The Most Commons Areas on the Body That are Treated With Liposuction

If you're looking to contour your body and remove stubborn fat, liposuction surgery can help you achieve a slimmer appearance.

At Omar Ahmed, M.D., board-certified plastic and reconstructive surgical specialist Dr. Omar Ahmed helps patients in Pasadena, CA achieve their ideal body shapes by trimming unwanted fat.

Keep reading to find out which areas of the body are most often treated with liposuction.

How does liposuction work?

Liposuction is a body contouring treatment that reduces pockets of fat that don't go away even after diet and exercise.

During liposuction surgery, patients are typically placed under general anesthesia. Dr. Ahmed then makes a small incision in the treatment area and inserts a cannula, a tube that helps loosen the fatty tissue beneath the skin. That tissue is then suctioned out, and the incision is sealed.

Surgery can take1 – 3 hours, depending on the area treated. Both surgery and recovery will take longer if multiple areas are treated.

After surgery, the care team will help each patient devise a recovery plan that includes ways to control post-surgical pain. Primary recovery can take anywhere from 1 – 3 weeks, during which it's best to stay home and rest. While you may see some results after your recovery period, the full results of liposuction are typically visible 6 – 10 months after surgery.

Where can liposuction remove fat from my body?

Liposuction can remove fat from just about anywhere in the body, but it's important to remember that it is a body sculpting treatment and not a weight loss surgery. Liposuction can only remove subcutaneous fat, which is the "flabby" fat found just beneath the skin.

Good candidates for liposuction are typically within 10 – 20 pounds of their goal weight and are simply struggling with excess fat in a few areas that can't be targeted with diet or exercise. If you are still struggling to maintain your weight or plan to become pregnant, you may need to wait to get liposuction. Dr. Ahmed will discuss each person's unique body shape and aesthetic goals before surgery and provide you with the best advice possible on how to proceed.

What are the best areas to get liposuction?

The most popular areas for liposuction tend to be the following:

• Abdomen

• Hips

• Inner, outer, and anterior thighs

• Buttocks

However, you can get liposuction all over the body, including your:

• Chin

• Cheeks

• Upper arms

• Flanks

• Chest (for men)

• "Love handles"

• Waistline

• Calves

• Ankles

• Back

There's no single "best" place to get liposuction. However, the surgery can be challenging in some areas because it does not remove visceral fat, which is the fat that people carry if they're overweight. This fat is typically wrapped around organs and is too dangerous to remove. In areas such as the calves and ankles, fat also tends to be hard to access, and liposuction will require an experienced surgeon such as Dr. Ahmed to help achieve a natural shape and resculpt the area.

Get liposuction surgery in Pasadena, CA

Omar Ahmed is a board-certified plastic and reconstructive surgical specialist and owner of Omar Ahmed, M.D. in Pasadena, CA. He is experienced in performing liposuction.

If you're near your goal weight and interested in removing stubborn fat from your body and sculpting it into the shape you've always wanted, contact us today for a consultation.