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

Write a review | Ask a Question

Weight Gain After Liposuction

After I had Liposuction surgery done a year ago, I feel I've been constantly gaining weight. I hardly have any bad eating habits, so I don't understand the weight gain after Liposuction. Why is this happening, and what can I do about it?

Asked 38 months ago by lklugirl in hawthorne california

Tags:

weight gain

Change in Metabolism and Habits

It is not unusal to see people gain weight after liposuction. This is usually because once they lose the excess fat, they let their guard down and don't watch their diet. At times, changes in metabolism with aging also contributes to this weight gain. Some doctors believe that after weight loss by liposuction body tries to conserve energy and fat. At that point the best way to maintain weight is to increase your metabolism by increasing your activity level.

Doctor's Website

S. Sean Younai, MD

Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

ASPS

The key is increasing your exercising.

Your weight gain has nothing to do with your liposuction a year ago. You may be eating normal but your metabolism is evidently slowing down. The best way to increase your metabolism is by regular exercising. Give this a try for several months. An alternative to increase your metabolism (only after you have tried to increase your exercising for months and reached a plateau) is with phentermine pills which your doc can prescribe. Some times a little help goes a long way. Having a supportive... more

Doctor's Website

David Hansen, MD

Beverly Hills Dermatologic Surgeon

Weight vs. liposuction

Liposuction or liposculpture reduces fat in problem areas. At 2-3 months, stable patients get on the scale and see a few pounds missing. Yet some patients notice that they have actually gained weight. Why? Immediately after surgery, swelling replaces where fat was removed. This swelling, caused by leaky capillaries, consists primarily of water. Once the swelling recedes, and they become more physically active, patients typically notice that their weight improves. By nature, surgery... more

Brent Moelleken, MD

Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Liposuction has nothing to do with your weight. Liposuction deals with weight distribution.

If you are gaining weight, you are violating the equation of stable weight: metabolism (exercize) equals oral intake. If you are eating too much or slowing your metabolism, then weight will increase. A few tricks to losing weight. Exercize: Cardiovascular exercize is good for your health but not best for weight loss. With little time in a busy day, always start by building muscle mass. Muscle burns more calories than other parts of your body and will burn them day and night. Best muscle... more

Robert M. Freund, MD

New York Plastic Surgeon

ASPS

Liposuction is not a license to eat

This is something that I tell all of my liposuction patients. Patients tend to view it as such without even knowing it. Areas that were previously the most noticeable for them are much smaller after liposuction. This gives patients a sense that even though they are eating more they are not gaining weight because the liposuctioned previously more noticeable areas are the last to show the weight gain. Get to the gym and protect the investment that you have made in your body. Good luck!... more

Kenneth R. Francis, MD

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Weight gain is unrelated to liposuction.

To iklugirl, Liposuction is good for improving shape. Unwanted bulges are removed and contour is enhanced. And the improvement in SHAPE should very long lasting. That means the localized bulges should not come back. But this does not affect your overall size and weight. Unfortunately, if you eat more calories than your body needs and if you don't exercise enough, then weight will accumulate. One thing is sure: the liposuction that you had is not causing your weight gain. Hope this is... more

George J. Beraka, MD

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Weight Gain after Liposuction?

Thank you for the question. Weight gain is related to an imbalance between caloric intake and calories burned, unless there is a medical reason (such as hypothyroidism or diabetes) to explain the weight gain. The liposuction procedure itself cannot be blamed. Best wishes.

Tom J. Pousti, MD

San Diego Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Weight gain after body contouring surgery

Dear Lklugirl, I don't know of any good metabolic reason that you would be gaining weight after liposuction. I would rather think it is related to the normal metabolic changes associated with getting older or possibly you relaxed your diet / exercise regime a bit after the surgery. One thing I am certain of it that weight change will negatively impact the results of your liposuction surgery. It's not the answer you want to hear, but I would suggest increasing your exercise program and... more

Michael A. Bogdan, MD

Dallas Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Output Must Equal Intake

There is a very simple relationship that describes metabolic equilibrium regarding body weight: Caloric Output must equal Caloric Intake. Greater Caloric Intake than Caloric Expenditure = Weight Gain Greater Caloric Expenditure than Caloric Intake = Weight Loss Liposuction does not alter the equation in any way whatsoever. It is simply a method of improving the cosmetic contours of the body silhouette. Patients often think they have good eating habits, only to find that they gain... more

Athleo Louis Cambre, MD

Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Weight gain and liposuction

Liposuction is targeted and permanent removal of fat cells. Once those fat cells are removed they do not grow back. That is not to say that after someone receives liposuction they cannot gain weight or have the area that was improved by lipo get worse. There is no connection from a physiologic standpoint between the removal of fat cells and weight gain a year later. What is more likely is that the weight gain is because of the things that cause all of us to gain weight: Not enough... more

Doctor's Website

Steven H. Williams, MD

San Francisco Plastic Surgeon

ASPS

Weight Gain After Liposuction

There is no reason that you would gain weight after liposuction that is related to the procedure itself.

Leo Keegan, MD

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

ASPS

Liposuction and Weight Gain

Unexplained weight gain without an identifiable increase in caloric intake should prompt a consultation with a medical weight loss specialist who can organize a proper diet and exercise regimen.

Raffy Karamanoukian, MD

Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon

Weight gain after Liposuction

You can certainly gain or lose weight following liposuction. However neither is directly related to the surgery. There must be some other reason ( metabolic, increased caloric intake, lack of exercise). The thing that you should notice is a more evenly distribution of the weight gain rather than localizing more in the area or areas treated with liposuction.

John Whitt, MD

Louisville Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Get back to the gym after liposuction

Weight gain after liposuction is not uncommon during the initial post-op period. However, by one year, you should not be having this problem unless you are eating excessively and/or not exercising. It is really simple math: too much in and not enough exercise to match those extra calories will lead to increase weight.