Liposuction is one of the most popular cosmetic procedures done today.    Liposuction is most commonly recommended for men and women of normal weight who simply want to improve their body contour and have good skin elasticity.  The procedure can produce excellent results for people who have deposits of excess fat that do not respond to diet and exercise.  It is important to know that liposuction is not a treatment for obesity.

Liposuction may be used to remove fat deposits and contour the following areas of the body:

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

It is important to clearly understand what liposuction can and can not do.

Liposuction can slim the hips and thighs and provide a smoother contour for the inner knee, calves and ankles.

Liposuction can flatten the abdomen, remove fat from the under-arms, eliminate a double chin and contour the face or neck.

Liposuction can be performed on several areas of the body at the same time or in conjunction with other cosmetic surgery procedures, as long as it is understood there is increased risk and the surgeon feels multiple procedures is a safe option.

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

Liposuction can not serve as a substitute for dieting and exercise.

Liposuction can not effectively treat cellulite (a condition that gives the skin a dimpled appearance).

The best way to determine if liposuction is a good option for you is to meet with a qualified general plastic surgeon.  During your consultation the surgeon will assess your physical and emotional health, and discuss your specific goals for the procedure.  Your surgeon will check the elasticity of your skin and may feel certain areas to assess the thickness of the underlying layer of fat.  The surgeon will then review the different procedures and recommend the best options to meet your goals.

Liposuction is usually done on an outpatient basis in a hospital, outpatient surgery center or in an office-based surgical suite.  It may be performed under local, epidural or general anesthesia.  The procedure involves making one or more small incisions near the area to be suctioned.  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.  There are a couple different techniques including tumescent and ultrasound-assisted lipoplasty the surgeon may use depending on several individual factors.

It is important to understand the risks of liposuction surgery, which should be discussed with your surgeon prior to the procedure.  Some of the risks of include asymmetry, rippling or bagginess of the skin.  These may occur if the surgeon removes too much fat.  Other risks include fluid retention and infection.

Recovery time ranges from one to four weeks depending upon the extent of the procedure.  During the first week, a patient may expect swelling and some bruising.  After several weeks the bruises will fade and eventually disappear, areas that felt numb will regain normal sensation, and the swelling should subside.  A patient may expect to be fully recovered from swelling and bruising one to six months from the date of the procedure.

The results of liposuction are usually apparent immediately and should remain permanent with sensible diet and exercise.  Patients usually notice clothes fit more comfortably and feel more confident about their appearance.

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