Liposuction is a surgical procedure using suction to remove fat from specific areas of the body, such as the stomach, hips, thighs, buttocks, arms or neck. Liposuction also shapes these areas. That process is called contouring. Other names for liposuction include lipoplasty and body contouring.

Liposuction isn’t considered an overall weight-loss method or a weight-loss alternative. People who are overweight can actually lose more weight through diet and exercise or through other kinds of surgery than with liposuction. In fact, to be a good candidate for liposuction, you should be within 30% of your ideal body weight. To really benefit, you should be fit, active, a nonsmoker, and without conditions that could make surgery more difficult. These can include blood flow problems, coronary artery disease, diabetes or a weak immune system.

However, liposuction may work for you if you have a lot of body fat in specific places but otherwise have a stable body weight. It removes fat from areas that have become stubbornly resistant to overall fat loss. Liposuction can be used as an isolated procedure, or it can be combined with other body contouring procedures to treat areas of stubborn fat. Liposuction works best as a tool to target areas that are resistant to exercise.

Liposuction is performed when small incisions are made in natural body creases and the fat is suctioned out until the desired contour is achieved, under general or local anesthesia. The operation can take one or more hours depending on the volume that needs to be aspirated, and whether it is combined with other procedures. The amount of fat removed depends on what the area looks like and the volume of fat, as liposuction actually lowers the number of fat cells in that specific area. Before your liposuction procedure, the surgeon may mark circles and lines on the areas of your body to be treated. Photos also may be taken so that before and after images can be compared. The resulting shape changes are usually permanent as long as your weight remains the same.

How your liposuction procedure is done depends on the specific technique that's used. Your surgeon will select the technique based on your treatment goals, the area of your body to be treated, and whether you have had other liposuction procedures in the past.

Suction-Assisted Liposuction

This is the most common type of liposuction. The surgeon injects a mixture of salt water and two medicines into the area that's being treated. The salt water aids fat removal. One medicine relieves pain. The other medicine narrows the blood vessels.

The surgeon then makes small cuts into the skin and inserts a thin tube under the skin. The tube is connected to a vacuum that suctions fat and fluids from the body.

Ultrasound-Assisted Liposuction (UAL)

This type of liposuction sometimes is used in combination with traditional liposuction. During UAL, the surgeon inserts a metal rod that puts a certain kind of energy under the skin. This energy opens the fat-cell walls and breaks down the fat for easier removal. A new kind of UAL called vibration amplification of sound energy at resonance (VASER)-assisted liposuction uses a machine that can improve skin shaping.

Laser-Assisted Liposuction (LAL)

During LAL, the surgeon puts a laser fiber through a small cut in the skin and breaks down fat deposits. The fat is then removed using a thin tube.

Power-Assisted Liposuction (PAL)

This type of liposuction uses a thin tube that moves back and forth quickly. The vibration allows the surgeon to pull out tough fat more easily and faster. PAL may sometimes cause less pain and swelling. It also can allow the surgeon to remove fat more accurately. The surgeon may choose this technique if lots of fat needs to be removed or if you've had liposuction before.

After liposuction, the skin molds itself to the new shapes of the treated areas. If you have good skin tone and elasticity, the skin usually looks smooth. If your skin is thin and not elastic, the skin in the treated areas may look loose. Liposuction doesn't help with dimpled skin from cellulite or other differences in the surface of the skin. Liposuction also doesn't remove stretch marks.