Does having liposuction causes an increase in visceral fat?

Question

I've read that if you undergo a liposuction procedure, as a defence mechanism the body produces more internal fat. Is this true? I'm interested in having liposuction but I think it would be useless if I'm going to develop the worst kind of fat afterwards.

Finny George, MD · Answer

Hi, thank you for sharing your question. Liposuction does not create increased visceral fat. If you gain an excessive amount of weight after surgery, you will gain fat in parts of the body where your body would deposit fat as storage. If you maintain a healthy diet, you will not develop visceral fat as a consequence of liposuction. I hope this helps.

Gary M. Horndeski, MD · Answer

Fat is distributed throughout the body with a fixed ratio of visceral (intra-abdominal) fat to total fat volume.  Liposuction only removes non visceral fat and this changes the distribution ratio.  However, if you choose to gain weight by over eating you can gain weight throughout the body including visceral fat.  Best Wishes,Gary Horndeski, M.D.

Kenneth Hughes, MD · Answer

Liposuction is a procedure that is utilized to remove subcutaneous fat (not visceral) to help create better facial and body contours. Almost any part of the body can liposuctioned.  There are numerous misconceptions about liposuction and one of those is whether fat can or cannot return to body areas treated by liposuction. Since all the fat from any area cannot be removed, nor would you want it to be completely removed (otherwise the skin would be scarred and tethered down to the muscle), fat can definitely 'regrow' in areas treated by liposuction. It may be a little more difficult than before but it definitely occurs. The only way a body liposuction result is 'permanent' is if your weight absolutely remains the same years later, with help of exercise and a healthy diet.

Jason Emer, MD · Answer

no itdoesntb ut weight gain does, so we have all our clients on medications and peptides for weight loss and to treat visceral fat.  Best, Dr. Emer.

Camille Cash, MD · Answer

Liposuction removes subcutaneous fat, which is the fat between your skin and the muscle wall.  Visceral fat refers to internal fat and surrounds your organs behind your muscle wall.  Liposuction can only address subcutaneous fat.  Liposuction will not increase the amount of visceral fat.  If there is substantial visceral fat, the overall liposuction result may not be as dramatic since only the subcutaneous fat can be addressed.

Leo McCafferty, MD · Answer

Liposuction treats areas of subcutaneous fat (fat between the skin and your muscles) that are out of proportion to other areas on your body.  The ideal candidate is not overweight and exercises.  There has been at least one study that has shown that resuming your exercise routine within 4-6 weeks of liposuction not only enhances the areas treated, but also works towards decreasing visceral fat.  However, liposuction alone will not prevent weight gain.  If you should neglect your diet and exercise routine following liposuction you will gain weight everywhere including around the viscera.  Good luck!

Arian Mowlavi, MD, FACS (license on probation) · Answer

Liposuction does not increase visceral fat, but it is still possible to gain weight back after liposuction. You are encouraged to maintain a healthy diet and exercise consistently. A Skype or FaceTime consultation with a board certified plastic surgeon will help you get an accurate recommendation for your procedure and for pricing. 
Respectfully, 
Arian Mowlavi MD, FACS
Realself 100 Hall of Fame Inductee

Mats Hagstrom, MD (license on probation) · Answer

In absolute terms the answer to your question is no
In reality the answer is yes to some degree.
It becomes more pertinent in high-volume Liposuction cases.
It’s not unusual for patients who are overweight and seek debulking high-volume Liposuction procedures to regain weight after the procedure.
Liposuction will permanently change someone’s fat distribution.
Since only subcutaneous fat is removed it leaves patients with a higher percentage of visceral fat.
With weight gain therefore a higher percentage will be intra-abdominal/visceral.
If someone doesn’t gain weight then there is no change in visceral fat from Liposuction.
Liposuction is a permanent change in fat distribution. People will gain or lose weight following the procedure based on the new created fat distribution.
If someone already has substantial visceral fat and undergoes aggressive high-volume Liposuction then is unable to control their weight after they may notice this to some degree.
When maintaining weight after liposuction patients need to take into consideration the volume affect that was removed. 1 L of fat is around  2 pounds. If someone has 4 L of fat removed during Liposuction they should technically weigh about 8 pounds less when the results are finalized at about three months. Based on experience typically patients come back being a few pounds less but not as much as we are removed fat. I would say the average patient gains some weight after Liposuction taking the amount of fat removed into consideration.
The simple solution to this is don’t gain weight and realize how much you should weigh after liposuction procedure. For those who can maintain the correct new weight this should not be an issue at all.
Your concern does come up from time to time in patients who are bordering on excess visceral fat.
I recently had a patient who had approximately 4 pounds of fat removed and weighed 5 pounds more than her pre-procedure weight during her three month follow up. She  felt she could not appreciate the results from the procedure though her subcutaneous fat layer was appropriately thin.
If interested in having Liposuction I suggest discussing this during in person consultations.
Best, 
Mats Hagstrom MD

Does having liposuction causes an increase in visceral fat?

Answers (8)

More Liposuction Questions

WE SEND PRETTY
EMAILS

Answers (8)

More Liposuction Questions

Can a person have Sono Bello performed if they have had an abdominal hernia repaired with mesh?

Torso and thigh lipo or fat transfer to hip dip? (Photo)

What area does hip roll lipo treat?

Which is better after lipo? 360 wrap around foam that includes an ab board or individual lipo foam boards and ab board? (Photo)

Best method to get a snatched waist?

I’m taking doxycycline and spironolactone. How soon can I have liposuction?

WE SEND PRETTY EMAILS

WE SEND PRETTY
EMAILS