How do I know if I’m a candidate for liposuction?
The best patients for liposuction have localized fatty areas, covered by good quality, elastic skin. When the fat is removed, the elastic skin shrinks up nicely, giving a smooth contour.

What kinds of liposuction are there?
Initially, liposuction was simply a blunt-ended metal tube (called a “cannula”) which was connected to a strong vacuum pump. Over the years, new advances in technology have given us Power-Assisted Liposuction (“PAL”) and Ultrasonic liposuction. I prefer the PAL system, but know other surgeons that are happy with the ultrasonic method.

What is “liposculpture”? “Suction-assisted lipectomy”? “Fat etching”?
Fancy terms for liposuction.

Will liposuction tighten my skin?
Sadly, no. Liposuction can actually make loose skin and cellulite look worse. That is one reason why the surgeon’s assessment of your skin quality is an important part of the consultation.

I just want to lose a few pounds – can liposuction help me?
Liposuction is not a good choice for weight loss. It helps visually, with contours - but the weight change is minimal.

What are the most common areas for liposuction?
For women, the hips and outer thighs are popular. Inner thighs can also be treated, as long as the skin quality is good. For men, the flank and waist area (“the love handles”) are a common area.

How big are the incisions?
One nice feature of liposuction is the minimal size of the incisions. Each incision is about ¼ inch in length, and we try to hide them in inconspicuous places.

How long is the recovery from liposuction?
Patients can sometimes show some impressive swelling after liposuction, which can take several weeks to settle down. Our post-op treatments with the Synergie machine help to speed up the resolution of the swelling. The skin usually takes about 4-6 months to re-drape in its final position.