Does Fat Return After Liposuction?

Choosing to get liposuction is a personal investment in oneself and often comes with incredibly rewarding results. Many patients are thrilled with their liposuction results and can’t wait to show off their newly sculpted body contours. However, many people wonder how long these results will last and if fat can come back after liposuction. This blog discusses the permanent nature of liposuction and how fat can grow in the body areas that were not treated.

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Removing Fat With Liposuction

It’s no secret that it can be challenging to shed excess fat on your own. While eating a balanced diet and exercising regularly can help people get to their goal weight, it is often not enough to tone and sculpt the body to achieve the results many desire. Liposuction can be an attractive option for many people looking to eliminate stubborn fat pockets. Fat in the abdomen, flanks, hips, and buttocks is usually very difficult to lose. With liposuction, a surgeon can target these areas of stubborn fat and remove them to create sculpted body contours.

What Does Liposuction Do?

During a liposuction procedure, small incisions are created around the chosen treatment area, allowing a surgeon to access the underlying fat cells and suction them out of the body. This results in slimmer, more proportional body contours that wouldn’t be possible with only diet and exercise. Many patients enjoy the enhanced, defined contours that liposuction gives them and are happy to finally be rid of the unwanted, stubborn fat.

Is Liposuction Permanent?

Plastic surgery procedures are often seen as a big investment—patients must set aside money and time in order to get the look they want and boost their confidence. With such an investment, it’s only natural that people will inquire about the longevity of their results and if they can expect permanent changes to their bodies.

Liposuction permanently removes targeted fat cells from the body. Patients can enjoy having this stubborn fat permanently eliminated. At the same time, it’s essential to clarify that while these fat cells are permanently removed, liposuction does not remove every fat cell in the body. This means that people can still gain weight and grow fat in other body areas.

Will Fat Grow Back After Liposuction?

Fat will not grow back in the areas where fat cells were removed during the liposuction procedure. However, since there will still be fat cells in other areas of the body, it is very possible for fat to grow in those areas if the patient gains weight. This will be especially noticeable if patients gain a significant amount of weight post-surgery, which could potentially result in the appearance of unbalanced body proportions.

People who have gained significant weight after liposuction may choose to get an additional liposuction procedure if they wish to remove more fat.

How Long Does Liposuction Last?

Liposuction results are strategically designed to be long-lasting, and patients typically enjoy their sculpted, contour results for many years. It’s important to note that weight fluctuations, pregnancy, genetics, and aging can affect how long your liposuction results last.

Many surgeons recommend that women finish building their families before getting liposuction to ensure longer-lasting results. Additionally, ideal candidates for liposuction should have good skin elasticity to receive the best results. Patients who do not have good skin elasticity may choose to combine liposuction with another body contouring procedure to eliminate excess sagging skin.

To allow for the best possible results that last a long time, be sure to talk to your surgeon about these various factors that affect results. Your surgeon can make recommendations to help achieve the desired outcome.

How to Maintain Liposuction Results

After liposuction, many patients love their slim and sculpted results and are motivated to do what they can to maintain them.

Keep Your Weight Stable

Maintaining a stable weight post-liposuction is one of the most important factors in keeping your results. Minimal weight changes may not result in noticeable changes; however, if significant weight is gained or lost, the results will likely change. Weight gain can make the body proportions look unbalanced, as the new fat will only grow in areas where liposuction was not performed. On the other hand, significant weight loss can cause excess skin to sag, creating a droopy appearance.

Create a Regular Exercise Routine

Getting into the habit of regularly exercising can be incredibly beneficial for keeping one’s weight stable. Consistency is often key to sticking to an exercise routine, so we recommend that patients dedicate some time three to five days a week to get their bodies moving.

Eat a Healthy Diet

Regularly eating a healthy, balanced diet can ensure that the proper nutrients are being consumed. It can also help patients stay at a steady weight and prolong their liposuction results. Patients can ask their surgeons for specific diet recommendations so they can be prepared post-surgery.

Schedule Your Liposuction Consultation in Huntsville, AL

For those interested in liposuction, more information can be found by calling The Cosmetic Surgery Center of Huntsville at (256) 881-2220 or by filling out our online contact form. Patients ready to schedule a consultation and determine if they are a good candidate for liposuction may call or complete the online contact form to set up their free consultation.

Dr. Knowling and The Cosmetic Surgery Center of Huntsville staff provide high-quality patient care to help liposuction patients feel comfortable and at ease with their procedures. Patients can be assured that they are in good hands when they choose to get liposuction with Dr. Knowling.