The downside to liposuction under local anesthesia is that there is a limit to the amount of numbing medicine that can be used as well as the amount of fat that can be removed. These limitations are designed to ensure patient safety. For Dr. Doherty, safety is of the utmost importance. He will spend a considerable amount of time during your initial consultation determining whether or not your liposuction goals are achievable under local anesthesia. Assuming that you are indeed a good candidate then yes, you can definitely achieve your desired results under local anesthesia.