Does Fat Return After Liposuction?

Does fat return after liposuction? Well, we have some good news and some bad news on that one. If you’ve been enjoying how your sundress fits as you stroll down State Street and wondering how long your new shape will last, here’s the skinny on fat regrowth after liposuction and how to maintain your contour after your procedure.

• What Happens During Liposuction?
• Does Fat Return After Liposuction?
• How to Maintain Your Liposuction Results

What Happens During Liposuction?

Liposuction is a cosmetic surgery procedure that removes excess fat from the body. It can be performed on its own or in conjunction with another procedure, such as a tummy tuck.

The surgery usually lasts between one and two hours and is done under general anesthetic. The patient is asleep during the entire procedure.

After the patient is asleep, Dr. Bartell makes a few small incisions to the area that needs to be contoured. The incisions are placed in areas where the resulting scars won’t be seen. Next, Dr. Bartell introduces fluid to the area, which decreases bleeding and helps sculpt the fat. Dr. Bartell then removes the fat from under the skin using hollow tube instruments called cannulas. 

After the fat is removed, Dr. Bartell closes the incisions with sutures. An elastic compression garment is then placed around the treated area to help the swelling resolve as quickly as possible. The patient is typically ready to go home after a few hours.

For further reading: How Can I Prep My Body for Lipo? 

Does Fat Return After Liposuction?

So, back to that great-fitting sundress: is that fat coming back?

Here’s the great news: if you don’t gain weight, then no, the fat won’t return. That’s because during liposuction, the fat cells in the surgical area are permanently removed. 

However, here’s the bad news: if you do gain weight, then yes, the fat will return, although less slowly in the surgical area because many of the fat cells are no longer there. When we gain weight, the fat cells in the body expand. So any fat cells that were not removed during the procedure could still enlarge if you put on weight. Since there are less of them now than in other areas of the body, you would gain weight more slowly in those areas that were operated on than others. 

If you gain a small amount of weight, such as five percent of your body weight, you might still enjoy good results and your new contour. More significant weight gain, such as ten percent or more of your body weight, though, would diminish the overall results of your liposuction procedure.

How to Maintain Your Liposuction Results

The key takeaway is this: you can plan on enjoying your results from liposuction for as long as you maintain your weight. 

Engaging in frequent, moderate exercise, drinking plenty of water, and eating a diet focused on protein and fresh fruits and vegetables are essential to maintaining the results of your liposuction procedure.

Liposuction in Madison, Wisconsin

Do you have stubborn areas of fat that don’t respond to diet and exercise? Schedule your consultation today with Dr.Thomas Bartell and learn if you might be a good candidate for liposuction. Dr. Bartell is a below-the-neck body recontouring expert, specializing in procedures such as tummy tuck and liposuction in Madison, Wisconsin.

Dr. Bartell Body Recontouring Specialist

Does Fat Return After Liposuction? brought to you by Dr. Thomas Bartell