Will Fat Come Back After Liposuction?

Thursday, July 31st, 2014

Liposuction was 2013’s most popular procedure in plastic surgery! According to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, liposuction went up by 16.3 percent last year from that of 2012. Here at our North Carolina plastic surgery practice, we have observed a similar trend as more men and women are showing keen interest in the procedure.

During initial consultations, one of the most common questions here at our practice concerning liposuction is whether or not the fat will come back in the treated area/s after the procedure. By and large, the results of liposuction are permanent. However, there’s a catch and we’ll explained it further below.

On Fat Cells and Their Ability to Change Shape

Each human body has a certain amount of fat cells and its distribution all over your body is already set once you reach adulthood. As you gain weight, these fat cells will expand and the opposite happens when you tend to lose weight.

When fat cells are removed via liposuction, they are permanently gone. However, the fat cells in the untreated areas may possibly expand once you gain weight following liposuction. Thus, the takeaway here is to make sure that you keep your body weight stable following liposuction and take steps to ensure that you are not going to gain a significant amount of weight. The ideal way to do this is through a combination of balanced diet and physical activity. You do not have to go vegan all the way or engage in long-distance running. Moderation is the key.

Ultimately, it should be noted that liposuction is not a weight loss tool but is rather a body-contouring procedure. It is also important to note that fat may return after liposuction in the untreated areas.

Do you want to learn more about liposuction here at our practice? We are located at 209 Hospital Drive, Suite 202, Highlands, NC.  Call us at 828-526-3783 or fill out this contact form to schedule an initial consultation. We look forward to your visit!