Many people who are thinking about a body contouring procedure ask the same question: Is liposuction permanent? The answer is partly yes, but it also comes with some important stipulations.
Liposuction can enhance the shape of your body by removing stubborn pockets of fat that have been resistant to diet and exercise, but it does not stop future weight gain or stop the natural changes that occur gradually as you get older.
If you understand what liposuction can realistically do and what it cannot accomplish, it can help you decide if the procedure will give you the results you are looking for.
What “Permanent” Means With Liposuction
Liposuction reduces the number of fat cells in the areas that are treated. The number of fat cells the average adult has in their body usually stays the same, but these cells can get smaller or larger depending on fluctuations in their weight. Your body does not normally create new ones.
According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, liposuction reduces the number of fat cells that remain in the treated areas, which can improve the contours and proportions of your body.
These fat cells are gone forever, but your body still contains fat cells in other places. If you gain weight later, those remaining cells can grow larger and store more fat, and the results of your liposuction can change.
Can Fat Come Back After Liposuction?
Not really. The fat cells that were removed during the procedure do not grow back, but the remaining fat cells in your body can expand if you gain weight.
For example, if you had liposuction on your abdomen and you gain weight later, the fat cells that remain in this area could get bigger. Other areas of your body that were not treated can also grow larger because the fat cells in those areas have not been reduced and can store more fat. In fact, a study published in the journal Obesity found that people who gained weight after liposuction sometimes experienced an increase in fat in untreated areas of the body. This does not mean your liposuction procedure failed, only that your liposuction results have changed in response to weight gain.
What Liposuction Can and Cannot Do
Liposuction can improve the appearance of your body, but it is important to know its limitations. Some people assume it will tighten skin that is loose or eliminate cellulite, but this is not true. It is important to know what the procedure is capable of accomplishing, so you will have realistic expectations of the results you can expect.
Liposuction Can Do Contouring
The main reason people have liposuction is to slim down and contour different areas of their body. It removes fat cells in specific areas to enhance the shape and proportions of your body.
It was designed to improve how your body looks in certain areas, but it is not a weight loss procedure and will not help you to achieve major weight loss. To keep your results, you will need to maintain a stable weight.
Liposuction Cannot Improve Skin Or Eliminate Cellulite
Liposuction cannot tighten loose skin or remove cellulite.
The elasticity of your skin, which is how well your skin can stretch and then return to its normal shape, is important for how smooth the final results of your liposuction will appear.
People who have firmer skin usually see smoother and more toned contours after their excess fat is removed with liposuction, but people who have skin with less elasticity may end up with loose skin in the treated areas.
Liposuction cannot eliminate cellulite because it is only designed to reduce the amount of fat beneath the skin’s surface, and cellulite is mainly caused by connective tissue and fibrous bands that pull on the skin and not by the fat itself. Liposuction does not affect these tissues, so it cannot smooth the dimples or bumps caused by cellulite.
Can Liposuction Help You Lose Weight?
Not usually. It may help trim off a few pounds, but it is important you understand that liposuction is not a weight loss procedure and that its main goal is to remove stubborn fat in specific areas and to improve the appearance of your body’s shape.
Plastic surgeons normally recommend liposuction for people who have maintained a healthy weight for at least 6 months but want to slim down certain areas that they have not been able to change themselves with diet and exercise.
Additionally, there are industry guidelines regarding how much fat can be extracted during a single liposuction session to ensure the safety of the patient. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons reports that no more than 5 liters of fat can be harvested from any one patient during a single liposuction surgery.
What Can Change Your Liposuction Results?
There are a number of different things that can change your liposuction results, including:
Changes to your weight
The most common reason that liposuction results change is due to weight gain. Even though the fat cells removed during liposuction are gone permanently, those that remain in your body can become larger if you consume more calories than your body burns. Maintaining a healthy weight helps the areas treated with liposuction stay looking trim, smooth, and balanced.
Aging
As you get older, your skin stops producing as much collagen and elastin, which can make your skin become looser, and wrinkles may form. These natural changes that come with age can make changes to the areas that were treated with liposuction, even if your weight stays the same.
Hormonal Changes
Hormones can affect the areas of your body that store fat. Things like pregnancy or menopause can alter the way the fat is distributed on your entire body, including the areas that were treated with liposuction.
Lifestyle Habits
Continually practicing healthy lifestyle habits like eating a low-calorie diet made up of healthy food choices, getting enough exercise, getting enough sleep, and managing your stress level can help maintain your liposuction results.
How Long Do Liposuction Results Last?
The results of your liposuction procedure can last for many years as long as your weight remains stable and you practice healthy lifestyle habits and avoid behaviors that are unhealthy.
Published research shows that fat cells can expand when weight increases and shrink when weight decreases. Because liposuction removes a portion of these cells, areas that are treated often remain slimmer than before the surgery, even when you gain weight.
If You Gain Weight After Liposuction, Where Does It Show Up?
If you gain weight after liposuction, the remaining fat cells in your body can expand and create accumulations of fat in unexpected areas of your body.
Maintaining a healthy weight after liposuction is important to not only to keep your liposuction results, but it can also impact your health. A study published in the journal Dermatologic Surgery reported that when you gain weight after liposuction, this fat can be distributed around your organs, which is called visceral fat and is associated with serious metabolic conditions.
What Is The Best Way To Maintain Your Liposuction Results?
The best way to keep the results you have achieved through liposuction is to live a healthy lifestyle, including:
- Eating appropriate portions of a healthy diet.
- Engaging in regular physical activity.
- Consistently getting at least 7 hours of sleep.
- Managing your daily stress.
- Following all of your aftercare instructions
- Wear your compression garments as directed during recovery.
- Avoid certain activities until cleared by the surgeon.
- Rest and stay hydrated.
When My Results Change: Do I Need a Touch Up?
You may wish to have liposuction again if you have gained weight and accumulated additional unwanted fat cells. People often have liposuction revision surgery to correct issues like:
- Weight gain after surgery.
- Aging skin or changes in body shape.
- Areas that appear uneven later on.
Where Can I Learn More About Liposuction In Washington?
Newvue Plastic Surgery offers liposuction in Bellevue, Washington, and the surrounding areas.
Dr. George Min is a board-certified plastic surgeon at Newvue Medical with over 20 years of experience performing aesthetic and reconstructive surgery, including liposuction. He has been honored with the Seattle Magazine Top Doctors Award consistently for over a decade.
Set up your consultation today to learn more about liposuction and see if it is right for you.
FAQs
Does Fat Grow Back After Liposuction?
No. The fat cells removed during your liposuction session are gone permanently, but fat cells that remain can grow larger if you gain weight.
How Long until I See My Final Liposuction Results?
It can take anywhere between 3 and 6 months for all the swelling to go down before you see your final liposuction results.
Is Liposuction Weight Loss?
No. Liposuction is not a weight loss procedure and is designed to trim and contour areas of your body by removing accumulations of fat that have been resistant to diet and exercise.
Is Liposuction Safe?
Yes, liposuction is considered safe on a healthy patient and when performed by a board-certified plastic surgeon. Liposuction, like any other surgery, has associated risks and side effects that are possible.
