Liposuction is a procedure that can help sculpt the body by removing unwanted fat from specific areas, including the abdomen, hips, buttocks, thighs, knees, upper arms, chin, cheeks and neck. During the past decade, liposuction, which is also known as lipoplasty or suction lipectomy, has benefited from several new refinements. Today, a number of new techniques, including ultrasound-assisted lipoplasty (UAL), the tumescent technique, and the super-wet technique, help to provide selected patients with more precise results and quicker recovery times. Although no type of liposuction is a substitute for dieting and exercise, liposuction can remove stubborn areas of fat that don't respond to traditional weight-loss methods. With this procedure localized deposits of fat are removed to recontour one or more areas of the body. A narrow tube or cannula is inserted through a tiny incision and used to vacuum the fat layer that lies deep beneath the skin. The cannula is pushed then pulled through the fat layer, breaking up the fat cells and suctioning them out.

Liposuction is most commonly recommended for men and women of normal weight who simply want to improve their body contour. The procedure can produce excellent results for people who have deposits of excess fat that make certain body areas appear disproportionately large. Although liposuction is not a treatment for obesity, it can permanently alter body proportion and is sometimes the only way to eliminate fat deposits that do not respond to diet and exercise.

People of almost any age may undergo liposuction; however, patients with good skin elasticity will achieve the smoothest contour after fat is removed. You may be a good candidate for liposuction if you desire fat removal or contouring in any of the following areas:

Cheeks, chin and neck
Upper arms
Breast or chest area
Back
Abdomen and waist
Hips and buttocks
Thighs
Inner knee
Calves and ankles

Liposuction can….

be performed on several areas of the body at the same time or done in conjunction with other cosmetic surgery procedures, as long as you understand that there is increased risk and your surgeon feels that having multiple procedures is a safe option for you.

be used to treat some cases of gynecomastia, or male breast enlargement, which occurs in both teenagers and adult men.

Liposuction can't …

Serve as a substitute for dieting and exercise
Effectively treat cellulite (a condition that gives the skin a dimpled appearance).

Also, certain medical conditions may complicate liposuction. They include: diabetes, high blood pressure or heart disease and previous surgery near the area to be contoured. It's important to let your plastic surgeon know if you have any of these medical conditions or if you have had surgery in the past.


A personal consultation in our office is the first step for every patient considering liposuction. During this meeting, your surgeon will assess your physical and emotional health and discuss your specific cosmetic goals for the procedure.

You should arrive at the consultation ready to provide complete information about:

Previous surgical procedures
Past and present medical conditions
Medications you are taking, including herbal remedies or nutritional supplements

Depending on the parts of your body that you would like to have treated with liposuction, you may be asked to undress. Your surgeon will fully assess the extent of correction needed. You'll also be asked to point out the exact areas where you would like to see improvement. Your surgeon will also check your blood pressure and weight and ask you if you are planning to lose or gain weight in the future.


To perform liposuction, one or more small incisions are made near the area to be suctioned. Whenever possible, incisions are placed within the natural folds or contour lines of the skin so that they are inconspicuous. The surgeon then places a slim, hollow tube called a cannula through the incision so that its tip penetrates the underlying fat. After the cannula is connected by flexible tubing to a suction pump, the surgeon moves the cannula back and forth through the fat, which is vacuumed into the tube.

Several variations to the basic liposuction techniques have been introduced. The fat-removal technique that best meets your needs depends on a number of individual factors that your surgeon will discuss with you.

Our surgeons use the tumescent techniques, in which the fat is pre-injected with a salt-water solution containing small amounts of adrenaline and sometimes local anesthetic.


Each year thousands of people undergo liposuction and experience no major complication. However, you must fully understand the risks as well as the procedure.

One of the most important parts of your consultation is the discussion that you and your surgeon will have about the possible complications of liposuction. In addition to listening carefully to what your surgeon tells you, be sure to raise any questions or concerns that you may have about the safety of the procedure.

By carefully following your surgeon's advice and instructions--both before and after surgery--you can do your part to minimize some of the risks.


When the date for your surgery has been set, your plastic surgeon will provide you with specific instructions for the days immediately before and after your surgery. A number of points may be covered, including:

Avoiding certain medication that may complicate surgery or recovery
Stopping smoking for a period of time before and after surgery
Arranging for help or special care following surgery


Liposuction is usually performed in our office based surgical suite.

Various types of anesthesia can be used for liposuction. Your surgeon will select the type of anesthesia that provides the safest and most effective level of comfort for your procedure. For some patients, local anesthesia is used (usually with sedation) which numbs only the affected areas. For others, regional anesthesia, such as an epidural block (the kind of anesthesia commonly used in childbirth) or general anesthesia may be the best choice.

Your physical status will be closely monitored throughout the procedure and during your recovery.


When the procedure is complete, you will be taken to a recovery area. For some patients, small drainage tubes will have been placed beneath the skin. Any discomfort you may feel can be controlled with medication prescribed by your plastic surgeon. An elastic bandage or specially designed compression garment may have been applied over the treated areas to control swelling and assist healing. Your surgeon will tell you how long you must wear the garment and how you can remove it to bathe.

If only a small amount of liposuction has been done, you will be encouraged to get out of bed very shortly after the surgery. If multiple areas have been treated, you will probably remain in bed for a day or two, getting up to go to the bathroom and for meals.

Keep in mind that the speed of your recovery depends largely on the extent of your surgery. Although everyone heals at a different rate, you can expect that your recovery will follow this general time line:

Within the first week
The swelling will reach its peak and then begin to subside.
Your stitches will be removed.
You may return to non-strenuous work.

After several weeks
Bruises will fade and eventually disappear.
Areas that felt numb will regain normal sensation.
You may resume most of your normal exercise and activities.
Swelling will continue to subside.


Quite soon after surgery you will see a noticeable difference in the shape of your body. However, improvement will become even more apparent after a couple of months, when fluid retention and swelling have subsided. For most patients, the final result is evident after about three months.

After your liposuction surgery, you may notice that clothes fit more comfortably and you feel more confident about your appearance. As long as you maintain your postoperative weight, your new, slimmer contour will be permanent. Many patients who gain a few pounds after surgery find that the weight distributes itself more evenly and does not settle in the same "problem areas."


After the initial healing period, you will return to your surgeon's office for a postoperative follow-up visit so that your progress can be evaluated. In the following months your surgeon may ask you to return for periodic checkups. It's important to keep these appointments so that your surgeon can assess your long-term results and address any questions or concerns you may have.