Mayo Clinic Health Manager
Get free personalized health guidance for you and your family.
Get Started
close window
Mayo Clinic Housecall
Stay up to date on the latest health information.
What you get
- Free weekly e-newsletter
- Mayo Clinic expertise
- Recipes, tools and other helpful information
- We do not share your e-mail address
Definition
By Mayo Clinic staffLiposuction is a surgical procedure that uses a suction technique to remove body fat in specific areas, such as from the abdomen, hips, thighs or buttocks. The procedure shapes or contours these areas. Candidates for liposuction are those who have too much body fat in specific spots, but who otherwise have stable body weight.
Liposuction isn't an overall weight-loss method. If you're overweight — rather than having a stubborn belly that won't go away even though you're otherwise fit, for example — you're better off losing the weight through diet and exercise.
Other terms for liposuction are lipoplasty, body contouring and body lift.
Why it's done
