Liposuction: Q&A

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I Read That Fat Cells Come Back After Liposuction and Tummy Tuck. Is Weight Loss Harder?

I'm considering a tummy tuck with liposuction. I read the results of a study that the fat cells redistribute after such procedures. My question is do these procedures make weight loss more difficult after surgery? Is there a correlation to the weight of the fat cells removed and weight gain after surgery? What is the optimum bmi of body fat procedure for a tummy tuck? Can Is it possible to achieve optimum results from a tummy tuck with out liposuction of areas such as the flanks?

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17 Doctor Answers | Asked by sexysoulsister in Fishers, IN

Doctor Answers (17)
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Do fat cells come back after liposuction and tummy tuck?

Thank you for your questions. 1.Your first question about fat redistribution is a very common question that patients ask. There is a great number of both clinical and experimental studies that show that the fat does NOT redistribute following surgery. The number of fat cells and the distribution of fat cells is genetically determined. 2.These procedures do not make weight loss more difficult after surgery. It should be remembered that you must continue to... more

Donald M. Brown, MD

8 reviews

San Francisco Plastic Surgeon

Fat return after liposuction and TT

This is an FAQ. Here's my spiel: The stuff removed with TT and lipo is mostly fat. Find out the weight of the stuff removed from your surgeon. Subtract that weight from your preoperative weight. For example, you weighed 142 pounds preoperatively and the surgeon removed 4 pounds of stuff. Your adjusted preoperative weight is now 138. If you creep back up to 142, you have gained 4 pounds of fat and I don't know anyone who can say... more

Fat cell redistribution after liposuction

Once puberty is done, the only thing you can do to fat cells is control their size. You cannot make new ones, and even before puberty you cannot move the fat cell sunless you do it surgically by injecting them into a new location. The “redistribution” of fat cells you have heard about is actually a plumping up of fat cells in other locations form too high of a caloric intake. The fat cells in liposuction are removed permanently, so any over-eating will force your body to find... more

Fat after liposuction and Tummy Tuck

We all have and always will have fat cell in our bodies. Fat cells can regrow after removal and they can also get bigger with fat storage accumulation. The amount of fat in our bodies is the result of how many calories we take in and how many we expend, along with some genetic factors regarding distribution. We all have different metabolisms which may account for the differences in fat accumulation even when we are taking the same numbers of calories. A tummy tuck is almost always made... more

Basic Facts on Tummy Tuck Surgery

1. The BEST Tummy Tuck results are obtained on women who are healthy, nonsmokers, who completed their familes and have BMI's under 29. 2. Fat cells do NOT appear in areas they were not present before a Tummy Tuck or Liposuction. If you do not maintain a low caloric intake (esp no carbs and no fats) and fail to engage in excercise you will gain extra calories which are converted into fat and are packed into EXISTING fat cells (those left behind after liposuction and or a Tummy Tuck)... more

Weight Loss after Tummy Tuck/Liposuction?

Thank you for the question. I know of no study that suggests that weight loss is more difficult after tummy tuck and/or liposuction surgery. Some of the best results seen after tummy tuck/liposuction surgery are with patients who maintain a healthy diet and exercise regimen before and after surgery. Some patience will report an increased incentive to maintain the healthy diet and exercise program to maintain the results of their body contouring surgery. In my practice I... more

Fat Re-Accumulation After Liposuction and Tummy Tuck

Most of the time, fat does not re-accumulate after a tummy tuck and liposuction. However, it can re-distribute if you gain more than 30% of your body weight post operatively. The key is to incorporate life-long changes in Diet and Exercise after body contouring to make a life-long commitment to your long-lasting body rejuvenation.

Rod J. Rohrich, MD

10 reviews

Dallas Plastic Surgeon

Fat cells and liposuction.

The fat cells removed from liposuction do not "come back." Fat cells have an amazing ability to store large amounts of fat. What happens following liposuction is that weight gain is typically seen in other non-liposuctioned areas. Losing weight after liposuction is the same as losing weight before liposuction. Weight gain is a fairly simple issue - eating more calories than you burn. Increasing your basal metabolic rate through exercise and altering how much and what types of food... more

David Bogue, MD

6 reviews

Boca Raton Plastic Surgeon

www.drbogue.com

Fat cells post lipo

This is a tough question to answer.It has not been my experince that the fat cells come back.however there are remaining fat cells and they can ballon up with fat so you can't go out and eat cream pies all day.

Weight loss associated with tummy tuck and liposuction

Thank you for your question. Let's dispell some myths. Liposuction and tummy tuck, as with other body contouring procedures, and intended to reshape the body you have. The procedures help give you an improved shape, body sculpting if you will. They do not usually cause a significant amount of weight loss in and of themselves. The fat does not redistribute. Also, they do not substitute for weight loss nor do they prevent future weight gain. If you get a tummy tuck... more

Fat Cell Behavior After Lipo Or Tummy Tuck

Fat cells which are removed with either liposuction or a tummy tuck do not regenerate. It is generally accepted that no new fat cells form after puberty. The fat cells remaining can expand or contract with weight gain or loss. The fat which is added should be more proportional than before surgery.

The myth of the Fat Cell's Revenge after Tummy Tuck and Liposuction

Hi there- There is no reason to believe that fat cells will suddenly begin to multiply in other areas of your body because you had a tummy tuck, with or without liposuction. It IS possible that fat cells on your body (that were always there) enlarge as you gain weight after the surgery if you fail to maintain a healthy diet and lifestyle. In other words, having a tummy tuck and liposuction will not somehow make you immune from weight gain if you don't take care of yourself... more

What happens to fat after tummy tuck.

There are three components to maximizing your results after plastic surgery. First is good nutrition and balanced diet. Second is regular exercise. Third is picking the right plastic surgeon. When you maximize your diet, exercise and surgery, you will maximize your results. If you have surgery, but do not concentrate on a healthy lifestyle, then your results will not be as good. Good Luck.

Tummy tuck, liposuction and weight loss

Tummy tuck will address the appearance of the front of the abdomen. Liposuction is added to the procedure when the flanks or love handles appear full. If your flanks are not full then liposuction is not required. When liposuction is done in an area the number of fat cells is reduced. Fat cells have a large storage capacity and so weight gain will still occur in these preferred storage areas. Body contouring surgery does not make future weight loss harder and fat cells do not... more

Fat cells after liposuction

You are born with a specific number of fat cells. Fat cells do not divide and multiply. This means that as you gain and loose weight the existing cells get bigger and smaller. Once fat cells are removed during a procedure for instance liposuction, they are gone ,no new cells form to take their place. If someone eats like a horse after the surgery their weight will increase of course. The existing cells ,the ones that are still in the body, will increase in size. more

Fat Return and Weight Loss After Tummy Tuck and Liposuction

The stability of fat reduction after liposuction and/or a tummy tuck is highly influenced by what one's overall weight does after the procedures...years done the road. The study to which you refer to about fat redistribution after liposuction points to a small redistribution of fat in the upper arms and back. It was able to be measured but the patients did not seem to notice the small difference. It should be pointed out that this was just one study with a very small number of patients.... more

Do you make new fat cells after Tummy Tuck or Lipo? Absolutely Not!

Just because someone tells you something or just because you have read it somewhere, doesn't make it true. The fact is, the number of fat cells you are born with, (or at least the number you have after puberty) is the same number you will die with. When you gain weight, they will get larger. When you lose weight, they will shrink. They don't multiply and they don't go away. Those are the facts for normal/healthy, non obese people! If you gain a... more