Lipo on stomach and thighs now pregnant, will I gain my weight back?

Question

Almost one year ago i have done lipo on my stomach and thighs and now I'm pregnant. I would like to know will I gain the fat back on where I did lipo?

Mitchel Goldman, MD · Answer

Congratulations on your pregnancy! It is normal and healthy to gain some weight as your child develops during pregnancy. Liposuction changes the fat distribution on your body permanently, so as you gain weight, it will probably be distributed first to areas that hadn't been treated. However, if you gain an excessive amount of weight, the fat cells that remained in the liposuctioned areas may swell to accommodate the extra volume. Once you lose weight again, they should return to their normal size. The best bet, though, is to monitor your weight carefully with your obstetrician to be sure you are gaining only what is needed for your baby's health. After you have given birth, if you are unhappy with the way your figure looks, you can consult a board-certified dermatologist to see if you would benefit from a noninvasive fat-elimination technique such as CoolSculpting or perhaps just a skin-tightening treatment such as ThermiTight.

S. Larry Schlesinger, MD, FACS · Answer

Great question!  This question goes to the heart of what liposuction actually is.  Liposuction is a process of suctioning out not only fat, but also the cells that store the fat.  Therefore, a well done liposuction decreases the number of fat cells in any given area.  Since the number of fat cells present determines the amount of fat one area can store, ergo there will be less total amount of fat stored in any post liposuctioned area.  An analogy would be, if you had a gym with 100 lockers and you took out 75 of them, the number of sneakers that could be placed in that gym has decreased by 75%.

Peter Hyans, MD · Answer

As long as you return to your pre-pregnancy weight after having your baby none of the fat will return.  If you still have persistent weight gain after your pregnancy this will be obvious all over and in area you did not have treated with liposuction in particular.  Hopefully this was helpful.

Jason Emer, MD · Answer

If you gain weight you will gain weight all over despite having liposuction. I suggest you see an expert.  Best, Dr. Emer.

Anup Dhir, MD · Answer

It is natural to gain weight with pregnancy and the weight gain is all over. It should be possible to get back into shape once you have the baby. All the best.

Mats Hagstrom, MD (license on probation) · Answer

Liposuction causes a permanent change in fat distribution.
Pregnancy may also cause permanent changes but it will not change your fat distribution.
Pregnancy can cause skin laxity and muscle separation that something can be perceived as excess abdominal fat.
There are too many variables to say exactly how your body will change from your pregnancy.
Some women have a major body changes but others have a little body changes from pregnancies.
Best,
Mats Hagstrom,MD

Edward J. Domanskis, MD (in memoriam) · Answer

Normally, if you have stayed the same weight, the areas that have been lipoed, the fat will not return. If you did gain a lot of weight then it may.

Robert E. Zaworski, MD (retired) · Answer

Be careful with your weight during pregnancy.  It is natural and healthy to gain some weight.  Discuss weight with your OBGYN.  It is very possible to get back into shape following pregnancy.

Lipo on stomach and thighs now pregnant, will I gain my weight back?

Answers (8)

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