Liposuction surgery treats areas of excess fat in the stomach, buttocks, hips, love handles, saddlebags, thighs, calves, ankles, breasts, back, arms and neck. Most liposuction procedures involve making a small skin puncture and then utilizing various modalities to loosen the fat prior to suctioning the fat through a small hollow tube or cannula. Some describe the procedure as “liposculpture” because the process of fat reduction with liposuction creates slimmer and more ideal shapes and contours.
Liposuction surgery can be performed alone or in conjunction with an open procedure to contour the overlying skin. The results are best when you are near your ideal weight, but have some specific areas or “pockets” of fat that are exercise and diet resistant. While liposuction can improve the look of cellulite in some cases, there is no guarantee that it will smooth out or remove the dimpled appearance in the skin.
Am I a good candidate for liposuction?
While every patient who goes in for a consultation will be individually assessed to determine if they are healthy enough to undergo surgery, there are some conditions that could indicate that liposuction is right for you:
You have areas of fat deposits that are out of proportion with the rest of your body and do not go away with diet and exercise
Your skin elasticity is good – there is not a lot of excess skin and the area is firm (liposuction removes fat, not skin)
You wish there was more definition in certain areas of your body or a sleeker contour
Oftentimes, if there is too much loose skin around the stomach area due to weight loss or pregnancy, your plastic surgeon might opt for a tummy tuck vs. liposuction. A tummy tuck or abdominoplasty can tighten loose skin and muscle, while removing excess fat that is sagging or protruding from your mid-section.
