How is Fat Discharged from the Body?

Question

How does the fat leave your body as waste?  Is it damaging to the liver?  What body processes are affected?

Brent Moelleken, MD · Answer

When patients lose weight, their fat is metobolized away.  The body uses the fat as energy when it doesn't get enough calories.  It is not excreted in any way.
When urine fat is measured after mesotherapy, there is no fat there, hence my scepticism of the metabolic explanations of how fat "disappears" from the body after mesotherapy.  There is good evidence that it is eaten away by macrophages, the scavenger cells of the body, over a long period of time, and then metabolized.  Hence the prolonged lumpiness and pain in many patients.
When liposuction is performed, the fat is removed directly and put into a bucket of medical waste.
Being morbidly obese can actually cause nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, or damage to the liver.  this tends to improve as people lose a lot of weight, so losing weight is probably actually good for the liver.

J. Timothy Katzen, MD, FACS · Answer

Thank you for your question regarding how fat is removed during liposuction and what happens to it afterward.

During liposuction, fat is removed from the body using a cannula—a thin, hollow tube that is inserted under the skin. The cannula is connected to a vacuum that suctions out the fat as the surgeon moves it back and forth through the fat layer. This technique allows for the precise removal of excess fat, sculpting the area to achieve a more desired contour.

Once the fat is removed during liposuction, it does not return to your body. Instead, the fat cells are permanently disposed of. Typically, the extracted fat is considered medical waste and is disposed of according to medical waste regulations. In some cases, if a patient is undergoing another procedure like a fat transfer (for instance, for a Brazilian Butt Lift or facial fillers), some of the harvested fat can be purified and reinjected into areas where volume enhancement is desired.

Regarding your question about how the fat leaves your body as waste and whether it is damaging to the liver: in the context of liposuction, the fat does not go through your body’s metabolic processes; rather, it is physically removed and discarded. Therefore, it does not affect the liver or other body processes related to the metabolism of fat that is naturally digested through dietary intake.

Liposuction should not affect your liver or other organs because it is a mechanical removal process, not a biological one. The body's natural processes for dealing with fat primarily deal with fat that is ingested and metabolized for energy. Since liposuction removes fat cells directly from the tissue, this bypasses the body's internal metabolic processes.

It’s important to maintain a healthy lifestyle after liposuction, as the remaining fat cells in your body can still expand if a consistent, healthy weight is not maintained. Regular exercise and a balanced diet are crucial to support long-term results of the procedure.

If you have any more specific concerns about the procedure and recovery, discussing them with your surgeon will provide the most tailored and accurate information.

Sincerely,
Dr. Katzen

Vincent N. Zubowicz, MD · Answer

Any dead fat cells that remain after liposcution will be broken down by enzymes discharged by the white blood cells and then removed by the lymphatic system.  There is no harm to the body that I am aware of.

Michael A. Persky, MD · Answer

Hi Hotlanta,
According to Dr. Franz Hasengschwandtner, a mesotherapy physician in Europe, fat is mainly metabolized by the liver.  When fat cells break down, there is "simultaneously, a release of enzymes, stored in the mitochondria&rsquo;s of the adipocite&acute;s nucleus, takes place which break down the triglycerides into monoglycerides by means of an active enzyme cascade in the tissue over a period of eight weeks. The final step is the transportation into the liver, mostly over high density lipoproteins (HDL) and metabolization via the citric acid cycle through beta-oxidation. The end product is CO 2 and H 2O, a small amount (less than 1%) is excreted via the renal system in the form of very short-chained fatty acids."  
Welcome to biochemistry class in pre-med and medical school.  Oftentimes, patients will experience oily stools from fat breakdown for a few days (hence the above reference to Bob Eubanks and the answer that was given to him on "The Newlywed Game" when a newlywed couple was asked, "Where is the most unusual place that you have made whoopee?").  
We have not had patients experience this with their Accent XL treatments.  I have not seen or heard of any studies showing that it is damaging to the liver.  Be well.
Dr. P

Pat Pazmino, MD, FACS · Answer

Liposuction is a safe, popular, and effective way to contour the body. After this procedure, you will have a small amount of fat that has been treated in which your body will breakdown and remove on its own. For this reason, you should expect to see your final liposuction results 6-8 months after your treatment. Your body will breakdown components of your fat cells and this will not endanger you.

How is Fat Discharged from the Body?

Answers (6)

Answer: That would be, as they said on "The Newlywed Game": "From the butt, Bob"

Answer: That would be, as they said on "The Newlywed Game": "From the butt, Bob"

Answer: How is fat removed from your body

Answer: How is fat removed from your body

Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Liposuction

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.

How is Fat Discharged from the Body?

Answers (6)

Answer: That would be, as they said on "The Newlywed Game": "From the butt, Bob"

Answer: That would be, as they said on "The Newlywed Game": "From the butt, Bob"

Answer: How is fat removed from your body

Answer: How is fat removed from your body

Browse related questions

Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Liposuction

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.