Liposuction is technically the simplest procedure in Plastic Surgery.
The idea is that areas of excess fat are removed using a stainless steel cannula (a little bigger than a pencil) attached to suction.
For the right patient, liposuction can be extremely rewarding. The ideal patient is close to his/her ideal body weight but has isolated areas of undesirable contour. In women this is usually the lateral thighs (saddle bags) or lower abdomen. In men the most common area of complaint is the flanks (love handles).
There are some misconceptions about liposuction:
Just because liposuction is easy to perform does not mean that it doesn't have to be done slowly and carefully. If fat is removed from the underside of the skin it can lead to irregularities. If too much fat is removed from an area it can lead to depressions that are almost impossible to correct.
To see before and after images, please click Liposuction.
Dr. Thorne is the Editor-in-Chief and the author of several chapters in Grabb and Smith's PLASTIC SURGERY, 7th Edition.