Liposuction is one most popular plastic surgery procedures in the world. Individuals looking to achieve a well contoured body undergo this cosmetic surgery procedure to remove stubborn fat from specific areas such as arms, thighs, abdomen, and hips. However, concerns have been raised as to whether the fat removed via liposuction would return over time after the procedure. A report published earlier in 2011 in the journal Obesity was not in favor of the surgery as it said fat returned to untreated areas of the body even though it took over a year post the treatment. And it was especially visible in the abdomen, shoulders, and arms.
A new study allays these fears. According to this study published in 2012 in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, the official medical journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), fat cells neither return to treated areas nor get redistributed to untreated areas of the body after liposuction. Up to 301 candidates were involved in this study and included those who underwent combined abdominoplasty procedures or simple liposuction. There were no indications supporting the fat re-growth in treated areas of the arms, abdomen, or lower body. Also the upper body dimensions were not altered following the procedure, substantiating the finding that no fat redistribution took place.
Liposuction is not a weight reduction procedure; it is a plastic surgery procedure to remove stubborn fat that is resistant to diet and exercise and achieve a slim, well-contoured body. Conventional liposuction surgery or lipoplasty uses a suction technique to remove pockets of fat from troublesome areas. The plastic surgeon inserts a cannula through incisions in the treatment area and moves it around to remove the fat. Advanced, minimally invasive liposuction treatments using BodyTite or Vaser melt the fat before removing it and involve less discomfort and downtime. A healthy diet and proper exercise regimen are necessary to maintain the results of liposuction surgery.