Liposuction, also termed ‘suction assisted lipectomy (SAL),’ is a surgical technique that is designed to remove unwanted fat. Liposuction is not a weight-loss tool, but rather a technique that is used to ‘contour’ or diminish localized fatty deposits. Some of the more common areas where liposuction is used include the abdomen and flanks, thighs and chin (submental) areas. Other areas amenable to treatment with liposuction include the upper arms, back, buttocks, male and female breasts, knees and lower legs/ankles. The best candidates for liposuction are those patients who have a stable body weight and good skin elasticity. For those patients who have loose or hanging skin (for instance, patients who have experienced significant weight loss), other ‘body contouring’ techniques may be helpful. These might include abdominoplasty or ‘tummy tuck,’ brachioplasty (upper arms), and thigh lift surgeries.

Smaller liposuction procedures can often be performed under a local anesthesia alone, while more extensive procedures may require general anesthesia (for example, those involving the removal of larger volumes of fat or the treatment of multiple areas simultaneously). In the great majority of cases, liposuction is performed on an outpatient basis.

The technique of liposuction involves making small access incisions or ‘ports’ around the treatment area. A "wetting” or ‘tumescent’ solution is injected into the fat under the skin, which is useful in minimizing blood loss and postoperative bruising and pain. Excess fat is then suctioned out via the access incisions, using narrow hollow tube or ‘cannula.’

After the procedure, the surgeon will usually recommend that the patient wear a custom support garment, which helps to limit discomfort, swelling and bruising. Oral pain medication suffices to control postoperative discomfort, which is usually not severe. Most patients can return to work in 1 to 2 weeks, or even sooner with minor liposuction procedures. Bruising should resolve in 2 to 3 weeks, though minor swelling may persist for the first few months following treatment.