Fat moving to another area. Is there a way to fix this by working out?

Hello, thank you for your question. Typically fat does not migrate to other areas as you have described. If you are 6 months post op then by this time the surviving fat cells will be in the same place. It is common to have some asymmetries between both sides since we can not control what amount of fat will survive. A way to reduce the amount is by losing weight, eating healthy. Gym will help to work out the smaller side build muscle.

Hello @kimccchi thank you for your question. Fat does not move; it has to integrate in the place where it has been implanted to avoid dying and being reabsorbed. When we gain weight, fat can grow in size. Best wishes! Alan Gonzalez MD, FACS.

Dear kimccchi,
I understand your concern. However, without a proper assessment, it would be difficult to determine what is wrong. It is best that you visit your plastic surgeon for further assessment or ask for a second opinion. Only after a thorough examination, you can get proper recommendations and advice.
Daniel Barrett, MD
Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

Fat cannot migrate or move after liposuction or fat transfer procedures.

The procedure will create a new with permanent fat distribution. People can gain weight and lose weight based on their new fat distribution but fat does not migrate or move on its own. It’s not uncommon for patients to notice untreated areas getting larger after having high-volume liposuction. This is due to actual weight gain. Even if the scale reads the same patients need to consider the weight of the fat removed during the procedure even if that is grafted back. there will still be an overall net loss in weight from Liposuction with or without fat transfer.

If patients are at the preprocedure wait after surgery and they have technically gained weight.
If they are above their surgery wait then it is simply weight gain.

This is a normal and reasonable explanation but fat moving or migrating is not.

Being cognizant of your weight at the time of surgery and postop is important and something I encourage all my patients to do.

Best,

Mats Hagstrom MD

Hi and welcome to our forum!Your transplanted fat cells are well anchored in place by ingrowth of blood vessels and scar tissue 6 months post surgery. Migration should not occur. However, any significant weight fluctuation may change the volume and size of the transplanted fat. If the disparity of buttock size is of concern to you, revisit your plastic surgeon. 15% of cosmetic surgeries benefit from a secondary touch-up procedure.Best wishes...