Despite good health, some individuals may still have a body with disproportionate contours due to localized fat deposits. These are our “problem areas” and are generally hereditary rather than due to a lack of weight control or fitness. If you are bothered by excess fat deposits that do not respond to diet or exercise, liposuction may be right for you. In general, liposuction slims and reshapes specific areas of the body and is not a substitute for weight loss nor is it a treatment for obesity. Excellent candidates are within 20% of their ideal body weight and have good skin tone.
Liposuction, or suction-assisted lipectomy (SAL), involves the use of a blunt cannula (a hollow tube with multiple openings at the end) to remove fatty deposits beneath the skin through a few tiny incisions. It employs vacuum pressure to suction the unwanted fat away. Each particular “problem area” is targeted specifically to improve the contour and restore a better overall body shape. Liposuction is frequently performed in the upper and lower abdomen, flanks, hips, inner and outer thighs, inner knees, upper arms, and male breasts. Liposuction is often combined with other procedures such as abdominoplasty (tummy tuck surgery), breast augmentation, mastopexy (breast lift), thigh lift, or can be used in the neck when performing facelift surgery.