Even in Houston we have a winter of sorts, where our swimsuits and summer outfits go for a short vacation in our dressers. That’s why winter is a great time for a variety of cosmetic procedures with Dr. Barrera.

One of those is liposuction. If want to address those stubborn pockets of fat that don’t respond to dietary changes or exercise, liposuction is a great procedure, but patients have various questions about it. Let’s answer some of those in this New Year’s blog.

Will the fat cells grow back after liposuction?

As you would imagine, the fat cells that are suctioned away with liposuction are gone permanently. And fat is less likely to rebuild in the areas treated. However, if the patient then proceeds to gain a significant amount of weight, say 10% of his or her body weight, then new fat cells can develop.  But if you manage your weight, you’ll be happy with your new slimmer contours for the duration.

If I gain weight does the fat come back to the treated areas?

Fat usually doesn’t return in the treated areas provided the patient doesn’t gain a significant amount of weight. Lesser weight gains will have fat that accumulates in untreated areas.

What if I get pregnant after liposuction?

While pregnancy involves weight gain, it doesn’t automatically affect the results of your liposuction. This depends on your discipline to not gain more weight than your baby needs. If you have liposuction and later become pregnant, you’ll gain weight, obviously. But if you then lose the weight from your pregnancy, your original liposuction improvements will return, just as if you had not become pregnant. So the decision to have liposuction doesn’t need to be tied to whether you want to have children or not down the road.

This is completely different than a tummy tuck, however. If you have a tummy tuck and then later decide to have a child, your results are negated by the localized weight gain.

How many pounds of fat can be removed?

There is a limit to the amount of fat that can be safely removed in a single liposuction procedure. The maximum amount of fat that can be removed safely is about 6 to 8 pounds. If more than 6 to 8 pounds of fat needs to be removed, it is safest to divide the liposuction into separate surgical procedures each separated by 3 to 4 weeks. Patients need to remember that liposuction is not a weight loss procedure; it is a body contouring procedure meant to target stubborn pockets of fat.

How long will it take to see results?

Most patients will see 90 percent of their ultimate liposuction results within one to three months after surgery. For the first few weeks after surgery there will be postoperative swelling. The amount and duration of swelling is predicated on how large the areas treated by Dr. Barrera, and the technique used. Certain areas have very little swelling.

Will liposuction help my cellulite?

No. Cellulite is caused by the way a woman’s skin is stratified. It has nothing to do with fat pockets, so liposuction has no effect on cellulite.

If you have other questions about liposuction, or if you’d like to schedule a consultation with Dr. Barrera, call us at (713) 468-5200.