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Liposuction - is the Fat Removal Permanent?

asked 4 years ago by anon
Latest answer by Tom J. Pousti, MD
Question viewed 1,463 times
Tags: fat

I am considering lipo on my stomach. Learning that once the fat cells are gone, they do not return - does that mean that my stomach will not see much fat in the future and if so, will it show up in other areas that I don't see much fat now? Also, after surgery will I be up and going after 2 weeks?

19 answers to Liposuction - is the Fat Removal Permanent?

Permanent Fat Removal?

Thank you for the commonly asked question. Fat cells that are gone (for example removed with liposuction surgery) are gone forever. However, if a patient gains weight the fat cells that remain in the area treated with liposuction and in areas that were not treated will grow. Do your best to maintain a healthy weight after your procedure. I hope this helps.

Tom J. Pousti, MD
San Diego Plastic Surgeon

Liposuction is Permanent Fat Removal

Liposuction will permanently remove fat. It does not come back. However, if you do not maintain a healthy lifestyle and add weight, the remaining fat may increase in size. Additionally, the fat does not move to another area, unless the person gains weight at that location. Liposuction is great way to contour the body and obtain excellent result. It is very important to make sure that your surgeon is a board certified Plastic Surgeon. Anyone, can call themselves a cosmetic surgeon... more

Stanley Okoro, MD
Atlanta Plastic Surgeon

www.georgiaplastic.com

The most important issue in body-contouring is whether...

The most important issue in body-contouring is whether you have a healthy, stable lifestyle. A reasonable, healthy diet, and consistent level of physical activity or exercise routine will optimize any surgical result. It is important that this lifestyle be stable since any significant fluctuations may result in fluctuation in your surgical results. Liposuction does permanently remove fat cells, however, fat cells always remain and can increase in size if caloric intake and expenditure is not... more

Robin T.W. Yuan, MD
Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

Will fat come back after liposuction? What's my down time?

Yes, the fat that is removed after liposuction will not return, but remember, liposuction is not the answer for weight reduction, it's a method for body contouring. It's intended use is to remove and treat localized areas of fat deposition which differ from male to female. Men tend to deposit fat centrally along the abdomen and chest, where women tend to distribute fat at the hips and below. If you should gain a large amount of weight after liposuction, say 20 lbs., then the... more

Kenneth Bermudez, MD
San Francisco Plastic Surgeon

Fat removal is probably permanent after liposuction.

Complete knowledge of fat metabolism is still unavailable but it appears that the number of fat cells taken into adult life is fixed. Therefore, since liposuction removes many of these fat cells, the results should be permanent. The fat cells that remain can get bigger or smaller but it doesn't appear that they reproduce.

Vincent N. Zubowicz, MD
Atlanta Plastic Surgeon

Fat cells are lost..but you can gain weight later.

Hello, Liposuction decreases the tendency to gain weight in treated areas but does not eliminate it. It is most predictable in patients who have mild weight swings. Those who gain and lose a lot are harder to predict regarding where newly gained weight will "go." Best Regards, John Di Saia MD

John P. Di Saia, MD
Orange Plastic Surgeon

Liposuction is permanent removal of fat cells

Liposuction is permanent removal of fat cells -- but the fat cells that remain behind can increase their size by up to 16 times! Under normal circumstances the fat cells that are removed will never grow back. Your body is genetically programmed to store fat in certain areas and to absorb fat from certain areas when you need it for energy. Having liposuction may or may not change these areas of preferred storage and utilization. As long as you maintain your good diet and... more

Richard H. Fryer, MD
Salt Lake City Plastic Surgeon

Liposuction-Is the Fat Removal Permanent?

If you gain weight after liposuction fat will be deposited in a general fusion all over your body. Since some of your fat cells have been suctioned out by liposuction you will gain fat in the remaining fat cells. Since you have less fat cells, the area will gain weight to a lesser degree. There is no reason to believe that fat will show up in other areas. 2 weeks is an adequate time to recover from liposuction.

Ivan Thomas, MD
Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon

Liposuction results are permanent

After the age of 18, fat cells cannot reproduce; so when most fat cells are removed from an area, the few that are left cannot make new ones and the ones that are gone can obviously no longer store fat.

