Liposuction, also called body contouring, is a procedure that uses a suctioning process to remove excess fat from various areas of the body. More than 300,000 liposuction procedures were performed in 2006 in the United States, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS). This ranks liposuction among the most popular surgical cosmetic procedures performed today.

Liposuction is intended to remove localized fat deposits that are unresponsive to diet and exercise. It is a method of altering the shape and contour of the body, and should not be viewed as a weight loss substitute. Not everyone is a good candidate for liposuction. It is best suited for healthy men and women with a normal body weight and pockets of surplus fat in certain regions. Common liposuction sites include the area below the chin, hips, thighs and abdomen, among others.

Liposuction may also be used to treat certain noncosmetic conditions associated with the accumulation of excess fat, including excessive sweating (hyperhidrosis) and fatty, benign tumors called lipomas.

The most common method of liposuction is the tumescent technique, which involves the injection of anesthetics and salt solution into a fatty region. Then a small incision will be made in the skin and a tube called a cannula is inserted. The tube is connected to a machine that resembles a vacuum. The surgeon uses back-and-forth movements to dislodge the excess fat, which is suctioned through the tube into a collection system.

Patients will meet with a plastic surgeon for an initial consultation before deciding to undergo liposuction. During the consultation, the surgeon will decide if the patient is a good liposuction candidate and describe the procedure in detail, often including pictures of previous surgeries. Prospective patients may even be shown a computer-generated image that illustrates how the procedure could alter their appearance.

Liposuction may be performed in a plastic surgeon’s office, an outpatient surgery center or a hospital. It is typically an outpatient procedure. However, patients having a large quantity of fat removed or receiving general anesthesia may require hospitalization. After the procedure, the cannula site will be dressed and patients are typically instructed to wear a compression bandage or garment for an extended period. Side effects and complications of liposuction are usually rare. Recovery times from liposuction vary according to the individual and the extent of the procedure, and residual swelling may last for several months.