# Liposuction

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liposuction/485212>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [February 10, 2009, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liposuction/485212 "2009-02-10T14:15:58Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Wootah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/77aa72/32.png) [@Wootah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wootah)\
**Post date:** [February 10, 2009, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liposuction/485212/1 "2009-02-10T14:15:58Z")

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Is the fat that is removed permanently gone or can it come back?

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**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\
**Post date:** [February 10, 2009, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liposuction/485212/2 "2009-02-10T14:34:40Z")

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The fat cells that are gone do not return, but the remaining cells can still grow. So if you gain weight after the surgery, it seems that you gain more in the rest of your body, since those parts still contain the pre-surgery number of fat cells.

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**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\
**Post date:** [February 10, 2009, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liposuction/485212/3 "2009-02-10T19:55:45Z")

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I was thought once the fat cells are gone, they are gone forever, but now they have found the body does have the ablity to regrow new fat cells. This doesn’t happen as easily as it does the first time around but it can happen.

As the previous poster says any remaining fat cells also will grow and this can 'cause fat to shift as well

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**Author:** ![saucytango](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e99b99/32.png) [@saucytango](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saucytango)\
**Post date:** [February 10, 2009, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liposuction/485212/4 "2009-02-10T23:17:17Z")

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I can personally attest to the fact that any remaining fat cells will grow if you gain weight after liposuction AND the body has the ability to regrow new fat cells. Therefore, do not undergo lipo unless you can maintain your current or ideal weight for the rest of your life.