Reshape your body with liposuction: You won’t miss an inch

Remove fat with liposuction and improve your body contours by targeting your trouble spots.

What is there to love about love handles, saddlebags and saggy abs? Liposuction improves the skin you are in by removing unwanted body fat that persists despite weight loss, diet and exercise. It is not weight-loss surgery, but a body contouring or shaping procedure for individuals who are already reasonably fit and committed to a healthy lifestyle.

Does this sound like you? Talk to the cosmetic surgery team at UMass Memorial Medical Center and find out if you are a good candidate for liposuction surgery. Our board-certified plastic surgeons have performed hundreds of body contouring procedures and can answer any questions you have. They might even get you back into your favorite “skinny” jeans.

Feel fit, look fabulous and get the best results

At the Cosmetic Surgery Center at UMass Memorial Medical Center, we know that the best candidates for liposuction are confident in themselves and in their decision to have the procedure. That is why we spend so much time talking to our patients about their lifestyle habits as well as their goals for surgery.

Liposuction surgery is most successful in patients with isolated areas of fat who have good skin tone and elasticity and a healthy lifestyle. It is most commonly used to treat the thighs, hips, abdomen, buttocks, knees, back and upper arms. It is sometimes performed in conjunction with other cosmetic procedures, such as a tummy tuck (abdominoplasty), breast lift (mastopexy), facelift (rhytidectomy) or weight-loss (bariatric) surgery.

The shape of things to come: what to expect from liposuction

Here is what you can expect before, during and after liposuction at UMass Memorial Medical Center:

Before your surgery: You should be in good general health and near your ideal weight. Following an initial consultation with a plastic surgeon, you will have a complete physical examination. You may need to stop taking certain medications and herbal remedies for a period of time.

During your surgery: Liposuction is performed under general anesthesia in the Same-Day Surgery Unit at UMass Memorial Medical Center at the Hahnemann Campus, which is a dedicated outpatient surgery center. The cosmetic surgeon removes the unwanted fat by suctioning it out through a hollow tube called a cannula, which has been inserted into the skin through a small incision. This takes about one to four hours, depending on the amount of fat removed. At UMass Memorial, our surgeons will remove a volume of fat that can be performed safely during a single procedure.

After your surgery: In most cases, you will go home the same day as your surgery and return to your normal activities within a few days. You may experience some discomfort at first, and will need to wear a pressure garment for about six weeks. A pressure garment fits like a girdle or tight bicycle pants. It is important to maintain a good diet and active lifestyle to achieve the best long-term results.

Feel comfortable in your clothes … and with your decision

The board-certified cosmetic surgeons at UMass Memorial Medical Center are all highly skilled and experienced. They are also easy to talk to. If you are thinking about reshaping or enhancing your body in any way, they will meet with you first for a thorough consultation and physical examination.

UMass Memorial Medical Center is the teaching hospital of the University of Massachusetts Medical School, where all of our plastic surgeons are members of the faculty. This partnership ensures that our staff is up to date on all the latest techniques and technology. A team of experienced anesthesiologists and nurses supports our cosmetic surgeons.

For more information, please call 508-334-5990.