Can Fat Return After Liposuction?

Excess fat is something that many of us struggle with.  Men and women alike tend to notice areas that hold onto fat despite our best efforts to eat right and exercise regularly.  For those in good overall health with isolated areas of exercise resistant fat, liposuction or body sculpting may be an answer to this common cosmetic concern.  One of the questions I hear most frequently from my Atlanta body sculpting patients is, “Can fat come back after liposuction?”Can Fat Return After Liposuction?

Unfortunately the answer to this question is not simple.  Liposuction surgically removes fat loosened by an auxiliary method such as ultrasound, laser energy, or vibration through a thin metal tube (cannula) inserted into a tiny incision hidden within the treatment area.  Once the targeted fat cells are removed from the body, they are permanently gone; however, the remaining fat cells still have the ability to contract or expand based on the calories consumed by the patient vs. the calories burned.

This fact emphasizes the importance of liposuction as a cosmetic procedure and not a weight loss measure.  In fact, dramatic weight fluctuation after liposuction can lead to undesirable outcomes like dimpling and uneven contouring.  Liposuction is, however, an excellent means to reduce troublesome areas in those patients within a few pounds of their ideal body weight.  For patients with especially small areas of excess fat, Band Aid Liposuction may be performed in-office with gentle numbing like my other Band Aid Plastic Surgery techniques.

To learn more about liposuction and the other body contouring procedures available, visit my website and continue to read our blog.  You can also connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+ for breaking plastic surgery news.