Can liposuction cause fat to move around in my body?

Question

I’m 5’4 about 135 I gained 5lbs after my liposuction. At ten months the doctor said to lose weight so I did and all of my fat has been going to the weirdest areas k Ex) my booty lost fat and my forearm gained And the list goes on and on

Daniel Barrett, MD · Answer

Dear Witty44992,

liposuction will not cause movement of the fat. I understand your concern. However, without a proper assessment, it would be difficult to determine what is 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

Rajaie Hazboun, MD, MBA · Answer

Thank you for posting your question here!My answer will be based on the limited information provided, for a more detailed and personalized answer please consult with your surgeon in person.
When fat is taken from a certain area through liposuction the fat cells that are taken do not regenerate , the remaining cells might grow in size if you gain weight but they wont regenerate to replace the ones that were removed, This will lead the body to store more fat in the other areas with more fat cells ( were cells have not been removed) so you will have those areas gain more fat which might give the impression that the fat is moving around.I hope this helps, best of luck!

James Knoetgen, III, MD · Answer

That sounds really frustrating! To answer your question: liposuction itself doesn’t cause fat to “move around” your body, but it can change how and where your body stores fat afterward.
Here’s what’s likely going on
1.	Liposuction removes fat cells permanently from specific areas, so those spots have fewer fat cells to store fat in the future.
2.	When you gain weight after liposuction, the fat has to go somewhere — and it often goes to areas that were NOT treated by the liposuction, because those fat cells are still there and can expand.
3.	This can make it feel like your fat is “moving” to unusual or unexpected places (like your forearms or other spots), especially if your body’s natural fat distribution changes with weight fluctuations, hormones, or aging.
4.	Also, sometimes the treated areas can appear more “deflated” as you lose fat, which might make other areas look more pronounced.
In your case, after losing weight post-liposuction, your body may be redistributing fat differently and since some areas had fat cells removed, other areas that weren’t treated might now stand out more.
Tips
•	Maintaining a stable, healthy weight after liposuction can help keep results balanced.
•	If fat redistribution is a big concern, you could discuss with your doctor whether additional contouring or treatments might help.
•	Hormonal changes or other factors might also influence fat distribution, so it’s worth mentioning those to your doctor.

Camille Cash, MD · Answer

When we gain and lose weight the fat cells in our body either grow or shrink.  We do not create new fat cells and unless fat cells are removed (such as with liposuction) we do not lose them.  Liposuction will not cause your fat cells to move around, however you may perceive that certain areas of the body seem bigger if the area beside them was suctioned.

Can liposuction cause fat to move around in my body?

Answers (4)

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