A common question Dr. Bottger receives from his liposuction patients during their consultation is, “Is liposuction permanent?” In other words, will your fat cells regenerate after they are removed by liposuction? While the answer to this question is a definitive “Yes, liposuction is permanent,” it does require a bit of an explanation. Just as with brain cells, fat cells do not regenerate after they are destroyed. Once you have reached adulthood, you have a set number of fat cells in each region of your body that cannot be increased for any reason. The way these fat cells are distributed throughout your body is determined by genetics. Liposuction is performed to remove fat cells from targeted regions of your body that have been resistant to diet and exercise. Once these fat cells are removed, they will never return. The remaining fat cells in the area can still become larger if you gain weight, but since you have a smaller number of overall fat cells there, it is unlikely that you will see your body figure return to its pre-liposuction appearance. However, this does not mean that your post-surgical appearance is permanent. In order to maintain your body contouring results, you must eat a healthy diet and exercise regularly. If you gain weight after liposuction, the fat will be redistributed to the areas of your body which still have larger numbers of fat cells. Often, this redistribution of fat will not be in desirable regions. Fortunately, by maintaining a healthy lifestyle after liposuction, you can enjoy your results for years to come. And with a newly sculpted figure, you will have a strong incentive to live an active, healthy lifestyle. If you are interested in liposuction in the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania area, please contact Dr. David Bottger today to schedule your initial consultation.