Liposuction is a procedure that can help sculpt the body by removing unwanted fat from specific areas, including the abdomen, hips, buttocks, thighs, knees, upper arms, chin, cheeks and neck.  During the past decade liposuction, which is also known as 'lipoplasty' or 'suction lipectomy', has benefited from several new refinements.

Today, a number of new techniques, including ultrasound-assisted lipoplasty (UAL), and the tumescent technique, are helping many surgeons to provide selected patients with more precise results and quicker recovery times.

 Although no type of liposuction is a substitute for dieting and exercise, liposuction can remove stubborn fat in areas that don't respond to traditional weight-loss methods.

The best candidates for liposuction are normal-weight people with firm, elastic skin who have pockets of excess fat in certain areas.  You should be physically healthy, psychologically stable and realistic in your expectations.  Your age is not a major consideration, however, older patients may have diminished skin elasticity and may not achieve the same results as a younger patient with tighter skin.