What happens if you gain weight after tummy liposuction?

Tummy liposuction removes small localized fat from the abdomen to sculpt the figure. It’s particularly useful to individuals who eat a healthy lifestyle yet still have areas of the stomach that don't respond to traditional fat reduction tactics of dieting and exercise.

However, there is one main question which arises: what occurs following a procedure if you start gaining weight afterwards? Understanding how weight gain can affect your results will help you to set realistic expectations and maintain long term benefits from the procedure itself.

How does Tummy Liposuction work?

Removing excess fat cells, the tummy liposuction works by removing local fat from specific areas within the stomach using a small cannula. Within Your Lipo we carry out the treatment using tumescent liposuction. This method involves injecting a solution containing a saline mix and anaesthetic into the area of the tummy and surrounding area where the fat is going to be removed.

This procedure should never be treated as a weight reduction tactic, it removes local fat only. However, the procedure can re-shape the abdomen contour in areas where unwanted fat does not respond to diet and exercise.

Although liposuction removes fat cells from the localized areas, these fat cells are unable to grow back. Nevertheless, this does not mean that you cannot gain weight in the future, or the result from the procedure never changes.

What happens if you gain weight following liposuction?

A change to body weight may alter your liposuction results considerably. Although fat cells may have been physically removed, the fat cells still in the body do have the ability to expand when your weight increases and fat will deposit elsewhere on the body and stomach.

This will increase the overall fat within this area. Fat can deposit in many various areas all over the body depending on individual attributes of which vary between the patient, including genetics, lifestyle and changing weight levels.

Moderate weight gain

A moderate increase in body weight will likely produce no noticeable changes within the stomach shape or contour. Your tummy should be relatively well shaped, especially if the correct lifestyle is retained.

Extreme Weight Gain

A larger degree or continuing increase in body weight may affect your sculpted stomach. Fat cells may appear around the treated stomach area or deposit at other areas of the body, making the stomach appear fuller than at the direct post procedure phase. However this will not indicate that liposuction has not worked, as weight change will always affect the body shape due to increased mass.

Will fat return to the tummy after having tummy liposuction?

Those fat cells are completely gone. However, there are many other fat cells left in other parts of the body that will increase in mass and deposit where the fat is still able to produce new mass.

If you lose and gain a large amount of body weight you will become larger or more 'swooshy' in other parts of the body. So as previously stated, liposuction is an effective body contouring procedure not a treatment for slimming your physique.

Does liposuction result in weight gain?

No, liposuction does not result in weight gain. Any changes seen in body mass following the liposuction are entirely linked to the calorie intake, exercise and lifestyle choices a person makes as well as how your body naturally changes with age and its other attributed qualities. Some patients may find themselves a few pounds higher on the scales immediately following liposuction.

This is all down to fluid retention and swelling. It's important to give your body time to heal.

What if I lose weight after gaining weight?

If you gain weight following liposuction and then begin to lose weight again some of the increased fat may disappear as other fat cells shrink. However each individual may and will lose weight differently. A substantial body shape alteration however, can only be improved upon with a further procedure or a thorough analysis of what it is that would be the correct treatment with a specialized surgeon.

Tummy liposuction Vs. A Tummy tuck

It is extremely important to understand, tummy liposuction vs a tummy tuck can be considered and examined with two separate purposes. Tummy liposuction specifically removes local fat only, however, a tummy tuck operation (abdominoplasty), removes the extra fat and skin. This operation however, can have far more scarring.

For those searching regarding a tummy tuck in South Africa, it is crucial to determine the reason behind the need for a tummy tuck, as it is not simply liposuction 2.0.

The required procedure depends entirely on skin quality, fat content and personal body shape.

When should you contact your surgeon?

If you are gaining weight following your tummy liposuction, it is best to contact a consultant surgeon for analysis. They can observe your body and decide if lifestyle changes are appropriate or if further treatment can be considered. Following your surgeon’s postoperative advice is critical after any liposuction treatment along with continuing your surgeon’s recommendations and having routine follow up operations.

Choose Your Lipo for Tummy Liposuction

Your Lipo, specializing in Tummy liposuction, focuses on removing the localized fat around the stomach to enhance contour of the body. Tummy liposuction is only performed using tumescent liposuction under general anesthetic, with a board certified anaesthetist in attendance. You may experience swelling and bruising during the healing process, and it is mandatory that you wear compression garments after the procedure.

If you are interested and are considering Tummy liposuction and are unsure whether it is suitable for your body shape and desires, then Your Lipo can offer a personal consultation to discuss your personal options and to determine the most adequate procedure for you.