How Long Does Lipo Suction Last? A Temporary Fix?

Question

I have been told that liposuction is a temporary fix. I heard that it does not really tighten the body and that the fat will eventually come back even if you have healthy living habits... is this true?

Ron Shelton, MD · Answer

If you are overweight and having liposuction, you have to realize that in order to maintain a lower weight you will immediately need to consume less calories to support your lower weight after surgery. If you continue to eat the same diet, then the existing cells in the body will gain more fat. The area that had liposuction has less fat cells than other areas, so fat may regrow in other areas more than the area that had liposucion.

Steven Wallach, MD · Answer

Lipousction gives permanent results, but if you gain weight, you may gain bulk in the region already treated.

Barry L. Eppley, MD, DMD · Answer

The longevity of liposuction results is affect by many factors including one's lifestyle, weight and anatomic area from where the fat was removed. As a general rule, if one's weight is stable then the results of liposuction should be similarly maintained. But if you gain weight anytime after liposuction, fat is going to be deposited somewhere and, more times than not, it may accumulate in the classic depot areas from which it was iikely removed. (trunk areas such as the stomach, waistline and flanks) I have seen a seemingly equal number of patients who have maintained their liposuction results for 5 or 10 years and as well as those who were back to where they started just two years later.

Stephen Delia, MD · Answer

Liposuction is a body contouring procedure best done in otherwise healthy patients near their ideal body weight that cannot seem to achieve a more harmonious shape with appropriate diet and exercise. In individuals with significant loss of skin elasticity, it probably does not represent the best option as the skin may not re drape as well. Weight gain in the areas treated is not usually a concern, however, a healthy lifestyle to avoid weight gain elsewhere is helpful.

Steven Turkeltaub, MD · Answer

Liposuction can provide great results in the ideal candidate with long lasting results. If you maintain a steady weight the results should last a very long time. That is, once the fat is removed it should not really come back though if you gain considerable weight, you will also see a re-enlargement in the area.

	Liposuction is not a treatment for loose or excess skin so don't expect skin tightening. With the influence of age, hormones, nutrition, stress, etc., there will be a degradation of the initial outcome but that would be true of other non-suctioned areas as well.

William A. Wallace, MD, FACS · Answer

Liposuction is a nice compliment to diet and exercise, addressing those areas that just don't improve no matter how hard you try. 

	In order for liposuction to be effective, it is important to have good elasticity of the overlying skin, otherwise the skin will not shrink down to conform to the new body shape beneath it. Bad skin=bad liposuction result. Your skin quality can be determined at the time of your initial examination.

	With liposuction, the fat cells are removed from the body. They don't come back. Therefore, if you maintain your fitness level and proper diet, liposuction should last you indefinitely.

Derek Lou, MD - Account Suspended · Answer

Liposuction can create long lasting results as long you don't have heavy weight gain. Liposuction is great for working on specific problem areas to redefine contour, as opposed to a common misunderstanding that it is a weight loss method.

	Undergoing liposuction requires a commitment to controlling your own weight if you want to maintain the results.

George Commons, MD (retired) · Answer

Liposuction is forever. But you must participate. For an ideal result that is life long you must not gain weight. You must not increase your body fat %. You must exercise. You must eat properly. Now normal aging of course changes the body but in 30 years and over 3600 patients I have never seen a patient that did not look better life long, unless they had huge weight gains or large fat b% increases. Even with huge weight gains the areas of liposuction gain less than they would have. Liposuction is life long.

How Long Does Lipo Suction Last? A Temporary Fix?

Answers (8)

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