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Definition
By Mayo Clinic staffLiposuction is a surgical procedure that uses a suction technique to remove fat from specific areas of the body, such as from the abdomen, hips, thighs or buttocks. Liposuction also shapes or contours these areas. You may be a candidate for liposuction if you have too much body fat in specific spots, but otherwise have a stable body weight.
Liposuction isn't typically considered an overall weight-loss method or a weight-loss alternative. If you're overweight, you're likely to lose more weight through diet and exercise or through bariatric procedures — such as gastric bypass surgery — than you would with liposuction.
Other terms for liposuction include lipoplasty, suction lipectomy and body contouring.
- Mun ED, et al. Surgical management of severe obesity. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed March 18, 2010.
- Liposuction. American Society of Plastic Surgeons. http://www1.plasticsurgery.org/ebusiness4/ProductCatalog/pdf/brochures/Liposuction.pdf. Accessed May 5, 2010.
- What are the risks or complications associated with liposuction? U.S. Food and Drug Administration. http://www.fda.gov/MedicalDevices/ProductsandMedicalProcedures/SurgeryandLifeSupport/ucm070191.htm. Accessed May 5, 2010.
- What can I expect before, during, and after liposuction? U.S. Food and Drug Administration. http://www.fda.gov/MedicalDevices/ProductsandMedicalProcedures/SurgeryandLifeSupport/ucm070194.htm. Accessed May 5, 2010.
- Coldiron B, et al. ASDS Guidelines of care for tumescent liposuction. Dermatologic Surgery. 2006;32:709.
- Habbema L. Breast reduction using liposuction with tumescent local anesthesia and powered cannulas. Dermatologic Surgery. 2009;35:41.
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