Most patients will not experience a return in fat cells once they have been removed with liposuction.
The body will not produce new fat cells as long as the patient maintains a stable body weight following liposuction cosmetic surgery, or even gains a moderate amount of weight over time.
Adults do not usually produce new fat cells. This means that the loss of fat cells with liposuction will be permanent for patients, and these cells will not re-grow in the treated site.
Cordial board certified plastic surgeon Dr. Bram Kaufman provides liposuction to patients in Beachwood, Pepper Pike, Cleveland, OH, and other towns and neighborhoods in the sensational Buckeye State.
Growth of Fat Cells with Significant Weight Gain
The remaining fat cells in the treated areas will simply grow larger if the patient puts on a moderate amount of weight over the years after lipo. More fat will accumulate within the existing cell membranes.
But if the patient gains a significant amount of weight (ten percent of the body weight or more), new fat cells will develop in various areas of the body, potentially including previously liposuction treated areas as well.
If an adult gains a relatively substantial amount of weight, it causes an increase in the number of fat cells (lipocytes) which develop from the existing pleuripotential connective tissue cells through a process called differentiation.
This process causes the existing connective tissue cells to first convert to immature fat cells, also known as lipoblasts.
These lipoblasts will slowly form into mature fat cells as the patient gains weight over time. But comparatively lesser fat would deposit in the liposuction treated sites. Therefore, even with substantial weight gain, the patient may continue to enjoy the body sculpting benefits of liposuction cosmetic surgery.
Safe Fat Cell Volume Elimination with Liposuction
While performing liposuction, an expert surgeon will adopt a conservative approach. The safe limit for fat elimination with liposuction in one treatment session can range from six to eight pounds (around three to four liters). This may differ slightly depending on the patient’s body weight, health, fat deposit accumulation, and other reasons.
The risk of complications can increase if more fat volume is eliminated in a single session. If a patient requires more fat excision than six to eight pounds, the surgeon may perform the procedure in two or more phases spaced at least one month or more apart.
Aesthetic Limitations with Excessive Fat Removal
Other than the health risks that excessive fat removal poses, the patient also has a higher possibility of developing sagging skin, dimpling, and folds in the treated sites. The presence of stubborn fat deposits for an extended period in a specific area can cause the skin to stretch permanently and lose elasticity.
This means that an area could deflate and the skin may sag if a substantial amount of fat is eliminated from this site. For such patients, the surgeon may recommend liposuction in combination with a breast lift, lower body lift, or tummy tuck.
Focused plastic surgeon Dr. Bram Kaufman receives patients from Beachwood, Pepper Pike, Cleveland, OH, and other cities and towns in this awesome part of the Midwest for liposuction.
To learn more about cosmetic treatment and procedures or to schedule a consultation by Cleveland Ohio area plastic surgeon, Dr. Bram Kaufman, please contact us at 1-216-778-2245 or click here.