Do you wish you had a trimmer, tighter, younger-looking body but no matter how much you diet and exercise, you just can’t get there? Liposuction is a highly successful way to dramatically reduce stubborn fat deposits that diet and exercise have not been able to erase. It also noticeably improves your body's shape by tightening and toning the abdomen, trimming the waist, contouring the buttocks, and slimming the thighs and lower legs. To learn more about the range of body sculpting procedures I offer, click here.
The 10 areas of the body where liposuction is the most effective
Liposuction can be performed on several areas of the body at the same time. It can also be done in conjunction with other cosmetic surgery procedures. Here are the areas where liposuction is most commonly requested and where it achieves the best results:
1. Waist
For both men and women, “love handles” can be extremely hard to get rid of, even with a healthy regimen of diet and exercise. The waist area is very responsive to liposuction because of optimal skin elasticity, and patients who undergo waist liposuction experience a notable decrease in waist size.
- Flanks
Like the waist, the flank area also has great skin elasticity. This area is considered the back end of the “love handles” and resides in the lower back above the pant line. Liposuction in this area is commonly done in conjunction with the waist to give an even contour and smooth midsection transition, enabling female patients to achieve the hourglass curves they desire.
- Hips
In most women, it is very important to shape this area properly in order to create a rounder, more well-defined buttock as well as a curvy feminine silhouette.
- Upper Arms
A common sign of aging is excess fat and tissue in the upper arm. Liposuction can tone this area, resulting in a more youthful appearance. And depending on a patient’s body type, liposuction may deliver many of the benefits of an arm lift without permanent scarring.
- Lower Abdomen
A frequently requested area, liposuction of the abdomen (“muffin top”) can result in a tight and toned stomach. However, if the amount of fat in this area is too large or if skin laxity is severe, the patient may be better suited for a tummy tuck or lower body lift.
- Upper Abdomen
Typically if the lower abdomen is treated, the upper abdomen (the area between the belly button and the ribs) should also be treated in order to create a smooth transition from one to the other.
- Buttocks
Generally, I don’t recommend liposuction of the buttocks because the procedure can result in a deflated or flat-looking appearance. Instead, I recommend a Brazilian butt lift to create the full, shapely buttocks shape patients desire.
- Inner Thighs
Liposuction can help keep the inner thighs from touching when standing up straight, which makes this a very popular area for women desiring liposuction. Some women only need the upper inner thigh to be contoured, while others require treatment of the entire inner thigh to achieve their desired result.
- Outer Thighs
Commonly referred to as “saddle bags,” the outer thigh is a common problem area for most women. It plays a significant role in a woman’s silhouette and therefore it is important to accurately reduce the correct quantity of fat given the specific body attributes of the individual patient. Liposuction in this area can also complement the curve of the buttocks.
- Lower Legs
Liposuction in this area is often challenging because the entire lower leg needs to be reshaped to achieve natural-looking proportions. Calves and ankles also have very little “deep fat” pockets, therefore the procedure must be done carefully to avoid creating any irregularities in appearance.
Liposuction is often performed at the same time as other procedures
Liposuction can successfully be combined with other cosmetic surgery procedures such as a facelift, breast augmentation, tummy tuck or lower body lift. If you're interested in decreasing fat throughout your entire body, this will likely take multiple procedures.
Learn more about liposuction in this short video
No matter which type of plastic surgery procedure my patients are considering, I truly believe that the best patient is an informed patient. Watch my video about your liposuction options by clicking on the image below.
2 types of liposuction
- Tumescent liposuction. With this technique, a plastic surgeon will inject a solution into your fatty areas before removing any fat. This solution is made up of saline, lidocaine anesthetic, and epinephrine (which contracts your blood vessels) and enables the fat to be extracted more easily, helps decrease blood loss, and eases pain during and after surgery.
- Laser-Assisted Liposuction (SmartLipo). Using advanced laser technology, SmartLipo liquefies fat by producing a burst of energy as the laser enters the fatty tissue. This energy is delivered by a thin laser fiber that is inserted through small incisions in the skin. Laser-assisted liposuction also stimulates collagen production in the skin, which may in turn offer additional skin-tightening benefits.
Highly experienced in performing liposuction
With over 20 years of specialized plastic surgery experience, I have performed liposuction on almost every part of the body. While each patient is different in body type and goals, there are some common areas where patients, both male and female, want to lose stubborn fat and achieve a body size and shape they can feel good about.
Will this be covered by my insurance?
It’s important to know that liposuction is considered cosmetic surgery by insurance companies and usually is not covered, meaning that it is self-pay.
I perform liposuction at the Surgical Specialty Center of Westchester
For almost every plastic surgery procedure I perform, including liposuction, I use the Surgical Specialty Center of Westchester. Located in Harrison, NY, the Surgical Specialty Center has four operating rooms and an 11-bed recovery room. Each operating room is fully equipped with state-of-the-art anesthesia (provided by a board-certified anesthesiologist), emergency equipment and everything else I and my surgical team need to provide the highest standard of care to each one of our patients. To learn more, watch this short video by clicking here or on the image below.
Insurance coverage
Insurance companies consider liposuction to be elective cosmetic surgery and therefore is usually not covered by insurance, meaning that patients pay the entire cost themselves.
For more facts about liposuction, I recommend these 3 blogs
So you can be fully informed before you decide to have liposuction, I’ve written several blogs explaining the procedure and its benefits. Here are the three most popular ones:
- Is Liposuction Safe? Yes And Here's Why
- By Changing Your Body, Liposuction Can Also Change Your Life!
- Combine Brazilian Butt Lift With Liposuction For The Body You’ve Always Wanted!
See the beautiful results for yourself
To see unretouched “before and after” photos of actual patients of mine who have had successful liposuction surgery, please visit the liposuction page in the Photo Gallery section of my website.
Considering liposuction?
If you are thinking about having liposuction, please contact me for a free consultation where you’ll hear about all your options and have the opportunity to ask as many as questions as you like. I have performed hundreds of liposuction procedures and am highly experienced in this specialized type of plastic surgery. Deciding to have liposuction is an important decision and I am dedicated to helping you achieve the beautiful body you’ve always wanted.
Learn more about the full range of body contouring procedures I offer
There are several body procedures available to you in my plastic surgery practice. To learn more, please visit these pages on my website:
- Body Procedures
- Butt Augmentation
- Brazilian Butt Lift
- CoolSculpting
- EmSculpt®
- Liposuction
- Lower Body Lift
- Mommy Makeover
- Tummy Tuck
Board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS), a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) and the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS), and a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons (FACS), Samuel J. Beran, MD is a highly accomplished plastic surgeon with offices in Manhattan, Harrison and Mount Kisco, NY. With more than 20 years’ experience and a thorough command of the most advanced techniques and technologies, Dr. Beran consistently provides his patients with the highest level of plastic, cosmetic and reconstructive surgery of the breast, face, skin and body. Recently, Dr. Beran was named a “Top Doctor” by RealSelf for his dedication to responding to consumer questions and patient feedback. The “Top Doctor” designation is awarded to less than 10% of the RealSelf physician community.
