Liposuction

Liposuction, also called lipoplasty or suction-assisted lipectomy, removes subcutaneous fat from targeted areas through small incisions with a cannula, permanently removing those fat cells to improve body contour. It is not a treatment for obesity or a substitute for diet and exercise; it works best in patients near a stable, healthy weight with firm, elastic skin. It is often combined with procedures such as a tummy tuck.

What it does

Liposuction refines shape by removing fat where it is out of proportion.

• Removes stubborn fat. Targets localized deposits that resist diet and exercise, permanently removing those fat cells.
• Refines your shape. Contours the abdomen, flanks, thighs, arms, back, or chin so the area fits your frame.
• Pairs with other surgery. Often combined with a tummy tuck or other contouring for a complete result.

What it is not is a weight-loss procedure; the change shows in your shape and how clothes fit, not on the scale.

How it works

Liposuction is usually an outpatient procedure. Through tiny incisions, a thin tube called a cannula is passed under the skin to loosen fat, which is then suctioned out; power-assisted techniques vibrate the cannula to remove fat efficiently with less trauma. Most people take about a week off work, wear a compression garment to control swelling, and see the contour refine over the weeks as swelling settles.

Because results depend on how well the skin redrapes over the new contour, firm, elastic skin gives the best outcome, which is part of what the consultation assesses.

What liposuction can and cannot do

Being clear about the limits is part of a good result, so here is the honest scope.

When the issue is loose skin rather than fat, liposuction alone falls short and an excision procedure like a tummy tuck is the right tool; the two are often planned together. A board-certified surgeon tells you which your situation calls for.

What liposuction works with

This is what the consultation assesses, because fat, skin, and weight all matter.

The value is not the list. It is that a board-certified surgeon judges your fat, skin, and weight together, and is honest about whether liposuction alone will give you the result you want.

Why Santa Barbara Face & Body

Liposuction looks simple and is easy to overdo, leaving dents and irregularities; doing it well is a matter of restraint and an eye for proportion. Dr. Polynice is a Mayo-trained, board-certified plastic surgeon focused on breast and body surgery, and he contours to your frame rather than chasing maximum removal, and is candid when loose skin means you need more than lipo. A result that suits your frame is the standard here.

What to expect

Dr. Polynice examines the areas that bother you, checks your skin quality, and asks what shape you are after. He explains what liposuction can refine, whether your skin will redrape well or whether excision is also needed, and what recovery and the compression garment involve. If your goal is really weight loss, he will say so. You leave with a plan focused on contour and realistic about what lipo delivers.

What it costs

Liposuction is quoted by the plan, not by a shelf price, because it depends on how many areas are treated and the extent of contouring. You will have that number in writing at your consultation, before anything is scheduled.