What is liposuction?

Liposuction surgery improves the contour and proportion of your body by removing excess fat from a wide variety of areas. It slims and reshapes for an enhanced self image.

Areas most commonly treated with liposuction include the chin and neck, hips, abdomen, inner and outer thighs, knees and ankles, and buttocks. Liposuction also may be used to treat a condition called gynecomastia, or male breast enlargement, which occurs among both teenage and adult men.

Liposuction is not an alternative to weight loss, but through plastic surgeons at Cleveland Clinic Cosmetic & Plastic Surgery Center, the procedure offers a way to a smoother, trimmer body for those with areas of fat that won't go away with weight loss or exercise.

Am I a candidate for liposuction?

The best candidate for liposuction is a person of average or slightly above-average weight, in good health, with a localized area of fat that does not respond well to diet and exercise. Liposuction is not an effective treatment for patients with cellulite (the dimpled skin that typically appears on the thighs, hips and buttocks) or loose, saggy skin.

How do I prepare for liposuction?

Plastic surgeons from Cleveland Clinic Cosmetic & Plastic Surgery Center will help you prepare for liposuction by giving you an overview of the procedure and informing you about what you can do to ensure its success. This depends on your complete understanding of the procedure and includes an open, honest conversation with your plastic surgeon during the consultation.

You should be very clear about what your liposuction surgery will entail, including:

• What your recovery will be like and how long it may take
• What preparations you can make for your liposuction surgery
• The results you can expect

Your surgeon will address all of these matters during your liposuction consultation. However, each patient is unique with his or her own body makeup and medical history, which you should share with your surgeon.

• Before and Afters
• Specialists
• FAQs
• Consultation

Before

After

Patient before liposuction (left) and five months after liposuction (right).

Patient before liposuction (left) and five months after liposuction (right).

Patient before liposuction of the abdomen, hips and thighs (left) and five months after this procedure (right).

Patient before liposuction of the abdomen, hips and thighs (left) and five months after this procedure (right).

Patient before liposuction of the abdomen and area below braline to the waist (left) and three weeks after liposuction (right).

Patient before liposuction of the abdomen and area below braline to the waist (left) and three weeks after liposuction (right).

Patient before submental liposuction of neck, cosmetic nose surgery, and cosmetic injectable fillers in lips (left). Patient two months after procedures (right).

• Risal Djohan, MD
• Raymond Isakov, MD

• Edward A. Levy, MD
• Francis Papay, MD

• J. Vicente Poblete, MD
• Randall Yetman, MD
• James Zins, MD

Does liposuction produce permanent results?

Fat cells removed during liposuction can never grow back. However, to maintain your body shape after liposuction, you need to watch your weight. The results will be permanent as long as you maintain your postoperative weight.

Does liposuction cure obesity?

Liposuction should never be viewed as a cure to obesity. The ideal liposuction candidate is within 20 to 30 percent of their ideal body weight and has localized pockets of fat that are diet and exercise resistant.

Can liposuction be completed on more than one area at the same time?

Yes, liposuction can be done on more than one area at the same time if the amount of fat removed does not exceed the recommended amount within the limits of safety.

How soon after liposuction will I see the results?

Improvements will be seen early on (within one to two weeks), although maximum improvement will not be seen for one to three months after the surgery. The amount of time it takes for results to materialize varies greatly from patient to patient. You should expect the healing process to be gradual, with swelling related to surgery being common the first couple of weeks following the procedure. When the swelling subsides, you will begin to see the results of liposuction.

What is the cost for liposuction?

While cost is an important consideration with liposuction, the experience and liposuction expertise of your board certified plastic surgeon is the key to a successful surgery. Cost is dependent on several factors that can only be determined once you are seen by a board certified plastic surgeon.

Factors that weigh into the cost of liposuction include: the size of the patient/number of locations fat will be removed from; the amount of time and effort required by the surgeon, anesthesiologist’s costs, operating room costs and other related expenses, such as compression garments.

One of the best ways to decide if cosmetic surgery is right for you is by meeting with a cosmetic or plastic surgeon at the Cleveland Clinic Cosmetic & Plastic Surgery Center.

