Liposuction, also called lipoplasty or liposculpture, is a minimally invasive surgical procedure performed to remove localized pockets of fat from various areas of the body. Excess fat often accumulates in the face and body due to pregnancy, genetics, lifestyle habits, or even the natural aging process. These fat cells are commonly resistant to healthy eating and an active lifestyle, causing frustration for individuals who cannot achieve their goals with dieting and exercise alone. Liposuction has been an extremely effective solution to improve the overall body contour by removing areas of stubborn fat that have not responded to diet and exercise. Liposuction is the most common cosmetic treatment performed in the United States and is used for both male and female patients.

Dr. Geoffrey Leber — our board-certified plastic surgeon — utilizes the latest and most efficient liposuction technology to suction out exercise-resistant fat from the abdomen, thighs, hips, flanks, arms, knees, back, and virtually any other region of the face and body. His techniques can sculpt and smooth areas of fat accumulation with minimized discomfort and downtime.

Liposuction Benefits
Liposuction Candidates
Liposuction vs. Tummy Tuck
Liposuction Procedure
Liposuction Recovery
Liposuction Results
Liposuction Scars
Liposuction Cost
Non-Surgical Liposuction
Liposuction Alternatives
Liposuction FAQs

What are the Benefits of Liposuction?

Liposuction can complement an active lifestyle by slimming areas of stubborn fat and making your desired contours a reality. This body contouringprocedure stands out for its ability to resculpt “problem” regions with a treatment that:

Is minimally invasive
Requires little downtime
Offers lasting results
Can remove fat through small, half-inch incisions
Has decades of clinical research to support its effectiveness

Over the years, liposuction techniques have evolved significantly and it’s now possible to remove fat cells with less bleeding, bruising, swelling, and recovery time than ever before. Dr. Leber will thoroughly explain the details of treatment with you and help ensure you fully understand the benefits and risks of the procedure.

Is Liposuction Right for Me?

The best candidates for liposuction are individuals of average weight with localized pockets of fat that have not been reduced through a diet and exercise program. Patients should be in good overall health, with skin that features elasticity and firmness. Liposuction is commonly used to treat the following areas:

Hips, thighs and buttocks

Waist and abdomen

Upper arms, back, and chest

Ankles, inner knee, and calves

Breasts

Face and neck

Liposuction is not considered a weight loss procedure, and should only be performed on patients who are already at a healthy weight or slightly overweight. If a patient plans to lose a significant amount of weight, it is best to meet those goals before having a liposuction procedure.

Liposuction vs. Tummy Tuck

Liposuction and tummy tuck surgery are both cosmetic procedures frequently performed to improve the abdomen. A hanging or bulging abdomen can be caused by a range of different factors, including excess fat buildup, loose skin, and stretched internal musculature. These aesthetic concerns commonly result after pregnancy, breastfeeding, weight gain, and even the natural process of aging. The best treatment(s) to slim and smooth the tummy, ultimately leading to a more defined abdominal contour, will depend on which factors are causing your abdomen to protrude outward.

In general, liposuction is usually best for patients who have pockets of stubborn fat and relatively good skin tone. It’s important for individuals to have little to no skin laxity in the abdomen to achieve a good result with liposuction alone. If there is significant skin inelasticity in the midsection, the most effective course of action may be to combine liposuction with a tummy tuck — a body contouring surgery usually performed to remove excess skin. Combining these procedures can help correct excess skin and fat, ultimately resculpting the abdomen to achieve a tighter, more contoured look. Dr. Leber would be happy to suggest an effective treatment plan to achieve your goals after listening to your unique needs and concerns.

How is the Liposuction Procedure Performed?

Dr. Geoffrey Leber performs liposuction as an outpatient procedure under either local or general anesthesia. A narrow tube called a cannula is inserted into the fat pocket via a tiny incision. The cannula effectively loosens the fat and a gentle suction device attached to the cannula removes it from the body.

There are a number of different types of liposuction procedures that might be performed, including:

Suction-Assisted Liposuction (SAL)

Traditional liposuction procedure using suction to remove fat.

Tumescent Liposuction

Uses a solution prior to the procedure to shrink blood vessels for less bleeding during the procedure.

Power-Assisted Liposuction (PAL)

Utilizes a tool to move the cannula inside the fat pocket for quicker fat removal.

Laser-Assisted Liposuction (LAL)

Laser is used to disrupt the fat cells and loosen them for easier removal.

Ultrasound-Assisted Liposuction (UAL)

Ultrasound energy is used to loosen fat in larger fat pockets for easier removal.

What is Recovery From Liposuction Like?

The recovery period after liposuction is often described as very tolerable. After the procedure, patients may be given a compression garment to minimize swelling in the treatment area. Discomfort after liposuction can be managed with oral pain medication. Most patients take a few days after the procedure to rest and heal before returning to work and regular activities.

What Results Can I Expect From Liposuction?

Results of liposuction may be seen right away, although swelling may impair the full effect for a number of weeks. Small incisions leave virtually no scarring afterward. As long as a patient maintains a healthy weight after the procedure, liposuction is considered a permanent solution to unwanted areas of fat. The removed fat cells will never “grow” back, although weight gain after the procedure may redistribute excess fat in other areas. In order to extend the longevity of your new contours, Dr. Leber recommends maintaining a healthy, active lifestyle after surgery. This not only helps prevent weight regain, but can also complement and prolong your liposuction results.

