Liposuction permanently removes fat from specific areas that resist diet and exercise. It’s a body contouring procedure, not a weight loss solution — the best candidates are people who are close to their goal weight but have stubborn pockets of fat that won’t budge.
I make very small incisions (1 centimeter or so) in inconspicuous locations and use a thin tube called a cannula to break up and suction out fat cells. The procedure can be done under local anesthesia with sedation or general anesthesia, depending on how many areas we’re treating.
Common treatment areas include the abdomen, flanks (love handles), “armpit fat,” thighs, arms, back, and chin. I can treat multiple areas in one session. The key is strategic fat removal that improves your proportions — taking out too much can create contour irregularities.
Recovery varies based on how many areas are treated. For a single small area, you might be back to desk work in 2–3 days. For multiple areas, plan on a week. You’ll be sore and swollen — think deep muscle soreness like how you might feel after the most intense workout of your life.
You’ll wear a compression garment 24/7 for the first few weeks, then during the day for another few weeks after that. This isn’t optional — it helps your skin retract and minimizes swelling.
Light activity (walking) is encouraged immediately. Most people return to exercise at 3–4 weeks, though you’ll still be swollen.
Here’s where patience matters. You’ll see some improvement immediately, but swelling obscures your results for weeks to months. Most people see about 70% of their result at 6 weeks and final results at 3–6 months.
Swelling is often uneven — one side may look better than the other for a while. This is normal. The fat cells that are removed don’t come back, but remaining fat cells can expand if you gain weight. Maintain a stable weight for lasting results.
Safety guidelines limit removal to about 5 liters in an outpatient setting. But more isn’t always better — removing too much increases risks and can leave you with loose skin or contour problems. The goal is proportion, not maximum extraction.
Depends on your skin quality. Younger patients with good elasticity usually see their skin shrink to fit. If you have significant skin laxity, liposuction alone may not give you the result you want — you might need a skin removal procedure as well. We’ll talk about your individual needs at your consultation.
The fat cells removed are gone permanently. However, remaining fat cells can grow if you gain weight. Most patients maintain their results with a stable lifestyle, but significant weight gain will affect your contour.
Cold and heat-based treatment modalities can potentially reduce small areas of fat without surgery. They’re less invasive but also less dramatic — typically 20–25% fat reduction versus the 70%+ achievable with liposuction. For small tweaks, non-surgical may be enough. For significant contouring, liposuction is more effective.