Liposuction is a process that can help sculpt the body by removing unwanted fat from specific areas, including the abdomen, hips, buttocks, thighs, knees, upper arms, chin, cheeks and neck. During the long-ago decade, liposuction, which is also known as lipoplasty or suction lipectomy, has benefited from several new refinements. Today, a number of new techniques, comprising ultrasound-assisted lipoplasty, the tumescent technique, and the super-wet technique, are helping many plastic surgeons to provide selected patients with more precise results and quicker recovery times. Even though no type of liposuction is a substitute for dieting and exercise, liposuction can remove stubborn areas of fat that don't respond to traditional weight-loss methods.

Best candidates for liposuction

To be a good candidate for liposuction, you must have realistic prospect about what the procedure can do for you. It's important to appreciate that liposuction can enhance your appearance and self confidence, but it won't necessarily change your looks to match your ideal or cause other people to treat you differently. Before you make a decision to have surgery, think carefully about your expectations and discuss them with your surgeon. The best candidates for liposuction are normal-weight people with firm, elastic skin who have pockets of excess fat in certain places. You should be bodily healthy, psychologically stable and realistic in your expectations. Your age is not a major consideration; though, older patients may have diminished skin elasticity and may not achieve the same results as a younger patient with tighter skin. Liposuction carries higher risk for individuals with medical problems such as diabetes, significant heart or lung disease, poor blood circulation, or those who have recently had surgery near the area to be contoured.

Planning for surgery

In your initial consultation, your surgeon will assess your health, determine where your fat deposits lie and assess the condition of your skin. Your surgeon will give details the body-contouring methods that may be most appropriate for you. For example, if you consider you want liposuction in the abdominal area, you may learn that an abdominoplasty or "tummy tuck" may more effectively meet your goals; or that a combination of traditional liposuction and UAL would be the best choice for you.