Is it true that Lipo kills fat cells and you can't gain weight in that area?

Question

Jason Emer, MD · Answer

Liposuction removes fat cells from the treated area, but often there is a layer left behind that can "regrow" or enlarge if you do not follow a good diet or exercise after treatment.  I suggest seeing a good body contouring specialist for liposuction.  If the liposuction is not performed meticulously and evenly, you may not notice it now but it can become apparent later if you gain weight.  Find someone with experience.  Best, Dr. Emer.

Josef Hadeed, MD, FACS · Answer

Liposuction removes a substantial amount of fat cells from the area that is treated.  If you were to gain weight in the future, the remaining fat cells would still increase in size; however, this area would not gain as much weight as other areas of your body that have a greater number of fat cells.

Erika Sato, MD, FACS · Answer

We are born with all the fat cells that we will have. When we gain weight, the fat cells are increasing in size. When liposuction is done some (NOT ALL) of the fat cells are removed from the area where the liposuction is done. That means that there is less fat cells there. When you gain weight in the future the fat cells left in that area can still increase in size, but overall there are less fat cells in that area, so weight gain will not happen as quickly as it would have in the past (in that specific area). This can change the way that you gain weight. For example, if you normally gain weight first in the love handle region and can never really lose that fat with diet and exercise and you get liposuction there, then that will not be your "trouble" area in the future. Some patients love this BUT others get annoyed because an area of their body that they are not used to getting fat may show the weight gain more obviously in the future. The best way to go about it, is not to gain any weight after the surgery. Keep a healthy lifestyle with regular exercise and a healthy diet.

Mats Hagstrom, MD (license on probation) · Answer

Liposuction removes fat cells.Once removed, they will most certainly die at sometime.When performing liposuction, it is rarely the intent to remove all layers of fat.As such, there will still be fat cells left behind.Those remaining fat cells will behave like fat cells do and grow in size with the weight gain.Liposuction does not kill fat cells. It simply removes them.Best of luck,Mats Hagstrom, M.D.

Ronald V. DeMars, MD (Retired) · Answer

That's not exactly correct. Liposuction removes fat cells from an area and since they are no longer there, those cells are not available for fat storage. But we don't come close to removing all the fat cells and there are plenty left over to store fat if you do not control your weight.

Is it true that Lipo kills fat cells and you can't gain weight in that area?

Answers (5)

Answer: Death to the fat cell

Answer: Death to the fat cell

Answer: Is it true that Lipo kills fat cells and you can't gain weight in that area?

Answer: Is it true that Lipo kills fat cells and you can't gain weight in that area?

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Everything you need to know about Liposuction

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.

Is it true that Lipo kills fat cells and you can't gain weight in that area?

Answers (5)

Answer: Death to the fat cell

Answer: Death to the fat cell

Answer: Is it true that Lipo kills fat cells and you can't gain weight in that area?

Answer: Is it true that Lipo kills fat cells and you can't gain weight in that area?

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Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Liposuction

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.