Once fat cells are destroyed in one area - is it possible for the body to Start depositing new fat in other areas of the body ?

Question

I’ve had 3 cycles on each side of my lower abdomen, and there’s very little fat left - but over the course of a year , my butt and thighs have started gaining fat in areas I previously did not gain weight in. Is it possible that fat I have gained Since “ killing” the fat cells in my abdominal area is now depositing in new areas? I’m not a large person and my weight gain has been minimal - only about 5 pounds.

Kimberly Butterwick, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question. Fat cells do not multiply, nor do they migrate to other areas. You are born with a finite number of fat cells and if you take in more calories than you burn, those cells can enlarge. In your case, it sounds like that is occurring in other areas of the body. You can have additional treatments in these areas to maintain your positive results. However, keep in mind that if you gain additional weight, more treatments may be needed.

Mitchel Goldman, MD · Answer

I appreciate your question. First, it’s important to understand exactly how our fat cells work. We are born with a finite number of fat cells, which does not typically change over time. Instead, extra calories can cause current fat cells to enlarge, which results in visible weight gain in various areas. When you remove those cells from a specific area, they are gone permanently. However, if you continue to gain weight, remaining fat cells can enlarge and alter the results of your liposuction procedure. In this case, you may need an additional treatment to regain the positive results you had seen with your earlier procedures.

Monica Boen, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question. The number of fat cells you have is predetermined and does not change. When you gain weight, some of your cells will enlarge. Fat reduction treatments like CoolSculpting destroy some of the enlarged cells to create a leaner contour. Those cells will not return and new cells will not likely take their place. However, other cells may enlarge if you continue to gain weight. If this occurs, you may require additional treatments to reduce your fat cells further.

Anil R. Shah, MD · Answer

Fat acquisition around the female body is typically regulated by hormones. It's possible that your fat cells around your legs and thighs are expanding faster than your abdomen as you've noticed this visually. However, it's difficult to determine if this is an effect of your CoolSculpt treatments. It is always possible for patients to gain fat even after CoolSculpt, but where they gain fat is unknown. 
Best, 
Dr. Anil Shah

Mary Beth Mudd, MD · Answer

Great question and one that is frequently misunderstood! Once you reach adulthood, your body does not make new fat cells. However it is possible for the existing fat cells to expand to take in and store excess calories as fat. At the end of the day, your body looks to see how many calories you consumed and how many you burned up. If you take in more calories than you burn up, your body will store these as fat whereever there are fat cells in your body. If you permanently remove the fat cells in an area through a treatment such as CoolSculpting, liposuction, etc, and then take in more calories than you burn up, you will store these extra calories where you still have remaining fat cells - in your case like you have noticed on your butt and thighs. The way to deal with this is to be very careful to not consume more calories than you burn up. Many times patients are not advised about the lifestyle changes that may need to be made in order to have your body looking great everywhere. Hopefully this will help you to understand what is happening. Best wishes, Mary Beth Mudd

James Fernau, MD, FACS - Account Suspended · Answer

Hello, and thank you for your question! Once fat cells are destroyed in one area of the body, you will no longer gain as much fatty tissue in that area. However, if you consume more calories than you burn, the extra calories have to go somewhere. This means that you may see weight gain in areas of your body that you did not see before. Once the fat cells are destroyed by liposuction/coolsculpting/etc., you will not gain more fat cells, rather, your existing fat cells (potentially in other areas) will increase in size if more calories are consumed than burned.Please be sure to see a board-certified plastic surgeon you feel comfortable with. Best of luck beautiful!
James L. Fernau, MD
Board Certified Plastic Surgeon
American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS)
The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS)
International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ISAPS)
American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery (ACLMS)
Fellow American College of Surgeons (FACS)
American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (AAO-HNS)
American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (AAFPRS)

Once fat cells are destroyed in one area - is it possible for the body to Start depositing new fat in other areas of the body ?

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