Does Fat Distribute Differently After the Zerona Procedure?

Question

What made me stay away from regular liposuction is the long term results. Almost everyone I know who has had lipo ended up with the same problem, the fat starts storing in different places, mainly the upper body in the arms and chest area. The people I'm talking about had their surgeries years apart at different countries around the world so they don't have anything in common. My question is, does Zerona have that same affect on fat distribution?

Mathew C. Mosher, MD · Answer

The observation that fat accumulates more in other areas after liposuction is common and there is good reason for this. Liposuction permanently reduces the number of fat cells in the  treated area. If you not have reached and maintained a balance between caloric intake and metabolic caloric utilization, you will continue to store fat after surgery. With fewer fat cells left in the treated area you will proportionally store more fat elsewhere. The other issue is that fat cells can be hormonally active. They can convert, secrete and store various hormones including estrogen. This activity is particularly true of fat cells around the waist and hips. Removing the fat from these areas may slightly alter this hormonal balance and influence the distribution of new fat accumulation. Some women have observed a slight increase in their bust and thighs after abdominal liposuction as fat accumulates in these regions most influenced by various hormones.

	With Zerona, the fat cells are reduced in size but not in number. The fat is mobilized into the lymphatic system for processing in the liver. The patterns of how your body stores fat in the future will not be affected. Moreover, these same cells that shrink can easily expand again if your are still storing excess fat.

	As you can see, whether you have surgical reduction of fat cells or have Zerona to promote shrinking of your cells, it is vitally important to maintain a lifestyle (nutrition and exercise) that prevents the re-accumulation of fat if you want lasting results.  Good luck!

	Dr. Mosher

Joshua L. Fox, MD · Answer

It is a common observation that fat is distributed to the arms and chest, if a patient gains a significant amount of weight, say more than 10 pounds, after liposuction.  This occurs because the fat accumulates in every area of the body in proportion to the amount of fat cells in each area.  Areas where fat cells have been removed by liposuction will accumulate relatively little fat, while areas not treated by Liposuction will collect relatively more fat, i.e., arms and chest.

	Zerona is a high fluency, low level laser therapy targeting a large area of the body that creates openings in the cell membrane of the fat cells allowing triglycerides of the fat cells to be released into the space between the cells and ultimately eliminated from the body.  Therefore, only the side of the fat cell is affected NOT the amount of fat cells in each area.  So if a patient gains a significant amount of weight, say more than 10 pounds, after the Zerona procedure those fat cells will re-accumulate fat and expand in an even distribution throughout the body.  So it is important to maintain your weight.

Vincent D. Lepore, MD (retired) · Answer

Zerona treatment results in the shrinkage of fat cells and not in a reduction of the number of fat cells  Therefore, unlike liposuction,  If one were to regain weight after Zerona treatment the redistribution of the fat would be the same as before having had the treatment.  Remember, any treatment to reduce fat or weight is an adjunct to, not a substitution for, having a good diet and exercise program.

Does Fat Distribute Differently After the Zerona Procedure?

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Does Fat Distribute Differently After the Zerona Procedure?

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