Will I Have Visible Liposuction Scars?

Scars from cosmetic surgery are inescapable. Fortunately, scars after liposuction are very discreet and Dr. Leber places incisions in undetectable locations whenever possible. During your consultation, Dr. Leber will show you where your post-surgical scars are likely to appear so you have a good idea of what to expect with regard to scarring. Evidence of surgery can also lighten over time, especially if patients take good care of their incisions during the initial healing process and use scar lightening creams after surgery.

How Much Does Liposuction Cost?

Liposuction costs are personalized according to the unique details of your treatment plan; therefore, it’s impossible to estimate the total cost of liposuction before an initial consultation. Once Dr. Leber assesses your concerns and needs, our team will be able to provide you with a personalized quote. On top of your geographic location and the expertise of your plastic surgeon, factors that may influence your cost estimate include:

The number of areas treated
The location of the planned treatment areas
The surgical technique(s) utilized

Keep in mind that your personalized quote will also include the costs of anesthesia, the surgeon’s fee, the hospital facility, and other expenses normally associated with a surgical procedure. Our office also accepts financing plans from CareCredit® and Prosper® Healthcare Lending for qualified patients who prefer to pay for their procedure in smaller, low- to no-interest installments. Don’t hesitate to call our office if you have any questions about the cost of liposuction or our other aesthetic procedures.

Is Non-Surgical Liposuction Possible?

While non-surgical treatments to remove excess fat exist, these approaches are not nearly as effective as a surgical procedure. Unlike minimally invasive techniques, liposuction is able to target fat cells in a greater range of treatment areas and allows your plastic surgeon to more aesthetically reshape your body contours. Liposuction is also able to remove up to 80 percent of stubborn fat in a given area, while non-surgical procedures can typically only reduce fat cells by 20 to 30 percent. Furthermore, minimally invasive treatments often require multiple sessions over a period of several months to achieve the desired aesthetic. In contrast, liposuction results are usually visible almost immediately after the procedure once the majority of swelling and bruising subsides.

Are There Alternatives to Liposuction?

Liposuction can help slim the body contours, but patients who struggle with excess skin and skin laxity may benefit more from body lifting procedures. Treatment options like arm lift and thigh lift surgery are designed to remove hanging skin from areas of the body that do not have a well-defined contour. This can provide circumferential improvement in the targeted areas and ultimately achieve a slimmer, tighter, and smoother look. Body contouring procedures can even be personalized and incorporated into more comprehensive treatment plans, including a Mommy Makeover and a lower body lift, if desired. Don’t hesitate to discuss your concerns and overall goals with Dr. Leber so he can help determine the best possible treatments for your needs.

Additional Liposuction FAQs

Can you gain weight after liposuction?

Yes, the liposuction procedure provides excellent results in reshaping parts of the body affected by excess fat buildup, but weight gain is still a possibility after surgery. After the targeted fat cells are removed, they’re gone forever; however, surrounding fat cells can still enlarge with extra weight. This may negatively affect your new body contours and, at worst, reverse the improvements gained with liposuction. Dr. Leber and our team recommend maintaining a healthy lifestyle to minimize weight fluctuations in the long term. This can help you enjoy your smoother and more defined contours indefinitely, helping extend the longevity of your liposuction results.

How much fat can be removed during a single procedure?

Traditionally, plastic surgeons were advised to limit the amount of fat removed during liposuction to approximately 5 L. However, new research from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) has suggested that a patient’s BMI should be considered when determining the maximum amount of fat planned for extraction, rather than imposing a universal limit to all individuals. Dr. Leber can speak with you more about the maximum amount of fat removal possible for your unique procedure once your needs are assessed in an appointment.

What are the risks of liposuction?

The risks of liposuction include changes in skin sensation, cannula breakage, and contour irregularities among other potential complications. The procedure also involves the same risks as any surgical procedure, such as complications related to anesthesia, infection, poor wound healing, and more. While every surgery comes with inherent risks, you can feel more confident in the safety of liposuction by entrusting your goals with a board-certified plastic surgeon in Scottsdale. Dr. Leber is not only board-certified, but he also completed fellowship training under world-renowned aesthetic surgeons — giving him the highest caliber of experience in cosmetic surgery.

Can you get liposuction if you have excess skin?

If you have loose, excess skin in the area(s) of treatment, liposuction alone may not be right for you. Beautiful results with liposuction rely on the elasticity of the skin, or the skin’s ability to “snap back” into place following the fat removal. If there is skin laxity present, this can diminish the quality of your liposuction results and exacerbate a loose, crepey look in the skin. Fortunately, Dr. Leber also performs a range of body lift procedures designed to remove hanging excess skin in the arms, abdomen, and thighs, among other regions. He can discuss the possibility of combining liposuction with an arm lift, thigh lift, tummy tuck, or another adjunctive procedure to help you maximize the integrity of your final results and achieve the sleek, defined contours you desire.

Dr. Leber has ample experience with various liposuction techniques to ensure the best possible results for each patient. Contact our practice today to schedule a consultation or learn more about this fat reduction treatment.