Did you know that liposuction is still consistently one of the most popular plastic surgery procedures in the world? In 2018, more than 258,000 people across the United States opted to undergo liposuction to help them achieve their aesthetic goals.
Men and women have been choosing liposuction in their fight against pockets of stubborn fat that just don't respond to diet and exercise. Even for people within a healthy weight range, it's still possible to have a layer of problematic flab or fat in their abdomen, buttocks, arms and legs. Luckily there are many areas of the body that can respond well to this cosmetic surgery treatment.
While some fat in the buttocks is often desirable, having excess fat removed can help minimize some unsightly dimpling and help to make your figure look more proportionate.
The waist and flanks, often called the "love handles," are extremely common areas for liposuction. For many patients, getting rid of love handles and achieving the contours they desire via diet and exercise alone can be incredibly difficult. Liposuction here can help patients see great results, especially when they have reasonable-to-excellent skin elasticity.
The "batwing" is something that can affect men and women, but it is particularly common in women as they age. Even if you're not overweight, it is possible to have an unpleasant "arm jiggle" due to lack of muscle tone. Liposuction can help smooth and tighten the area for a firmer, more youthful appearance.
Plastic surgeons often divide the abdomen into "upper" and "lower" regions that may be treated separately. The lower region is responsible for the dreaded "muffin top," which makes it a popular place for liposuction. The upper region is the area between your belly button and ribs, which can also stubbornly hold onto a layer of fat. Liposuction in these regions can help patients achieve a slimmer, sleeker profile.
For many women, having smooth, shapely hips is important to maintaining a feminine silhouette, so women often undergo liposuction here to remove excess deposits of fat. Doing so helps to create a more well-defined shape and can even help improve the look of the buttocks as well.
The back is probably not the first place you would think of for liposuction, but the procedure can be actually quite effective for reducing back rolls, sometimes called "bra rolls." Liposuction here can contribute to a firmer, smoother appearance.
Patients who want to reduce excess cheek and neck fat can also opt for liposuction. Additionally, it can be performed alongside other procedures, to help give your face a slimmer, more defined contour.
There are three sections of your thighs that can benefit from liposuction, and they're often all treated together. First, liposuction can be performed on the outer thigh "saddlebags" to enhance the patient's overall shape. The inner thighs can also be contoured (to help give the patient a thigh "gap" when standing), and the posterior thigh, which is the "banana roll" area, can be shaped to give the buttocks a firmer, more defined appearance.
Though women can undergo chest/breast liposuction, this is more common for men than women. Men who may suffer from gynecomastia or older men who may have suffered a loss of muscle mass can look to liposuction to remove excess, unwanted fat.
Less common is liposuction in the lower leg area, but lower leg reshaping can help you to maintain a proportionate, slimmer profile.
One of the best things prospective liposuction patients can do themselves is to choose a board-certified plastic surgeon with a reputable facility for your liposuction procedure. When you opt for a board-certified plastic surgeon, you can feel confident that you're receiving vetted, top-quality care from beginning to end. Your Board-certified plastic surgeon will discuss treatment options and anticipated results, depending on your unique situation and goals.
Liposuction is a flexible and versatile plastic surgery treatment option that can help reveal a slimmer, sleeker, more confident you. Because it can be applied to a number of areas, a wide range of patients can continue to leverage it to reach their aesthetic goals.