Liposuction surgery is cosmetic surgery that removes excess fat from behind the skin and muscle. Liposuction surgery is also known as liposculpture or lipoplasty, because it can be used to sculpt or contour the body or face. There are different types of liposuction surgery, including tumescent, in which anesthesia is injected into the fat. There are also laser assisted procedures such as SmartLipo or Lipotherme. In addition ultrasonic liposuction, using sound waves, is being used.

In all liposuction procedures - tumescent, laser, ultrasonic - the cosmetic surgeon inserts a tube or cannula into the fat through small incisions. The cannula is attached to a suction pump, and the fatty deposits are suctioned out. The incisions can sometimes be hidden in skin folds. How much fat is removed? Well, sometimes several gallons can be removed. Large volume liposuction, for example, more than 2-5 liters, can require hospitalization because it is more risky than small volume liposuction.

The best candidate for liposuction is someone who is of normal weight, but has areas where stubborn fat accumulates - in other words, a man or woman with an area that is out of proportion to the rest of their body because of excess fat. For example, some who is otherwise thin, but has large thighs might consider this. Someone of normal weight, but with a roll of fat around the belly, butt or arms, might be a good candidate.

Liposuction surgery is not just for women - men are using lipo surgery too to reshape their bodies. Liposuction procedures can be used to contour different areas of the face and body. For example, it can be used on the stomach or abdomen. It can be used for stubborn fat on the rear end or buttocks, as well as the thighs, waist, and hips. It can be used on the calves. Lipoplasty can also be used on the arms and back, as well as the face and neck. The cost of this body contouring depends on which area and how large an area.

Information on Liposuction Surgery Cost

Here's information on some of the areas where liposuction surgery can be used, and what it may cost:

• stomach fat - liposuction can remove fat from the tummy or abdomen (what some may call belly fat, a beer belly or a pot belly), which can reduce the size of the stomach and result in a flatter stomach. It can also remove the so-called love handles around the waist area. The cost is from $3000-$9000. Liposculpture does not remove sagging skin. That would require a tummy tuck or abdominoplasty.
• large butt - liposuction can remove extra fat from the rear end or buttocks. The cost is from $2000-$5000. Sometimes liposuction is combined with a butt lift to create a higher profile in the rear end. Liposuction can reduce the size of the butt. Fat can also be removed from one area, purified and used in the butt, what is called a Brazilian butt augmentation.
• flabby inner and outer thighs - for someone who thinks they have so-called thunder thighs, liposculpture can remove fat or unsightly saddlebags from the thighs, reducing the size of the thighs. The cost is from $2000-$5000 per thigh. The procedure can be combined with a thigh lift, generally not at the same time. The liposculpture and thigh lift can be done in the same year.
• knees - excess fat can accumulate around the knees and can be removed with lipoplasty.
• waist and hips - liposuction can remove fat and bulges from the hips, and the area above the hips (flank) known as muffin tops. The cost is from $2000-$5000 per hip.
• sagging arms - liposuction can remove fat from under and around the arms. The cost is from $2000-$5000. If there is hanging skin, your surgeon might consider an arm lift procedure.
• face - liposculpture can be used to treat fat on the cheeks, to help correct droopiness, as well as the chin or jowls. The cost is from $2000-$5000.
• neck, double chin - liposuction can be used for the fat along the neck or a double chin. The cost is from $2000-$5000. Liposculpture for a double chin or fatty deposits on the neck can also be combined with other cosmetic procedures such as a nose job or face and neck lift.
• back - lipo surgery can reduce fat deposits on the upper and lower back. Fatty sections on the back are a problem for many women - what some call bra bulge.
• calves and ankles - liposuction can be used on the calves and ankles to remove fat deposits.
• male breasts - liposuction can be used on men who have gynecomastia or enlarged breasts due to excess fat in the chest area. Gynecomastia can also be treated with breast reduction surgery.

Sometimes, the fat that is suctioned out can be purified and reinjected into other areas, in what is called fat transfer or fat grafting.

Tumescent liposuction, wet, laser, VASER, SmartLipo, Lipotherme, Ultrasound

You would need to talk with your surgeon about whether the procedure will be done while you are awake or under full sedation. You would also want to discuss the type of lipoplasty. There are different types of liposuction or liposculpture. They include:

• Tumescent liposuction - In tumescent liposuction (which is now considered standard), diluted anesthesia is injected under the skin and into the fat. The anesthesia is mixed with epinephrine, and the fluid causes the area to swell up or get tumescent. The anesthesia deadens the pain. Meanwhile, the epinephrine causes the blood vessels to constrict so the patient doesn't lose as much blood as would otherwise happen. The patient can be under general anesthesia or sedated with an IV during tumescent liposuction.
• Wet and super wet liposculpture - This type of surgery is similar to tumescent lipoplasty but is done under general anesthesia.

Tumescent liposuction can also be combined with the following:

• Laser liposuction - In laser assisted liposuction, the fat is first treated with laser energy, delivered through a small probe.
• SmartLipo - SmartLipo is a specific name for a laser lipo treatment, in which the fat is first treated with a high-powered laser energy, to help the fat cells rupture.
• Lipotherme - Lipotherme also uses laser energy (in this case, a continuous wave diode laser) before the fat is suctioned out.
• Ultrasound assisted lipo (UAL) - UAL or ultrasound liposuction treats the fat with high-frequency external ultrasound before the actual liposculpture. This may liquefy the fat prior to its removal. The sound waves can be transmitted from the tip of the cannula. UltraSculpt liposuction is an example that uses this technology. External (E-UAL) ultrasound waves may also be used.
• VASER assisted liposuction (VAL) - VASER assisted liposuction is a specific ultrasound procedure in which the fat is first treated with ultrasound, then massaged and suctioned out.

Which procedure is best or superior depends on your surgeon and your individual needs.

Locating liposuction doctors

This is considered to be very major surgical procedure. So be sure to consider the many non-surgical alternatives beforehand. make sure your expectations for cosmetic surgery are realistic. If you are thinking about liposuction, don't fall for promises of overnight miracles, or cheap prices. Think if you can get results with diet and exercise. Remember that this won't treat cellulite, and it is not for weight loss. (Although it can be used for spot areas for body contouring after weight loss.) In fact, you may find it makes cellulite worse. It will not remove stretch marks, and in fact may make stretch marks more noticeable. Don't consider this if you have any health problems, if you're not physically fit, if you smoke or if you are on medications.

If you decide to go ahead, find a qualified and board-certified cosmetic surgeon. Be cautious if you are considering cosmetic surgery abroad. The results of a liposuction depend on the skill of the surgeon. Make sure you get information on any cosmetic surgeon you are considering and ask to see before-and-after photos of patients, and make sure those before-and-after photos show liposuction on men or women with conditions similar to your own. Beware of risks which include too much fat removal, anesthesia reaction, uneven fat removal, and other complications. This is a more complicated procedure than cosmetic procedures like fillers or Botox. After surgery, you'll need to rest for a few days to a week, depending on how extensive a procedure you had. There will be bruising and swelling. Avoid extremes of hot or cold. You may also need compression garments to help the skin heal. Recovery time may be longer if the liposuction is combined with other procedures such as breast enhancement.