Type of Surgery
Information
Last updated: 11/24/2009
Liposuction is intended to reduce and smooth the contours of the body and improve a person's appearance. Its goal is cosmetic improvement. It is the most commonly performed cosmetic procedure in the United States.
Liposuction does not remove...
large quantities of fat and is not intended as a weight reduction technique. The average amount of fat removed is about a quart (liter). Although liposuction is not intended to remove cellulite (lumpy fat), some doctors believe that it improves the appearance of areas that contain cellulite, including thighs, hips, buttocks, abdomen, and chin. A new technique called liposhaving shows more promise at reducing cellulite.
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Fat cells change in size throughout our lives, depending on what we eat and how active we are. One way to remove these fat cells is through liposuction, described in the video. Both traditional and newer liposuction techniques like laser ablation (Smart liposuction) are discussed and described.
The areas to be treated during liposuction are marked before surgery (A) and then injected with a solution to aid in fat removal (B). The surgeon inserts a cannula into the areas (C), then suctions out fat with a back and forth motion (D). (Illustration by GGS Inc.)
Other Information
Liposuction, also known as lipoplasty ("fat modeling"), liposculpture or suction lipectomy ("suction-assisted fat removal") is a cosmetic surgery operation that removes fat from many different sites on the human body. Areas affected can range from the abdomen, thighs, buttocks, to the neck, backs of the arms and elsewhere.
Liposuction is not a low-effort alternative to exercise and diet. It is a form of body contouring with significant attendant risks and is not a weight loss method. The amount of fat removed varies by doctor, method, and patient, but is typically less than 10 pounds (5 kg).
There are several factors that limit the amount of fat that can be safely removed in one session. Ultimately, the operating physician and the patient make the decision. There are negative aspects to removing too much fat. Unusual "lumpiness" and/or "dents" in the skin can be seen in those patients "over-suctioned". The more fat removed the higher the surgical risk.
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