Liposuction

Procedure:

• Liposuction is a surgical procedure that uses suction technology to remove fat from specific areas of the body, such as the abdomen, hips, thighs, buttocks, arms, or neck.
• Liposuction also shapes (contours) these areas. Other names for liposuction include lipoplasty and body contouring.
• Liposuction is not usually considered a comprehensive weight-loss method or an alternative to weight loss.

Who is the candidate?

• To be a candidate for liposuction, you must be in good health without any conditions that might complicate the surgery — such as restricted blood flow, coronary artery disease, diabetes, or a weakened immune system.
• If you are overweight, you are likely to lose more weight through diet and exercise or through bariatric procedures — such as gastric bypass surgery — than through liposuction.
• You may be a candidate for liposuction if you have a lot of body fat in certain areas but your body weight is stable.
• Liposuction is used to remove fat from areas of the body that have not responded to diet and exercise, such as the abdomen, upper arms, buttocks, legs and ankles, chest and back, hips and thighs, chin and neck. In addition, liposuction can sometimes be used to reduce breast size or treat gynecomastia.