No, fat cells themselves don't move around the body. While some people believe fat moves from one part of the body to another after liposuction, this is incorrect. Fat cells lack a tail that would propel them like sperm cells. Instead, fat cells migrate using a different mechanism. [1, 3, 5, 6]
However, if you gain weight after liposuction, other areas of your body can increase in size with new fat cells. [2, 7] It's important to remember that liposuction is a procedure to improve the appearance of specific areas, not a solution for weight loss. [1] Fat cells are not eliminated from the body, only removed from the treated area.
Here's how fat cells can grow or shrink:
- Gaining weight: When you consume more calories than your body uses, the existing fat cells increase in size. [2]
- Losing weight: When you burn more calories than you consume, your fat cells shrink, but they don't disappear. [2]
- New fat cell formation: New fat cells can form in any area of the body, including treated areas after liposuction. [7]
While fat cells don't move, they can be transferred from one area of the body to another through surgical procedures like fat grafting. [8] This procedure involves removing fat from one location and injecting it into another, like the breasts or face. [8]
Overall, fat cells are not mobile, but their size can change with weight fluctuations. Additionally, fat cells can be surgically transferred, but they don't move independently.
