use of tumescent liposuction, it was possible for the procedure to create a dimpling effect which had the appearance of cellulite and this was a prospective complication I discussed with every patient during the informed consent. Thankfully, the tumescent procedure has obviates this issue and produces a more consistent and aesthetically acceptable result.
Robert L. Kraft, MD

New York Plastic Surgeon
+1

Cellulite and Liposuction

One of the most important things to note is that every estrogen producing female from age 9-99 has cellulite. There is no known permanent cure or treatment for cellulite. The major concern about liposuction and cellulite is you can not remove or improve cellulite with liposuction. However, you can make it worse especially if you do superficial liposuction or if you over suction an area. You can improve some of the deep cellulite by doing fat injection in these areas to help provide for a... more
Rod J. Rohrich, MD

Dallas Plastic Surgeon
+1

Liposuction does not cause cellulite

Liposuction absolutely does not cause cellulite but it can sometimes make it better or worse. If you think of a cellulite dimple as a valley surrounded by a fatty hill, it is theoretically possible to get mild improvement with conservative lipo on the surrounding fat. In practice, this is not a predicatable technique however. In addition, lipo under a cellulite dimple will deepen the valley and definitely make it worse. In my practice, I tell my patients that lipo is a cellulite neutral... more
David Shuter, MD

Jupiter Plastic Surgeon
+1

The effect of Liposuction on Cellulite is variable

Hi there- It is important at the outset to understand that liposuction does not CAUSE cellulite. Fundamentally, cellulite is a SKIN problem, with many contributing factors. Similarly, liposuction involves treatment of the subcutaneous fat... While it IS true that the outcome from your liposuction procedure is highly dependent on your skin quality and quantity (part of the reason Board Certified Plastic Surgeons spend YEARS learning liposuction), liposuction will NOT make cellulite go away- nor w more
Armando Soto, MD

Orlando Plastic Surgeon
+1

Liposuction and cellulite

Liposuction should not promote cellulite formation after the procedure. However, I never say it will never happen. It is very unlikely. If you had cellulite to begin with, it may not make it better and it could make it worse.
Steven Wallach, MD

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon
+1

Liposuction and cottage cheese look

It depends on your skin quality, good skin retracts back quickly and no ripling. If your skin is lax and have lost its elasticity then you will have excess skin and waviness. Choose a board certified PS with experience and follow his/her advise.
Samir Shureih, MD

Baltimore Plastic Surgeon
+1

Liposuction does not cause cellulite

If you do not have cellulite prior to the procedure, lipo will not create this appearance. Having said that, picture an old balloon with surface dimpling. If it is filled with air, the irregularites would be less noticeable. If it is deflated, the surface irregularities would be more obvious. Similarly, If your skin has surface changes preoperatively, these may become more obvious after liposuction. In this situation, the patient has to decide if the improved overall shape is worth... more
Jeffrey Horowitz, MD

Baltimore Plastic Surgeon
+1

Liposuction does not cause cellulite

Liposuction does not cause cellulite. However, patients can develop contour irregularities in their skin after liposuction if their skin does not have good elasticity. The success of liposuction depends on the quality of the overlying skin in the treated area. This means that if you do not have stretch marks or loose skin and your skin has good tone, then likely you will be a candidate for liposuction. If however you do have cellulite and loose skin, liposuction can worsen your condition.... more
William Bruno, MD

Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon
+1

Liposuction does not cause cellulite

Cellulite had long been misunderstood. We now know it has at least 4 different anatomic causes including some hormonal reasons. In general, Liposuction does not cause it, but it can make it more noticable, and sometimes make it look a bit better.
Barry E. DiBernardo, MD

Montclair Plastic Surgeon
+1

Cellulite and liposuction

Liposuction does not treat cellulite. Liposuction is meant to improve the contour of a specific area - such as "saddlebags" or "love handles" - that has localized fatty deposit that is resistant to diet and exercise. One risk of liposuction is contour irregularities postop. I believe that is what you are referring to when you say liposuction may make cellulite worse. To minimize the downsides - you should have good skin tone and treat only a localized area. The larger... more
Bahram Ghaderi, MD

Chicago Plastic Surgeon

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