Liposculpture is a surgical procedure that is used to give you more muscle tone and shapeliness. It treats little pockets of fat, unlike liposuction which covers larger areas. 

Instead of just removing fat, liposculpture also moves it around it for a desired shape. It can be particularly useful in areas that don’t respond to diet and exercise.

Liposculpture works best if you have good skin elasticity, which is generally true for those who are younger, have darker skin tones, don’t smoke, and don’t have much sun damage.

The ideal candidate is close to their ideal weight and has a BMI under 30. It may not work well if you have weakened muscles or loose skin from age or pregnancy.

A board-certified plastic surgeon can tell you whether you’re a good candidate for the procedure.

A surgeon uses liposculpture to remove fat and move some of the fat to certain areas of your body. It isn’t used for weight loss, but rather to tighten up areas that already have good elasticity. It can improve contours such as accentuating abdominal muscles or narrowing a waist.

Most surgeons use the tumescent technique, which helps limit blood loss and scarring. During the procedure, the doctor injects a sterile solution containing numbing medicine. They then make a tiny incision and places a small tube, or cannula, under the skin into the fat.

They use the tube to move the fat, release it, and then remove it with a suction. Sometimes the fat is purified, processed, and transferred to other parts of the body, like the buttocks or face, to enhance features in those areas.

Many patients combine liposculpture with other procedures, like tummy tucks. Combining different procedures can help you achieve desired results, since liposculpture is only used for a specific purpose.

Liposculpture increases body contours by removing excess fat. It is mostly used to remove fat from areas that can’t be treated with diet and exercise.

The most common areas of the body that liposculpture is used for are:

• Arms
• Belly / stomache
• Breasts
• Buttocks
• Chin
• Love handles / waist
• Neck
• Upper thighs

You should have good elasticity in whatever area is being treated. This way your skin will bounce back and you won’t have additional sagging.

Liposculpture offers many benefits for those undergoing the procedure. First, liposculpture requires only small incisions, and, when healed, scarring is virtually undetectable. The tumescent technique that is used also minimizes bruising and blood loss, also reducing scarring. This procedure is an outpatient procedure, so you can return home afterward to heal. Many people prefer this over staying in the hospital. It is also a great way to kick-start weight loss that has not responded to diet and exercise alone.

AFTER THE PROCEDURE

Expect some pain, swelling and bruising after the procedure. Your surgeon may prescribe medication to help control the pain and antibiotics to reduce the risk of infection.

After the procedure, the surgeon may leave your incisions open and place temporary drains to promote fluid drainage. You usually need to wear tight compression garments, which help reduce swelling, for a few weeks.

AT HOME

You may need to wait a few days before returning to work and a few weeks before resuming your normal activities — including exercise. During this time, expect some contour irregularities as the remaining fat settles into position.

RESULTS

After liposuction, swelling typically subsides within a few weeks. By this time, the treated area should look less bulky. Within several months, expect the treated area to have a leaner appearance.

It’s natural for skin to lose some firmness with aging, but liposuction results are generally long lasting as long as you maintain your weight. If you gain weight after liposuction, your fat distribution may change. For example, you may accumulate fat around your abdomen regardless of what areas were originally treated.