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Liposuction

The Quick Facts Length of Procedure: Varies with amount of tissue being removed Anesthesia: Local, with sedation, regional, or general In or Outpatient Procedure: Outpatient View Post-Op Instructions

Liposuction, also called lipoplasty or suction assisted lipectomy, removes deposits of excess fat from specific areas of your body. For example, it can slim your hips and thighs, flatten your abdomen, reshape your waist, or eliminate a double chin.

Liposuction is particularly well suited for men and women who have relatively normal weight but isolated areas of fat that cause their body to appear disproportionate. These localized fat deposits may sometimes be an inherited trait and typically do not respond to diet and exercise. Liposuction is often the only way to eliminate them.

Through a tiny incision, a narrow tube or cannula is inserted and used to vacuum the fat layer that lies deep beneath the skin. The cannula is pushed then pulled through the fat layer, breaking up the fat cells and suctioning them out. There are several liposuction techniques that can be used to improve the ease of the procedure and to enhance outcome. These include ultrasound-assisted lipoplasty (UAL), the tumescent technique, and the super-wet technique.

For additional information on Liposuction, visit the American Society of Plastic Surgeons for this procedure.