Liposuction is more advanced than ever these days. Though tumescent lipo, which involves making an incision and inserting a cannula that vacuums the fat out, remains the most common type, it’s far from the only one. Laser energy, sound waves, vibrations, jetstreams of water—all can play a role in the fat removal process. More options mean doctors are better able to customize treatment to the individual and target more areas of the body—but they can also create even more confusion for those in the early stages of liposuction consideration.
So before you book a consultation and dive into the details of the procedure with your provider, we asked 9 RealSelf Verified doctors from across the country to offer their best advice on liposuction in general. Think of them as marketing taglines you can actually trust.
Related: High-Tech to High-Def—How Popular Tools and Techniques Are Reshaping Liposuction
Make sure the proposed area of liposuction is well-defined.
Dr. Samuel Lin, a plastic surgeon in Boston
Be patient. It actually takes months to see final results.
Dr. David Sieber, a plastic surgeon in San Francisco
Liposuction is for body shaping, not weight loss.
Dr. Jason Leedy, a plastic surgeon in Mayfield Heights, Ohio
Meticulous, artful technique matters more than which device is used.
Dr. Steven Goldman, a plastic surgeon in Beechwood, Ohio
Hidden [liposuction] incisions tell no tales.
Dr. George Volpe, a plastic surgeon in Boston
For best liposuction results, be at your happy weight.
Dr. Ellen Janetzke, a plastic surgeon in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan
Liposuction is great for contouring but won’t solve skin laxity.
Dr. John Mancoll, a plastic surgeon in Virginia Beach, Virginia
Results are what you leave behind, not what’s removed.
Dr. Robert Heck, a plastic surgeon in Upper Arlington, Ohio
Submental lipo doesn’t always address all reasons for neck fullness.
Dr. Gary Linkov, a facial plastic surgeon in New York City
