Liposuction is a cosmetic procedure designed to remove localized fat deposits from specific areas of the body, such as the abdomen, hips, thighs, and arms. This procedure targets and removes fat that has been resistant to diet and exercise efforts.
Immediate Fate of Suctioned Fat
During liposuction, a surgeon makes small incisions in the skin and inserts a thin, hollow tube called a cannula into the fatty tissue. This cannula is then connected to a vacuum pump or a large syringe, which suctions out the fat cells. Once removed, they are permanently gone from the treated area. The removed fat is considered biological waste and is safely disposed of by medical facilities, often through specialized medical waste disposal companies that incinerate or process the waste. In some cases, the removed fat can be processed and transferred to other areas of the body for augmentation, such as the face, breasts, or buttocks.
The Body’s Ongoing Fat Metabolism
While liposuction permanently removes fat cells from the treated areas, the body still contains millions of other fat cells throughout the rest of the body. These remaining fat cells can still expand or shrink in size based on an individual’s caloric intake and energy expenditure. If more calories are consumed than expended, the body will store this excess energy, primarily within existing fat cells, causing them to enlarge.
Liposuction reduces the number of fat cells in a specific area, leading to a more contoured appearance in that region. However, the procedure does not stop the body’s natural processes of storing energy as fat in other cells. Even in the treated areas, a small number of fat cells may remain, and these can also increase in size if significant weight is gained. This means that while the treated area will have fewer fat cells and a lower capacity for fat storage compared to untreated areas, the body’s overall ability to store fat is not eliminated.
Long-Term Fat Distribution and Weight Changes
The results of liposuction are considered lasting because the fat cells removed from a specific area do not grow back. However, maintaining these results largely depends on lifestyle choices after the procedure. If a person gains a substantial amount of weight following liposuction, the remaining fat cells throughout the body, including those in both treated and untreated areas, will expand. This expansion of existing fat cells can diminish the cosmetic improvements achieved by liposuction.
In instances of significant weight gain, fat may be stored more predominantly in untreated areas, potentially leading to a disproportionate accumulation of fat. While some studies suggest that fat cells do not redistribute to untreated areas, others indicate that if a person gains weight, the body’s fat storage patterns might shift, making untreated areas appear larger than they might have before the procedure. To preserve the contoured results of liposuction, maintaining a stable weight through consistent diet and regular exercise is highly recommended. Adopting a balanced diet, practicing portion control, and engaging in routine physical activity are important strategies for long-term maintenance.