Does Liposuction Cause Cellulite?

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.

Liposuction in general does not improve cellulite and can actually make it worse by making what you already have become more visible. However, it does not cause cellulite.

                  Unfortunately
liposuction doesn’t improve cellulite and in some cases actually makes it look
worse.  This appears to be related
to the patients age and underlying skin tone.  In our experience older patients with poor skin tone are
much more likely to develop this problem. 
A variety of treatments have been used for managing cellulite, but none
of these have been uniformly successful. 
At this time there’s no reliable treatment for cellulite.

                  In
your cases a physical examination would be helpful.  Based on the findings of this exam, your risk benefit ratio
can be determined and an informed decision made based on these findings.  It’s important to understand that
there’s always the potential for skin dimpling when liposuction is performed.  In some cases the risk is relatively low and the procedure is still a viable option.

Liposuction doesn't cause cellulite, but cellulite can worsen if you already have it.  If fat is removed unevenly during liposuction, dimpling can result and look very similar to cellulite.

Liposuction Does not Cause Cellulite when performed properly

Preoperative obesity, cellulite, stretch marks, a history of weight change, or loose, sagging, inelastic skin, are problems which would tend toward poor results during a liposuction. In fact, these problems may be worsened by liposuction and may be best addressed by other procedures such as a leg or body lift (e.g. tummy tuck) to improve your appearance. Basically, liposuction does not cause cellulite if performed properly (in the right tissue plane and not removing excessive or uneven amounts), but the procedure may make existing cellulite more prominent.

 

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 smoother contour. The bottom line is that liposuction does not cure or improve cellulite and can make it worse if it is not done properly.

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 will it cause cellulite.
It is possible that poorly performed liposuction may make the APPEARANCE of your cellulite more noticeable, but it is equally possible that well-performed liposuction may improve or minimize its appearance.
Your best bet in order to minimize this, and all risks, of the procedure, is to see a surgeon certified by The American Board of Plastic Surgery.
Not sure if your surgeon is certified by THIS board? Look here:
https://www.abplsurg.org/ModDefault.aspx?section=PubFind

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 possibly making the surface irregularities more visible.
Good Luck!

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. There are no good cures for cellulite at this time, despite the many different techniques available which attempt to treat it (laser, ultrasound, endermologie, etc.).
Please consult with a board certified plastic surgeon prior to scheduling a liposuction procedure.
Best wishes,
Dr. Bruno

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 performed well, it does not usually make it better or worse. Somne techniques have been described that are performed simultaneously with liposuction ot minimize the appearance of cellulite but they have met with mixed success. These include special knives which cut the attachments of the skin to the muscle/fascia.
It is a complex problem which is not completely understood. I hope this helps to simplify and explain the condition.