Your Health On-Line Cosmetic Consults Liposuction Liposuction is a cosmetic procedure which removes unwanted fat cells from specific areas of the body, such as the stomach, thighs, hips, and buttocks. As the physician moves the cannula back and forth to break up the fat deposits, a vacuum suctions away the unwanted fat. In the past, removing large deposits of fat caused unsightly indentations in the body. Today, refinements in technique enable doctors to sculpt the body into a more desirable shape.
Liposuction permanently removes the unwanted fat cells.
But doctors warn the procedure is not a substitute for diet and exercise. Liposuction is the most popular cosmetic surgery in the U.S. and the most popular cosmetic procedure among men. Depending upon the expertise of the doctor, the health of the patient, and the amount of fat cells to be removed, the procedure may be done in the office, in an out-patient setting, or in the hospital. The decision to have cosmetic surgery can be difficult to make. Patients are often concerned about what to expect and what the outcomes will be.