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Can Fat Return After Liposuction?

Liposuction is one of our most requested cosmetic treatments at the Plastic Surgery Center of Nashville because it produces immediate results. It quickly removes unwanted body fat from targeted areas for an improved body contour. Even fit people who have an effective nutrition and fitness routine turn to liposuction to eliminate stubborn fat deposits that fail to respond to diet and exercise.

Beyond the outstanding benefits, many of our Nashville liposuction patients ask how long their results will last and whether fat can come back after the procedure.

Liposuction Removes Fat Permanently

Though several liposuction techniques exist in cosmetic medicine today, all variations have the same goal – eliminating pesky fat cells from a targeted body area. An experienced liposuction will use a hollow tube attached to a suction device to permanently remove small amounts of fat from a trouble zone. The short answer to the question posed by the title of this article is yes.

Unfortunately, there is a caveat to this. Typically, if you gain substantial weight after this treatment, your liposuction results will be less dramatic.

If you stay within your ideal weight range, fat eliminated through liposuction will not return, and you can continue to enjoy your results for years. For example, if you weighed 130 pounds before liposuction and had six pounds of fat removed, you can maintain your surgical outcomes by remaining at 124 pounds or below.

If you gain a few pounds after liposuction, the fat cells throughout your body will increase in size. While this weight gain can impact your figure, your enhanced body outline will remain.

Gaining a significant amount of weight will allow new fat cells to develop in all areas, including where you had liposuction. However, since these new fat cells will form throughout your entire body, you will accumulate less fat in treated areas compared to untreated areas. Therefore, many patients who gain substantial weight after liposuction still look better than if they had never had the procedure.

Maintenance Tips: How to Keep Your Liposuction Results

Maintaining a healthy weight is the most effective way to sustain long-term liposuction benefits. Here are six lifestyle habits to adopt after liposuction.

  1. Follow all recovery instructions provided by your plastic surgeon.
  2. Maintain a balanced diet with plenty of lean proteins and fresh produce.
  3. Exercise regularly.
  4. Drink plenty of water.
  5. Eat several small meals throughout the day.
  6. Never skip meals.

Book Your Liposuction Consultation in Nashville, TN

Whether you are trying to improve body contour or need more information about what liposuction can do for your overall figure, speaking with an experienced provider can help you reach your cosmetic objectives.

With two of the most experienced, board-certified plastic surgeons in the U.S., the Plastic Surgery Center of Nashville offers the guidance necessary to make an informed decision. Awarded two of America’s Best Plastic Surgeons for 2021 by Newsweek, Drs. Mary Gingrass and Melinda Haws have the skill and experience to deliver the figure of your dreams through a customized approach.

To book your personalized consultation, contact us or call (615) 467-6777 to schedule your consultation today.