Is Liposuction a major surgery? On a scale of 1 -5 (5 is highest), how major of a surgery is it?

Liposuction is indeed a major surgery. Unfortunately, the new branded facilities all over the country are selling liposuction as a non invasive simple operation and are talking everyone into it for the business of it. But, the reality is that liposuction needs proper evaluation as it can really do BAD things. If someones skin does not have the elasticity of youth they can be really irreversibility damaged. We unfortunately see that a lot and need to provide patients with dramatic corrective operations. Then on top of that liposuction carries the risks of other surgeries such as infection, bleeding, damage to internal organs, fluid and electrolyte imbalances and shock. The most ominous complication of liposuction is pulmonary embolism and fat embolism which can be fatal. So, do your homework, make sure that you are being treated by a provider that is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and make sure that you do not put price in place of your life and beauty.Good luck.

The answer to this question depends on the size of the area or areas to be sculpted, the type of anesthesia (general or not), the length of the procedure, the skills of the surgeon, the instruments used, your heath, etc... Eliminating general anesthesia and not trying to Sculpt too many areas at one time will lean more towards a minor setting. 

liposuction is safe if performed without general anesthesia and limit the suction to 5 liters max.  Also safety depends on years of experience and expertise.   I would recommend at least 10 years of experience performing in accredited surgical facility preferably only tumescent with sedation only.  Laser,Vaser, smart lipo etc only increases risks of burn and complications and duration of procedure specially if performed under general anesthesia without much benefits and much risks. 

Thank you for your question. There's no simple answer to your question. It could be very simple, done under local anesthesia, like neck or submental liposuction or could be quite complex like VASER Hi Def Lipo body sculpting (chest, abdominal etching, back, waist, hips, +/- fat transfer), done under intravenous sedation. So,  it can cover your scale from 1 to 5. There are two kinds of liposuction: 1. fat reduction and 2. revealing. The first one probably falls in the 1-2 scale, the later is a technically challenging and artistic operation, scale of 5. Even though small hidden incisions are made to extract and/or re-inject the fat, wide areas are undermined under the skin and depending on the complexity of the surgery, there's extended swelling and recovery. The most important caveat is to choose the right board certified plastic surgeon experienced in advanced body sculpting techniques. Liposuction can have major complications in the wrong hands and poorly trained surgeon (poor results, perforation of internal organs and even death). Hope this helps.

Thank you for your question. Liposuction surgery is relatively minor compared to other surgeries performed in the hospital for other medical conditions. That being said, it is still a surgical procedure that often requires general anesthesia and in some cases can be rather extensive and lengthy. You need to discuss your procedure in detail with your chosen surgeon to understand the risks involved and maybe that will help to answer your question better.Good luck!