1. How much does liposuction surgery cost?

The cost of liposuction is dependent on the type of machine used (some of the newer technologies are more expensive than older ones) and how many areas are being treated.


2. Is liposuction a good way to lose weight?

The procedure is usually performed as an outpatient and the patient may return to normal activity within a couple of weeks. Liposuction is not a weight reduction technique. It is designed to remove fat from specific areas not to reduce a patients overall weight.


3. Does liposuction take care of cellulite?

Most patients having liposuction can expect improved contour of the area treated. Some of the newer types of machines can literally sculpt areas so that the patient may experience a significant change in the appearance of an area (most specifically the stomach area). In general liposuction does not treat cellulite but there are new technologies emerging that claim to reduce the appearance of cellulite.


4. Will liposuction tighten up loose skin?

Liposuction is a procedure that removes fat from localized areas. There are now many types of liposuction machines that are designed to combine suctioning of the fat with other modalities. Depending on the other modality there may be some skin tightening. Smartlipo is one technology that claims to cause skin tightening (and liposuction in conjunction with radiofrequency)and in recent studies it appears to show some skin tightening. However, it is difficult to predict how much skin tightening an individual patient will experience.


5. What is the "tumescent technique"?

Most if not all liposuction performed today is performed with the tumescent technique. This technique involves injecting large volumes of fluid containing local numbing medicine and a medicine to reduce bruising and bleeding. This fluid also "plumps" up the fat cells and makes it easier to remove them with little to no pain. The tumescent technique has made liposuction safer and less painful.


6. What is ultrasonic liposuction?

Ultrasonic liposuction utilizes sound waves to literally rupture the fat cell wall making it easier to remove large volumes of fat. The heat produced by this technique has also been shown to cause a very slight amount of skin tightening.