Most patients will not experience a return of fat cells once they are eliminated with liposuction as long as they maintain stable body weight, or even gain a moderate amount of weight over the years.
The adult body does not usually generate new fat cells. Therefore, liposuction offers patients the benefit of permanent fat loss in the treated areas.
Kind cosmetic surgeon Dr. Landon D. McLain provides liposuction to patients in Huntsville, Madison, Florence, Decatur, Scottsboro, Cullman, Athens, Alabama, and surrounding locations.
Fat Cell Growth with Significant Weight Gain
The remaining fat cells in the treated site will simply grow larger if the patient puts on a moderate amount of weight in the years following liposuction surgery. The existing cell membranes will simply accumulate more fat.
But if the patient gains a substantial amount of weight (ten percent of their body weight or more), it may lead to the development of new fat cells in multiple parts of the body. This may include areas that have been treated with liposuction surgery in the past.
Adults experience an increase in the number of fat cells (lipocytes) on gaining a relatively substantial amount of weight. These fat cells develop from the existing pleuripotential connective tissue cells through a process known as differentiation. This process involves the existing connective tissue cells initially changing into immature fat cells or lipoblasts.
After that, the lipoblasts will gradually develop into mature fat cells as the patient puts on weight progressively. Fortunately, relatively lesser fat accumulates in the liposuction treated areas in comparison to untreated areas.
Therefore, the patient may still continue to experience the body contouring advantages of liposuction to a certain extent, even if they gain a large amount of weight.
Safe Volume of Fat Cell Reduction with Liposuction
A skilled surgeon will be careful to adopt a conservative fat removal approach during liposuction surgery. The safe limit for fat removal with liposuction in a single treatment session ranges between six to eight pounds (around three to four liters). This may differ slightly depending on the patient’s body weight, health, fat pockets, and other factors.
In case a higher volume of fat is eliminated in a single session, it could present a higher risk of complications for the patient. But some patients may need fat removal beyond six to eight pounds.
For such patients, the surgeon may choose to perform the liposuction in two or more sessions spaced at least one month apart. Each session would be a separate liposuction surgery.
Cosmetic Limitations with Excessive Fat Removal
Other than the health risks associated with excessive fat removal, the patient also faces a higher possibility of the development of loose skin, dimpling, and folds in the treated sites.
Stubborn fat deposits that remain in a specific area for a long period can cause the skin to stretch permanently and become less elastic.
If a significant amount of fat is removed from the region, it can cause the site to deflate and the skin to sag. The surgeon may recommend the patient to undergo a breast lift, body lift, or tummy luck along with liposuction in such cases.
Accomplished cosmetic surgeon Dr. Landon D. McLain receives patients from Huntsville, Madison, Florence, Decatur, Scottsboro, Cullman, Athens, Alabama, and other towns and neighborhoods in this outstanding part of the southeast for liposuction.
McLain Surgical Arts is a leading cosmetic surgery practice headed by Dr. Landon D. McLain MD, DMD, FACS in Huntsville, AL. Dr. McLain is a double board certified cosmetic and oral & maxillofacial surgeon, offering a variety of procedures such as dental implants, wisdom teeth extraction, breast augmentation, liposuction, rhinoplasty, tummy tuck, facelift, Botox, and laser skin resurfacing. For more information or to schedule a consultation call 256.429.3411 or click here.
Now taking patients from Huntsville, Scottsboro, Decatur, Madison, Athens, Florence, Cullman, AL and surrounding areas.
