Liposuction is an investment. Many of our patients want to know how long their results will last, and whether or not fat will return in the treated area(s). The answer is that liposuction is indeed permanent, but in the future, you can still gain weight in the treated areas if you do not take care to modify your eating habits. Understanding how fat develops in the body should clarify this question for you.
Your body only has a certain amount of fat cells. Before you reach adulthood, the number and distribution of these fat cells is already set. As you gain and lose weight, your fat cells will grow larger and smaller, respectively. This is why there may be certain areas of your body that seem more resistant to weight loss, while others shed fat quickly.
When fat cells are removed through liposuction, they are gone forever. However, the remaining fat cells in the area can still grow larger in the future. Our board-certified Atlanta body contouring surgeons take great care to ensure that the areas of your body treated by liposuction are properly contoured, so even if you do gain weight in the future, these areas will stay proportionate to the rest of your body.
In short, liposuction is about shape change, not weight loss. The shape change of liposuction is permanent, and the fat cells removed will not return. However, if you want to ensure your remaining fat cells do not expand, you should do your part to maintain your weight through diet and exercise.
If you have further questions about liposuction, please contact Marietta Plastic Surgery today to schedule a consultation with one of our experienced Atlanta cosmetic surgeons. Call (770) 425-0118 for our Marietta GA office, or (678) 494-2380 for our Woodstock GA office.