According to a study in the August 2012 issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, the official medical journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), fat cells neither return to treated areas nor get redistributed to untreated areas of the body after liposuction. This new study clarifies a report published last year in Obesity, which initiated a controversy by concluding that fat returns to untreated areas of the body, especially the abdomen, shoulders, and arms, within one year after liposuction in patients who gained weight.

*Individual Results May Vary

The new study, published by the ASPS, evaluated 301 patients who had liposuction, either alone or in combination with abdominoplasty. The study revealed no evidence of fat regrowth in treated areas of the arms, abdomen, or lower body; upper body dimensions were unchanged after surgery, indicating no fat redistribution.

According to study author Eric Swanson, MD, “Our study included a sufficient number of patients and used precise measurements, making the conclusions highly reliable. Patients can be reassured that their improvements will last and they need not worry about putting weight back on disproportionately.”

It’s important to remember that liposuction does not change your ability to gain or lose weight.  Rather, it permanently reduces the number of fat cells in the problem areas that are treated. For any given weight you will be in the future, your proportions will be better after liposuction, barring extremes in weight gain, of course.

Take the Next Step

If you have further questions about liposuction, we encourage you to schedule a consultation at The Langdon Center in Guilford, CT. Call us at (203) 453-8625 or fill out our convenient online contact form.