Liposuction, also known as liposculpture, is a cosmetic surgery operation to improve your body shape by removing unwanted fat from areas of the body. Liposuction (lipoplasty) is particularly well-suited for women and men who are of relatively normal weight but have isolated pockets of fat that cause certain areas of their body to appear disproportionate. Liposuction is a procedure that can help sculpt the body by removing unwanted fat from specific areas, including the abdomen, hips, buttocks, thighs, knees, upper arms, chin, cheeks and neck. Many patients become discouraged at having lost unwanted pounds without seeing a flatter abdomen. The overall proportions of the body may be unbalanced, or the abdomen may simply have retained areas of fatty tissue that cause it to protrude.

These localized fat deposits may sometimes be an inherited trait and typically do not respond to dieting or exercise. Liposuction is often the only way to eliminate them. In these cases, liposuction can successfully trim excess fat in the abdomen for a flatter abdomen and more slender, balanced shape. Liposuction can be performed consecutively on many different sites; in fact, many patients choose to have several body parts treated during the same day. On average, liposuction takes 1-2 hours per area treated. With the Tumescent Technique, large volumes of saline solution, local anesthesia, and adrenaline are infused into the fatty area being treated to cause swelling. Liposuction is not a treatment for weight control or obesity and it cannot remove cellulite or stretch marks.

Liposuction carries greater risk for individuals with medical problems such as diabetes, significant heart or lung disease, poor blood circulation, or those who have recently had surgery near the area to be contoured. There are several types of liposuction procedures available, Tumescent liposuction involves the injection if a large amount of anesthetic into the area being treated. In ultrasonic assisted liposuction (UAL), sound waves are used to liquefy the fat before it is removed. LipoSelection uses the same concept without disturbing the surrounding tissue. Liposuction is not a very complicated plastic surgery procedure, as with all surgery, it has certain risks. The risk of drug reactions is possible in people who are allergic to certain substances.

Juliet Cohen writes articles for plastic surgery and skin care blog. She also writes articles on beauty tips.

Liposuction, also known as Liposculpture, is the most commonly performed plastic surgery in the United States where more than 400,000 men and women annually undergo this procedure. A cosmetic surgery that contours and sculpts your body into a slimmer profile, Liposuction removes unwanted and excess fat. By reducing total body fat, it can help to lower cholesterol, and reduce the risk of diabetes and heart disease.


Liposuction Candidates

Three categories of men and women seek Liposuction to achieve their ideal appearance, after trying unsuccessfully to do so through diet and exercise.


The first category of patients includes those who wish to reduce their size, including women who have gained weight due to pregnancy, hormonal fluctuations or medications. This category also includes men and women who undergo Large Volume Liposuction. Normally, Liposuction involves the removal of about two litres of fat, about the size of a “Coke” bottle. During Large Volume Liposuction, however, five or more litres of fat are removed resulting in a dramatic reduction in size.


The second category includes those who have disproportionate areas of fat in their abdomen, hips, thighs, buttocks, knees, cheeks and neck. These problem areas are commonly known as “saddlebags,” “thunder thighs,” “love handles” and “double chins.” Often, these stubborn areas of fat have genetic origins, and cannot be reduced by diet and exercise.


The third category of patients includes men who suffer from Gynecomastia, excessive breast growth due to the enlargement of breast glands, and excess fatty tissue.


In all cases, men and women who undergo Liposculpture should have had a stabilized weight for at least six months. Liposuction is not a solution for ridding of stretch marks or of cellulite.


Liposuction Techniques

There are three techniques for performing Liposuction, which vary in safety and effectiveness. All involve the insertion of a cannula — a small wand-like instrument connected to a high-powered suction machine — into tiny incisions made by the plastic surgeon into the targeted area. It is through this instrument that the plastic surgeon draws fat from beneath the skin.


Tumescent Liposuction refers to the commonest, and safest, method. “Tumescence” is the swelling and firming of fatty tissues through the infusion of a saline solution that contains Lidocaine, an anesthetic with adrenaline, which reduces blood loss and bruising.

Your plastic surgeon will soak the area with a solution that is two to three times the amount of fat and fluids to be removed. In Super-Wet Tumescent Liposuction, however, tissues are infused with fluids equal to the amount of fat and fluids to be removed. Super-Wet Liposuction uses a solution that has smaller amounts of, or no, Lidocaine, reducing the risk of Lidocaine toxicity.


Once the area is sufficiently plumped up, the plastic surgeon removes the loosened fat cells, suctioning fat and fluid through transparent vacuum-like tubes.


Power Assisted Liposuction hastens the process by an electronic-powered cannula which, like a jackhammer, suctions fat more quickly. While it lessens the plastic surgeon’s exertion, it also reduces the ability to contour with precision, especially in delicate areas like the neck and the face. Likewise, Ultrasonic Assisted Liposuction, which bombards subcutaneous fatty tissues with waves of heat and energy and was developed for use in more fibrous areas, has a high rate of risks and complications such as burns, and is not a patient’s best option.


Liposuction Results

For optimal results, Liposuction should be performed by a plastic surgeon who has a honed aesthetic sense, as well as excellent surgical skills. The surgeon must work diligently to locate the appropriate areas of subcutaneous fat in order to successfully sculpt and contour those areas. It is therefore of the utmost importance to select a cosmetic surgeon who has the highest credentials, a fine artistic sense and who is highly experienced in performing Liposuction.

Dave Stringham is the President of LookingYourBest.com an online resource for plastic surgery. Learn more about liposuction at
LookingYourBest.com or BeautifulSelf.com


Defining Tumescent Liposuction Basically, tumescent liposuction is a surgical procedure that is involved in the removal of excess body fat. Both traditional liposuction techniques and tumescent anesthesia are used during this sort of surgical procedure. Tumescent liposuction is one of the many procedures that is newer to the cosmetic surgery line up. In fact, tumescent liposuction was not used until the 1990´s. In comparison to other liposuction procedures, tumescent liposuction has many benefits when it comes to a lessened amount of bleeding during the surgery and a quicker recovery period afterwards. Lidocaine and epinephrine are the two main items that make tumescent liposuction so much different from traditional liposuction procedures. The lidocaine that is used will serve as a local anesthetic to the patient and they will not need to undergo general anesthesia. The epinephrine is what helps to keep the bleeding at a minimum during the surgery, as it will temporarily cause the capillaries to become restricted. With tumescent liposuction, a minimum amount of sedative is all that has to be used. The lidocaine and epinepherine will be injected into the fat under the skin and will cause the fat to become firm and swell up, which makes it easier to remove. The lidocaine will actually be retained in the patient’s body several hours after the surgery has been completed, which will help with any pains post surgery. In fact, the patient will be able to enjoy twelve or more hours of pain free recovery because of the lidocaine. The patient will not have to experience the extreme disorientation that many other patients who undergo traditional liposuction procedures have to deal with due to the amount of sedative they must take. Nausea is another unpleasant feeling that tumescent liposuction patients will not have to deal with in comparison to traditional liposuction patients. There are risks to this type of liposuction procedure, just as there are with any other surgical procedure. The patients will hae to suffer through some side effects such as bruising and swelling. Patients may also experience some temporary numbness of the treated area of skin and tissue. There may be some significant drainage in certain effected areas and there may also be some skin irregularities that result from this surgical procedure. However, skin irregularities only occur in a small percentage of patients and this form of surgery is generally quite safe.