Liposuction is a great tool for body contouring. It is not however a substitute for diet and exercise. This procedure was popularized in the 80s and has evolved into a very significant body contouring tool for the plastic surgeon and for our practice.
In short, the answer is yes. Suction removal of fat permanently removes those fat cells. It does not however mean that the remaining fat cells cannot house and accumulate fat therefore, increasing in size. This is not common, however. Once a person has fat removed by the application of suction device to certain areas of the body those areas tend to remain relatively fat free compared to their preprocedural condition.
Removal of fat in this fashion has become common with other procedures as well. For example, such removal of fat in the neck can be very advantageous to achieving the best neck result. Axillary fat can be removed in this fashion when the patient is having other breast procedures.
Liposuction
In men suction removal of fat for large breasts can be very beneficial. Also, suction removal of fat can be performed with very small incisions – this is a big plus. In today’s plastic surgery world and in our practice, we often remove fat with suction and then transfer to other parts of the body which needed for example the buttocks.
So, removal of fat and then transfer to other parts of the body has become more common and beneficial. Keep in mind that suction removal of fat is not a substitute for diet and exercise and is not a weight loss treatment. There is no substitute for a healthy lifestyle which includes moderation in diet and caloric intake as well as aggressive daily physical activity.
THOMAS TREVISANI, MD
BOARD CERTIFIED PLASTIC SURGEON
MEMBER AMERICAN SOCIETY OF AESTHETIC PLASTIC SURGERY