Howard T. Bellin, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Permanent liposuction results

Liposuction results are permanent. However, keep in mind that your weight and body proportions are not. You will continue to age and feel the affects of calories that you eat.

Raffy Karamanoukian, MD
Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon

Liposuction Results

Liposuction removes fat cells in certain areas of the body to improve body shape. Shape changes can be long-lasting if the patient does their part in maintaining their weight, with a healthy diet and regular exercise. It is normal for appearance changes to occur as a result of weight fluctuation (weight gain), aging, gravity, and pregnancy.

Hayley Brown MD
Henderson Plastic Surgeon

Is fat removal permanent after liposuction?

Liposuction removes excess fat cells and adults do not make additional fat cells. The remaining fat cells shrink in response to weight loss and enlarge in response to weight gain. My answer to the question of "where will the fat go if I gain weight?" is "I DON'T KNOW". It could be evenly distributed and not very problematic or it could collect in one or two areas. I really emphasize to my patients that they need to be at a healthy, stable... more

Lisa L. Sowder, MD
Seattle Plastic Surgeon

Permanent result after liposuction

In overwhelming majority of patients the liposuction results are permanent, provided that the patient does not gain any weight in the future. On the other hand, if the patient does gain weight, the fat does not go to another targeted area, but all the remaining fatty layers get larger including the treated areas. The good news is that if the patient regains his/her weight than the treated areas typically shrink back to the results obtained after liposuction. As for your... more

Boris M. Ackerman, MD
Newport Beach Plastic Surgeon

www.doctorackerman.com

Improvement in shape is permanent after liposuction.

Hi. 1) As you say, the fat cells do not come back. 2) If you gain a lot of weight after liposuction, the weight will no longer go selectively to your stomach, but will be evenly distributed throughout your body.

George J. Beraka, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Important to Maintain a Stable Weight After Liposuction

Once the fat is removed with liposuction it is gone permanently. There are still fat cells left behind in order to allow for a smooth contour under the skin and these cells are capable of storing additional fat. The key is to try and maintain a stable weight after liposuction to keep up your great results. As for recovery most people are back to easy daily activities in 2 weeks.

Thomas Buonassisi, MD
Vancouver Facial Plastic Surgeon

Permanent fat removal after liposuction

Liposuction is a popular and effective way to contour the body. During the surgery, we removed stubborn fat from the body through small thin tubes that are inserted through tiny incisions in your skin. The fat that we remove will never grow back. However, if you gain an excessive amount of weight the fat that we have left behind will not multiply in the number of fat cells, but each fat cell may grow larger

B. Pat Pazmino, MD
Miami Plastic Surgeon

Liposuctioned Fat is Gone

Liposuction used a powerful vacuum to remove fat cells. Once these fat cells are removed, they are gone (they have absconded, beat it, bugged out, there no more, departed forever, exited, fled, flown away, got lost, hit the road, lights out, moseyed on out, moved out, passed on, pulled out, pushed off, retired, shoved off, skipped on out, split, took a hike, took a powder, taken off and vamoosed). Fat cells do not skip from one part of the body to another. Like all tissues (except blood... more

Peter A. Aldea, MD
Memphis Plastic Surgeon

Fat does not return after Liposuction

Fat removed in liposuction does not return. It's gone forever. However, bear in mind, the most important thing in liposuction is not how much is removed but how much is left behind. Oversuctioning leaves a horrible deformity. That said, the fat left behind and enlarge if you really gain a lot of weight. We combine powerassisted tumescent liposuction with laser liposuction and do it all under local anesthesia, outpatient. Many patients are able to return to work within a few days. more

Edmond A. Zingaro, MD
San Francisco Plastic Surgeon

Fat removed does not return

The fat removed from an area does not return. However, liposcution does not remove all the fat in an area and those fat cells that remain may enlarge if you gain weight. Also, if you gain weight it may find other areas that will preferntially enlarge. The best thing to do is try to keep your weight in a comfortable range after surgery then this won't be a problem. Most of my patients are back to normal activities within 2 weeks.