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What is liposuction?
Liposuction, also known as lipoplasty and suction-assisted lipectomy, is a plastic surgery procedure able to recontour the body through the removal of excess fat from specific areas. Commonly treated areas include the chin, neck, upper arms, abdomen, hips, thighs, and buttocks.

Who is a good candidate for liposuction?
The ideal candidates for liposuction include men and women who are of normal weight but have isolated pockets of fat which have proven resistant to diet and exercise. Though liposuction may be performed at any age, the best results tend to be achieved on patients who have firm, elastic skin which can provide a smoother contour after surgery.

What are the risks or complications that can occur with liposuction?
As with any surgical procedure, there are potential risks associated with liposuction and these may include asymmetry, bleeding, infection, poor healing, reaction to anesthesia, and skin pigmentation changes.

How is liposuction performed?
Though there are variations in how liposuction may be performed, there is one basic technique used for all liposuction procedure. For this technique, a cannula, or thin hollow tube, is inserted into the layers of fat deep beneath the skin through tiny incisions. The surgeon manipulates the cannula with a push/pull motion that breaks up the fat cells which are then removed through a suction device connected to the cannula.

What is the recovery like after liposuction?
Depending on the patient and the extent of the procedure, recovery after liposuction can take anywhere from one to six months. Swelling and bruising are common with the majority swelling fading after a week and bruising taking three weeks or longer to subside. Most patients are able to return to work within one to two weeks, though it will be two to four weeks before more strenuous activities may be resumed.

Are the results of liposuction permanent?
The results of liposuction can be permanent provided patients follow a sensible diet and exercise after surgery. Patients who gain weight after surgery usually see the new fat distributed to other areas on the body.

What is the cost of liposuction?
There are a number of factors which can influence the cost of liposuction including the size and number of areas treated, the surgeon, and the patient’s geographic location. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), the national average surgeon/physician fee for liposuction in 2005 was $2,323.

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