This is a great question that I hear frequently from patients seeking to diminish localized pockets of diet- and exercise-resistant fat on certain regions of the body. The simple answer is this: Yes, the results achieved with liposuction can be permanent, but only if a relatively healthy lifestyle is maintained after the procedure.
When liposuction is performed, excess fat is broken apart and extracted from the treatment area, leaving only a small fraction of the original fatty tissue behind. Since the leftover fat cells in the region will not increase in number, the results produced with liposuction can be long-lasting, provided that the patient stays close to the same weight he or she was prior to the procedure. If significant weight is gained post-surgery, the residual fat cells will become larger in size to store additional fat, consequently affecting the results of treatment. In contrast, if a considerable amount of weight is lost following liposuction, the remaining fat cells will decrease in size.
At my practice, I offer traditional, power-assisted, and ultrasound-assisted liposuction techniques, each of which can provide excellent, long-lasting results for the right candidates. During a consultation, the best liposuction method for your unique needs can be determined, and advice for how to help prolong the effects of treatment well into the future can be provided.
