Liposuction
Liposuction removes stubborn fat deposits to sculpt areas that resist diet and exercise, from the waist to the chin.
Liposuction near you
Charles
Lee, MD
David
Kahng
Peter
Ashjian, MD
Debra
Stafford, MD
Amir
Tahernia, MD
Andre
Panossian, MD
David
Rosenberg, MD
Jaime
Schwartz, MD
William
Rahal, MD
Samuel
Golpanian
Anthony
Griffin, MD
Kevin
Ruhge, MD
Mark
Solomon, MD
Robert
Schlenker, MD
Mohammad
Khosravi, MD
Nima
Naghshineh, MD
Lily
Lee, MD
Gordon
Sasaki, MD
John
Diaz, MD
Youssef
Tahiri, MD,
Stewart
Wang, MD
Walter
Joseph, MD
Elie
Ramly, MD
Linda
Li, MD
Faryan
Jalalabadi
Joshua
Jacobson, MD
Victor
Zhu, MD
Michael
Hakimi, MD
Navanjun
Grewal, MD
Nicholas
Nikolov, MD
Nathaniel
Villanueva, MD
Daniel
Barrett, MD
Gregory
Mueller, MD,
Saul
Berger, MD
Brent
Moelleken, MD
Michael
Zarrabi, MD
Dr.
Mossi Salibian, MD
Kelly
Killeen, MD
Armen
Vartany, MD
Marc
Mani, MD
Athleo
Cambre, MD
Liposuction: making the decision
What the price actually covers
Honest risks
- Swelling masks the result for weeks
- Contour irregularities are the main aesthetic risk — technique-dependent
- Compression garments for several weeks
Are you a good candidate?
- Within ~30% of goal weight — it's contouring, not weight loss
- Good skin elasticity
- Specific stubborn areas rather than overall reduction
Six questions for every consult
- Are you board-certified, and in what specialty? (Verify it — don't just ask.)
- How many of this exact procedure did you do in the last 12 months?
- Can I see before/afters of patients with my anatomy or skin type?
- Who handles complications, and what's your revision policy and fee?
- Where is the procedure done, and is the facility accredited?
- What results would you consider realistic for me — and what won't this fix?
Verify before you book
Med spas by metro
OU Beauty Medical Spa
Shaped Secretz Body Sculpting
Sculpt Med Spa Downtown Los Angeles
Skin Story Med Spa
MedBeautyLA
VIP AESTHETICS AND MEN'S HEALTH BY VIP MEDICAL
The Sunset Aesthetics
Deluxe Cosmetic Center
The Spa by Adam Lee Kenney
R&J Medspa
Patient reviews
Liposuction: common questions
How much does liposuction actually cost?
Two different numbers get quoted, which is why estimates seem to disagree. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons reports an average surgeon's fee of $4,711 — but that is the surgeon alone. It excludes anesthesia, the facility or operating-room fee, compression garments, labs and follow-up visits. Once those are included most patients pay somewhere in the $6,000–$12,000 range, and the total scales with how many areas are treated: one area is a very different operation from four. When you get a quote, ask specifically whether it is all-in, and what a revision would cost if one is needed.
Is liposuction a weight-loss procedure?
No, and surgeons are consistent about this. Liposuction removes localised fat deposits to change your shape; it is not a treatment for obesity and the amount safely removed in one session is limited. Candidates are generally people near a stable weight with pockets of fat that haven't responded to diet and exercise. If significant weight loss is the goal, that comes first — and body-contouring surgery afterwards addresses what's left, which is why tummy tucks and lifts have grown alongside GLP-1 medications.
How long is the recovery from liposuction?
Most people return to desk work in about 5–7 days and to exercise in roughly 3–4 weeks, though this varies with how many areas were treated. Compression garments are typically worn for several weeks. Swelling is the reason the mirror lies for a while: the shape keeps refining for months, and the final result is usually judged at around 3–6 months rather than at the post-op visit.
Does the fat come back after liposuction?
The fat cells removed do not grow back, but the ones left behind can still enlarge if you gain weight — so results hold best at a stable weight. Weight gain after liposuction tends to distribute differently than it did before, because the treated area has fewer fat cells to expand.
Who is qualified to perform liposuction?
This is worth checking rather than assuming. In most states, any licensed physician may legally perform liposuction regardless of the specialty they trained in, and there is no requirement that they be a plastic surgeon. Board certification by the American Board of Plastic Surgery (or, for facial work, the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery) tells you a surgeon completed accredited training and passed examination in that specialty. Ask which board certifies them, whether the facility is accredited, and who administers the anesthesia. Every profile on Whelth shows the license number so you can verify it with the state board yourself.
How is liposuction different from CoolSculpting?
Liposuction is surgery: fat is physically removed through small incisions, usually under anesthesia, in one session with real downtime. CoolSculpting and similar non-invasive fat-reduction devices cool or heat fat cells to destroy them gradually, with no incision and no downtime — but they remove far less per session, typically need several sessions, and cannot achieve the same degree of contouring. They address different situations rather than competing directly.