Will fat come back after liposuction due to a poor diet?

Question

I had liposuction of my abdomen and flanks back in February . My stomach was flat. Will the fat cells come back from a poor diet? I have to admit I don't exercise regularly. I thought I heard the doctor say that fat would go to other parts of the body if weight was gained. Thank you

Jason Emer, MD · Answer

Yes , if you have a poor diet and exercise after liposuction you can regain some in the area treated as well as in other areas.  You body continues to want to hold fat.  Best, Dr. Emer.

Lee B. Daniel, MD · Answer

This is because
liposuction doesn’t just shrink fat cells. It permanently removes them from
problem areas. For most patients, weight gain occurs in different parts of the
body after the procedure and at a slower rate than before surgery. However, healthy
diet and exercise are a necessary part of keeping unwanted weight off after
liposuction.

Pedro M. Soler, Jr., MD · Answer

Thank you for the question. Liposuction will not remove all of the fat cells from the region being suctioned. When you gain weight now there is a proportional gain in the area of interest. After liposuction you will gain fat in the remaining cells, but because there are less cells the proportion is of fat gain in the area is less than before the procedure. I hope this helps.

Deborah Ekstrom, MD · Answer

Here's the way to think of it:  fat cells that have been removed from liposuction are gone forever.  They can not increase in size or reproduce.  That being said, you still have some fat cells (even though 80% are gone) that can swell and then divide (if you eat fatty, high calorie foods) in the area where you have had liposuction.  (Women control their weight mostly with intake and choice, not with exercise).When you diet, you shrink the fatty oils in the fat cells but the cells never actually go away. They are still there waiting to fill up and divide into more fat cells. That is the beauty of liposuction!Genetically you tend to store extra fat in certain places (Inside the abdomen, outer or inner thighs, upper arms, under the chin are some examples) depending on your family traits.  Your body doesn't know you had liposuction.  It just sends any extra calories to your particular fat storage sites, just like before.  It doesn't try to make up for the fat that is gone from liposuction.With that information in mind,  the time after liposuction is a great opportunity to make a lifestyle change and head toward clean eating to accentuate your result and avoid a repeat liposuction from unhealthy diet choices.

Mats Hagstrom, MD (license on probation) · Answer

Liposuction permanently remove fat.This causes the fat distribution to be altered.This change is permanent.If people gain weight they will still gain weight but a new fat distribution.  Typically in areas that were problem areas become less of a problem area and will proportionately grow less with weight gain.Best,Mats Hagstrom M.D.

Robert Savage, MD (retired) · Answer

Yes if you get in bad habits fat can recur,your doctor doesn't remove every single fat cell in the areas treated.However the extra pounds are likely to land somewhere else on your body eg thighs,butt,breasts etc.

Kemil Issa, MD - Account Suspended · Answer

Hello, That is a very good question, it is as your doctor told, fat cells were removed in the area were liposuctios was performed,so in that area if you do not maintain a healthy diet and gain weight little increase of body fat will occur, parts of your body were you do not fad lipo and intraabdominal fat will be augmented.Regards; Dr kemil Issa

Will fat come back after liposuction due to a poor diet?

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