Click here to learn more about the Lasky Clinic’s Dr. Andrew Frankel Procedures Spotlight: Facelift The appearance of our face and how it ages plays a large role in how we feel about ourselves and how others... continue Dr. Stevens in People Magazine about his surgery on Sharon Osbourne.

Liposuction, a procedure designed to eliminate unwanted bulges of fat from different areas of the body, is the most commonly performed plastic surgery procedure. When performed by a qualified surgeon, liposuction is very safe and results in minimal scarring and short recovery times. Though weight loss may not be remarkable after the procedure, the changes in body contour can be dramatic because fat is removed from targeted areas.

View before & after liposuction photos

Who is a good candidate for liposuction?

There are certain areas on the body where ‘slow burning’ fat is stored, areas which will vary from person to person. The particular shape of the figure, be it an ‘hourglass’ or ‘pear’ shape, is often defined by these slow burning fat bulges. Unfortunately, they can be very hard to get rid of and, even with diet and exercise, weight loss is most likely to occur in other areas of the body first.

The good news is that liposuction can specifically target these stubborn areas of fat. By eliminating or reducing the fat producing cells in these areas, fat is stored in other areas and the contour of the body is thus changed.

Women often find that certain areas of the body are disproportionate to the rest of the body, areas like the thighs, hips, or abdomen for instance. With liposuction, the surgeon can targets these specific areas and literally sculpt the body, creating a more attractive shape. Liposuction may be combined with other procedures to obtain the best results. Because muscle tone and skin tone are not affected by liposuction, patients with hanging skin may be better candidates for dermatolipectomy.

liposuction performed on small areas often requires just local anesthesia, while more extensive areas may require twilight anesthesia or general anesthesia.

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.

More liposuction FAQs