Can You Gain Weight After Liposuction?

In the past few decades, liposuction has evolved significantly to achieve natural-looking fat removal while simultaneously improving patient comfort during and after the procedure. With the ability to slim and reshape virtually any region of the body — including the abdomen, hips, thighs, upper arms, and neck, among other areas — liposuction has remained one of the most frequently performed cosmetic surgeries worldwide. Many patients in Wichita and beyond wonder whether undergoing liposuction may prevent additional weight gain and/or fat buildup in the future. Dr. James Shaw, our skilled board-certified plastic surgeon, clarifies that weight gain and excess fat accumulation are certainly possible in the future — even after receiving liposuction. 

Liposuction is designed to suction out excess fat cells from the area(s) of treatment. These fat cells do not “regrow” once removed from the body. In this way, liposuction results can be very long-lasting. However, fat cells surrounding the treated area(s) can still expand or shrink with weight fluctuation, potentially changing your new body contours. The stubborn fat removed with liposuction is gone forever, but significant weight gain may lead to additional buildups of fatty tissue and reduce the quality of your final results. For this reason, Dr. Shaw and our team advise living an active lifestyle to maximize the longevity of your procedure. In most cases, the best liposuction results are achieved with a combination of regular exercise and a healthy diet. 

Liposuction is one of the most popular plastic surgery procedures available, and can be a relatively predictable and convenient treatment to slim areas affected by fat buildup. Contact Shaw Plastic Surgery at our Wichita practice to book a consultation with Dr. James Shaw or to get answers to additional frequently asked questions.