A lot of patients—both men and women—come to me asking about liposuction. They want to know, how does it work? Are the results permanent? What exactly happens during the procedure? So I thought I'd address these questions here.
From my many years as a plastic surgeon, I've found that the more informed a patient is about a procedure, especially the benefits, risks and what results to expect, the more satisfied they are with the outcome. For more specific details, watch my short 2-minute video by clicking on the button below.
You're born with a certain number of fat cells
Through puberty, the number of fat cells in your body increases but then after that, the number doesn't change. Fat cells can get bigger or smaller but they don't increase in number.
Since fat cells do not reproduce, once they are reduced through liposuction, they will not be replaced—which is great news for many of my patients seeking to lose unwanted fat. This may be why liposuction is today’s most popular cosmetic procedure, according to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery.
Liposuction: a proven, effective way to remove stubborn fat
Liposuction sculpts and tones your body and gives you a trimmer, firmer silhouette. If you have tried dieting and exercise but still have stubborn, localized areas of fat that simply won’t go away, liposuction could be the answer you’ve been looking for. It slims and reshapes specific areas of the body by taking away excess fat deposits and improving your body contours and proportion.
What areas of the body are best for liposuction? Take your pick!
Liposuction can be performed on almost any part of the body but the following are the most commonly requested areas:
- cheeks, jowls and neck
- upper arms
- breast or chest areas
- back
- abdomen and waist
- hips and buttocks
- inner and outer thighs
- inner knees
- calves and ankles
The benefits of liposuction go beyond slimming and contouring
Liposuction can completely change a person’s shape, boost their confidence and motivate them to live a healthier lifestyle. Many of my patients use liposuction as a starting point to change their lives for the better and let go of bad habits, such as smoking. Many plastic surgeons, myself included, have seen their patients’ health improve dramatically after undergoing liposuction. Because they have a newfound confidence and self-esteem, liposuction patients tend to work even harder to maintain their “new” bodies and even improve upon the results achieved by liposuction.
What liposuction won’t do
- Liposuction is not a treatment for obesity or a substitute for proper diet and exercise.
- It is also not an effective treatment for cellulite (dimpled skin that typically appears on the thighs, hips and buttocks) or loose, saggy skin.
- 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.
- People should resort to liposuction only after they have tried other means of losing weight, particularly diet and exercise.
How liposuction is performed
Depending on the type of liposuction you are having, you may be able to have it done at your plastic surgeon’s office or surgery center and go home the same day.
Before the procedure starts, you will be given an anesthetic. Depending on how much fat is being extracted and the type of liposuction being done, you may get local anesthesia or general anesthesia. Once the anesthesia has taken effect, the surgeon will make small cuts, insert a suction device inside the cut, and extract excess fat using a suction pump or a large syringe. How long it takes depends on how much fat is being extracted.
Many people combine liposuction with other plastic surgery 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 reducing fat throughout your entire body, this will likely take multiple procedures.
Liposuction is usually done as an outpatient procedure
Typically, liposuction is performed in a properly equipped doctor's office, ambulatory surgery center or hospital. In general, it does not require an overnight hospital stay unless a large volume of fat is being removed.
For my liposuction patients, I perform the procedure at the Surgery Specialty Center of Westchester, a leading edge, state-of-the-art facility specifically designed by surgeons to provide the highest level of care, privacy and surgical results.
Are you a good candidate for liposuction?
In order to be considered a good candidate for this surgical procedure, you should be in good overall physical health and maintain a routine of regular exercise and proper diet. Liposuction tends to work best on smaller areas of fat, so you should be somewhat close to your ideal weight at the time of your procedure. This surgery is not a substitute for other weight loss strategies and is not designed for patients who are overweight or obese.
Are you considering liposuction? Let's talk.
If you are thinking about having liposuction, please contact me for a free consultation where you will hear about all your options and have the opportunity to ask any questions. 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.
More information on body sculpting procedures
For further information on body slimming and toning procedures, you might find these pages helpful on my website:
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.