During this first consultation, you and your surgeon will discuss your goals and expectations. Your surgeon will also:

• Review your complete medical history (including past and current medications)
• Evaluate the part of your body that you want treated
• Give recommendations
• Answer any questions you have
• Learn more about a physician consultation

How is liposuction performed?

A number of liposuction techniques are currently being performed at Cleveland Clinic Cosmetic & Plastic Surgery Center and they all borrow from surgical principles developed over many years. In most cases, the first thing the surgeon does is inject a solution into the treatment area. The solution is comprised of salt water, local anesthetic and a solution to reduce bleeding. This wetting solution also contains epinephrine, a medication that shrinks blood vessels, which helps to decrease bleeding and bruising. The solution also usually includes a local anesthetic to temporarily minimize pain both during and after surgery.

Fat removal is performed using a cannula or thin tube attached to a vacuum device. After the fluid has been injected, the surgeon makes a small incision (cut) in your skin near the area that contains the fat that is targeted for removal. A narrow metal tube called a cannula is inserted through the cut into the area of excess fat. The cannula is attached to a vacuum pump via a flexible pipe. By manipulating the cannula back and forth through the fat, the surgeon can remove the fat cells. Usually, the incisions are closed with a few stitches. Since no skin is removed when liposuction is performed, a surgeon relies on skin contraction or elasticity to maintain its shape.

Are there different options for liposuction?

There are two primary types of liposuction performed at Cleveland Clinic Cosmetic & Plastic Surgery Center. The amount of wetting solution injected before the procedure varies depending on the technique used. Tumescent liposuction is differentiated from the super-wet technique by the amount of fluid that is injected.

Super-wet liposuction:

The wetting solution is equal to the volume of fat removed. This technique requires intravenous (IV) sedation or general anesthesia.

Tumescent liposuction:

The wetting solution is two to three times the volume of fat removed. This solution causes fat deposits to swell (tumesce). Tumescent liposuction is the most commonly used liposuction technique and requires either local anesthesia sedation, or general anesthesia. Both techniques result in less bleeding, and therefore less bruising.

Other types of liposuction include ultrasound-assisted liposuction (UAL), VASER® (ultrasound-guided liposuction) and SmartLipo™, a laser-assisted lipolysis system. While these techniques differ in some details, they all follow certain basic principles that have been developed over many years.

What results can I expect?

During liposuction, the fat cells are removed permanently, so if you gain weight after the procedure it usually will not concentrate in the area that was treated. However, it is important to understand that liposuction will not prevent you from gaining weight. To keep your new shape and new weight after liposuction, you must follow a proper diet and exercise plan.

What are the possible risks of liposuction?

All surgical procedures involve some risk. Liposuction has a good safety record, and the risks associated with the procedure are minimized when performed by a specially trained, board-certified plastic surgeon. Although rare, risks include infection and skin discoloration. Patients with cellulite may develop skin irregularities due to under- or over-correction of localized fat deposits. The risk of medical problems from liposuction can be minimized by avoiding extremely long procedures or excessive removal of fat.

What is involved in recovery?

Liposuction is an outpatient procedure, and, generally, recovery is fairly rapid. Most people can return to work within a few days and to normal activities within about two weeks. Every person’s outcome will vary based on factors such as volume of fat cells removed and area of removal. Your doctor will discuss what results you can expect to achieve and how to best maintain your new body shape.

Why choose us?

If you’re considering liposuction, look for a board-certified plastic surgeon with specialized training and significant experience performing liposuction. Consider going to a plastic surgeon who is affiliated with a major medical center, such as at Cleveland Clinic. Ask your plastic surgeon about credentials, training and how many liposuction procedures he or she has performed.

Is this procedure covered by health insurance?

Like all cosmetic procedures, liposuction is not covered by health insurance plans. Ask to talk with a financial representative from Cleveland Clinic Cosmetic & Plastic Surgery Center who can explain the costs of the procedure and payment options.

This information is provided by the Cleveland Clinic and is not intended to replace the medical advice of your doctor or health care provider. Please consult your health care provider for advice about a specific medical condition.

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