What is Liposuction?

Liposuction is one of the key procedures in dermasurgery. The goal of liposuction is to remove stubborn pockets of fat in specific areas of the body where the fat deposits are more conspicuous. A typical liposuction procedure involves the use of a stainless steel suction tube known as the cannula.

With the liposuction procedure, the patient can expect to have an improved body shape. Liposuction typically focuses on removal of pockets of fat from the thighs, hips, abdominal area, upper arms, chin, jowls, and neck area. The liposuction technique is ideally used when the body develops fat deposits that will not go away with physical exercise or diet.

There are different techniques to perform the liposuction procedure. The most common technique is known as “tumescent liposuction.” This technique was developed by Dr. Jeffrey Klein, a dermatologic surgeon in the 1980s. But the basic liposuction procedure remains common in most of the techniques. The cannula is inserted into the target area of the body through small incisions. Thereafter, the cannula vacuums out excess quantities of fat from underneath the skin. The procedure may be conducted with local anesthesia or IV sedation, depending on the type and extent of the surgery being performed.

It is important for the patient to have realistic expectations from liposuction. It is meant to remove selective fat deposits from the body. But it is not a weight loss procedure, but it can bring a dramatic overall transformation to the body.

Liposuction should be performed only by an experienced dermatologic or plastic surgeon. In the event of any complications during the surgery, an experienced surgeon will know how to handle the situation safely. It is also important to have a conservative approach to this surgery. An excessive amount of fat removal in a single day can be detrimental to the health and safety of the patient. Therefore, liposuction must be performed conservatively, and in stages. The current standard of care in the U.S. is to remove less than five liters of fat in a single day.