If you’re already at a healthy weight but struggle with stubborn pockets of fat that diet and exercise can’t seem to budge, you may be looking to body contouring surgery as a solution. So what is liposuction and is it right for you?
Liposuction (aka lipo) is a popular procedure that helps people slim down specific areas by gently suctioning out unwanted fat deposits.
Guide:
- What Is Liposuction?
- Am I A Good Candidate?
- Benefits of Liposuction
- Risks & Safety
- Recovery Timeline
- Results
What Is Liposuction?
Liposuction is a form of plastic surgery that removes excess fat from specific body areas that store more fat cells yet can’t be successfully targeted with diet and exercise alone.
Patients seek liposuction to slim down the areas that concern them and achieve a more proportional body frame. People turn to liposuction to target and contour areas including:
- Abdomen and waist as a whole
- Hips and Buttocks
- Thighs (Inner and Outer)
- Back (Bra Rolls)
- Calves and Knees
- Arms
- Neck, chin, and face
- Chest
Crucial Distinction: Shape vs. Weight
What is achievable through liposuction? How much weight can you lose? Liposuction can sculpt the body and enhance your natural body shape, not shed pounds. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, liposuction treats localized fat deposits but is not a solution for weight loss and should not be used to substitute diet and exercise.
Through tiny, unnoticeable incisions, liposuction uses a thin hollow tube (cannula) to displace excess fat using a precise back-and-forth motion. The fat is then suctioned out of the body using either a syringe attached to the cannula or a surgical vacuum.
Types of Liposuction Techniques
There are a variety of different techniques. The type used depends on your surgeon’s preference and the extent of your concerns:
Traditional Liposuction: Uses a cannula to physically break up fat beneath the skin before using a vacuum to remove it.
Power-Assisted Liposuction (PAL): A suitable technique for stubborn fat, as this uses a vibrating cannula that shreds the fat in a way that makes it easier to remove.
Ultrasound-Assisted Liposuction: Uses ultrasonic vibrations to deliver high energy to stubborn fat to help dissolve it. VASER liposuction is the most popular, powerful, and cutting-edge form of this technique.
Laser-Assisted Liposuction: Uses the energy of a laser to dissolve fat cells.
Water-Assisted Liposuction: Uses a high-pressure stream of saline to loosen fat cells.
You may be wondering, is liposuction safe and combinable? Liposuction can safely be performed alone or with other cosmetic procedures. For example, abdominal liposuction is often part of a mommy makeover, and combining chin/neck liposuction with a facelift is popular.
Liposuction costs vary depending on experience and location. It is not covered by insurance as it is an elective procedure.
Am I A Good Candidate For Liposuction?
Perfect liposuction candidates are within 20-30 pounds of their ideal weight and have firm, elastic skin and good muscle tone. If the aging process or weight loss has left your skin soft, weak, and thin, removing the fat beneath may mean your skin will not reshape well. In this case, we recommend combining your liposuction with skin removal surgeries (like a tummy tuck).
Liposuction patients should be in good overall health with no underlying medical conditions and be non-smokers.
As Mayo Clinic says, the best candidates for liposuction naturally carry a lot of fat in specific body areas but are otherwise at a stable, healthy body weight. If you often find yourself experiencing substantial weight fluctuations, you may not be an ideal candidate for lipo.
What Are The Benefits Of Liposuction?
Liposuction results can be dramatic and long-lasting if you maintain a stable weight postoperatively. Benefits include:
- Permanent fat removal from stubborn areas that don’t respond to diet or exercise
- Boosts confidence
- Can motivate you to lead a healthier lifestyle long-term
- Proven to be a safe and effective solution for spot-reducing fat
- Improves your overall body shape and proportions
- Leaves virtually invisible scars
What Are The Risks?
As with any cosmetic procedure, liposuction does include some risks. Most are rare or easily treatable in the hands of an experienced board-certified plastic surgeon. The usual side effects, like swelling and bruising, usually fade on their own. Other possible risks include:
- Problems with anesthesia
- Broken cannula
- Persisting numbness or sensation changes
- Hematoma (fluid accumulation)
- Irregular contours or Asymmetries
- Irregular pigmentation
- Infection
- Thermal burn or heat injury (with specific techniques)
- Rippling of thin skin
What Is Liposuction Recovery Like?
Following your liposuction procedure, your surgical team may apply dressings or bandages. You will typically wear an elastic bandage or compression garment during liposuction recovery. This helps reduce swelling and provides necessary support while healing.
Be prepared to closely follow the detailed instructions given to you by your surgical team, including drain care (if applicable) and medication schedules. To help you plan, here is a typical recovery timeline:
| Days 1-7 | Rest Phase: You’ll need plenty of rest and must limit physical activity. Close monitoring of swelling and bruising is key. |
| Weeks 2-3 | Back to Routine: You should feel significantly better and be able to return to work, but continue limiting exercise to light walks. |
| Week 6 | Activity Resumes: Most patients can gradually return to usual activities like the gym. |
| Months 3-6 | Final Results: Swelling diminishes, revealing your final body contour. |
How Long Do Lipo Results Last?
Provided you follow a balanced diet and an exercise routine to avoid weight fluctuations, your liposuction results should be permanent. In the areas where fat removal occurs, your body can’t grow new fat.
However, substantial weight gain can still harm your results by causing remaining fat cells in untreated areas to expand. It’s also usual with age for the body to loosen up; if the natural aging process leaves you with sagging, you may eventually consider an additional body contouring procedure.
Are you in Dallas and considering liposuction to sculpt your body? Request a consultation with Dr. David Liland, a board-certified plastic surgeon specializing in body contouring.