liposuction results gone one year after despite weight loss - what could have caused this?

Dear Easygoing237008,
I understand your concern. However, without a proper assessment, it would be difficult to determine what went 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

It's difficult to determine what may be causing your concerns without photos or an examination. Fat cells that remain after liposuction can still grow and shrink with weight gain or loss. I encourage you to return to your surgeon for an evaluation including reviewing your before/after photos to discuss your results.

When someone gains weight they don't develop new fat cells but instead their existing fat cells increase in size. It could be that during your initial liposuction technique enough fat cells were leftover that your weight gain allowed them to hypertrophy (grow) limiting your overall result. Exercise, diet and, eventually(if needed), revision liposuction can improve your overall result.

You did not post before and after photos nor discuss your before and after weight. Sometimes, people actually gain weight without realizing it because fat had been removed. I would examine your before and after photos and check your weight against your prior liposuction weight.

Patients who lack quality liposuction results long-term generally fall in one of the three categories. The first is individuals who have gained weight since the procedure. this includes people that weight fluctuations with increased weight and lost weight since this will cause increased skin laxity. The second category is people who were not good candidate for the procedure in the first place. this is very common for lower extremity liposuction especially the outer thigh especially if it involves the back half of the outer thigh. Lower extremity Liposuction rarely delivers the resort patient had hoped for.
The last reason is that the procedure was not done sufficiently.
All three of these could be good explanations for why you like to see good results. it could also be a combination of those options.
To even begin to make an assessment we need to see proper before and after pictures.
We also need to know your exact weight at the date of surgery and your current weight.
Follow up with your provider who did the procedure and discuss your concerns with him or her.
If you want a proper second opinion consultation and scheduled that as an in person consultation coming prepared by bringing with you all before and after pictures and a copy of your operative report. These are available from your surgeons office if you request them.
Best,
Mats Hagstrom MD