Also known as liposuction and body sculpting, lipoplasty is among the most popular cosmetic surgery procedures for men and women alike. Using lipoplasty, a surgeon can remove fat from areas that fail to respond to diet and exercise. Lipoplasty can be conducted on the abdomen, flanks, thighs, buttocks, arms, legs, chin-essentially any area of the body where unwanted fat may exist could benefit from lipoplasty treatment. In cases of extreme amounts of fat, surgeons may perform a tuck or an excision in conjunction with the lipoplasty, in order to remove the excess skin.

To be a qualified candidate, an individual who is considering lipoplasty should have already attempted to address the problem through diet and exercise. This will usually reduce the amount of fat that must be removed through lipoplasty, and surgical candidates who are in good health will typically experience better results as well as a quicker recovery. Prospective lipoplasty patients should also have a realistic idea of what the procedure entails and the type of results they can expect.

Before the lipoplasty, the surgeon will usually indicate the areas to be treated on the patient's body with a marker. Most lipoplasty procedures are conducted with the patient under general anesthesia, but an increasing number of surgeons perform lipoplasty on patients who are under sedation only. Being only lightly sedated means that the patient can participate during lipoplasty, helping the surgeon to create the desired result. There are a number of different techniques that are used for lipoplasty, but almost all treatments utilize a flexible wand called a cannula and a vacuum pump. The lipoplasty is performed by inserting the cannula into the area of treatment and suctioning out the appropriate amount of fat. The length of time required for a lipoplasty depends upon the extent of treatment that was required, as does the recovery time. In some cases, lipoplasty patients will need to wear support or pressure garments during the initial healing phases, in order to encourage optimal healing.

Lipoplasty can be a life changing event for people who have struggled to lose fat through diet and exercise and have been unable to do so. Using lipoplasty, a surgeon can help the patient achieve the body he or she has always wanted.

To learn more about lipoplasty or to find out if you are a qualified candidate, talk to a board-certified plastic surgeon in your area by clicking on a state below.