Liposuction

What Are Common Liposuction Treatment Areas?

Bothered by excess fat that doesn't respond to diet and exercise? Areas like these may work well for liposuction. Learn more about the most common treatment areas.

Where can I get liposuction? 

Permanently removing excess fat sounds pretty great. So can I have it all over my body?

Unfortunately, there are areas and types of fat that are eligible for liposuction and others that aren’t. 

dermis before and after liposuction graphic

Areas with unwanted fat such as the stomach, inner and outer thighs, and love handles can be treated with liposuction. But let’s dig into other areas of the body that work well and discover some that don't.

Breast augmentation and 360 liposuction before and after photo by board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Jeremy Pyle of Amelia Aesthetic Raleigh
Breast augmentation and 360 liposuction before and after photo by board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Jeremy Pyle of Amelia Aesthetic Raleigh

What are the most common treatment areas for women?

Both men and women have liposuction procedures to remove excess fat, but since the Bustmob Community was specifically created to support women on their plastic surgery journey, we’re going to focus on the most common liposuction treatment areas for women. 

Subcutaneous fat that doesn’t respond to diet and exercise often goes back to our genetics.

You may find that your stubborn areas are the same as your mothers, grandmothers, and aunts.

Thanks for the family recipes and the double chin…

Because you can’t spot-treat fat, these areas can’t be exercised away. Turns out a chin-up doesn’t target the chin at all. 

Double chin liposuction, also known as submental liposuction, before and after photo by board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Rafi Fredman of Amelia St. Louis
Double chin liposuction, also known as submental liposuction, before and after photo by board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Rafi Fredman of Amelia St. Louis

Common treatment areas for women include:

  • Waist
  • Stomach
  • Love handles/flanks
  • Double chin
  • Neck
  • Inner and outer thighs
  • Upper arms
  • Bra line 
  • Back

Areas that don’t work well for liposuction. 

Liposuction can only remove subcutaneous fat, the squishy fat you can see and touch.

Areas like the legs (below the knees), visceral fat in the stomach, and areas with a lot of excess skin aren’t ideal for liposuction.

Having liposuction in an area with loose skin (say from weight fluctuations, pregnancy, or aging) or removing a large amount of fat, can actually make even more excess skin.

If you’re concerned with loose skin and/or skin laxity, your plastic surgeon may recommend something along the lines of a tummy tuck, arm lift, or thigh lift depending on the area. 

Learn more about what a tummy tuck is and what it addresses in the free Bustmob Academy app

Breast augmentation and tummy tuck with stomach and flank liposuction before and after by board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Michelle Roughton of Amelia Raleigh
Breast augmentation and tummy tuck with stomach and flank liposuction before and after by board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Michelle Roughton of Amelia Raleigh

Subtracting to Add and Other Perks of Liposuction

Liposuction pairs really well with other procedures – because it not only removes fat from a specific area, it also helps enhance and contour surrounding areas.

In fact, at Amelia Aesthetics, liposuction of the stomach and flanks is included in the price of a tummy tuck.

Why? Because the final results tend to be better and more natural looking with liposuction.

Liposuction of the abdomen and flanks softens the transition from the treatment area to the rest of the body and highlights that stronger, flatter post-tummy tuck core.

Think of liposuction as subtracting to add. 

For example, let’s say you’d like a bigger butt, but don’t want a BBL (Brazilian butt lift). Your plastic surgeon may recommend liposuction of the back and flanks. 

By removing the fat in surrounding areas and making them smaller, you can actually give the illusion of a larger butt, without actually changing its size.

Pretty cool, right?

The same concept is applied for bra line liposuction during a breast lift or reduction–adding shape to the breasts by removing volume around the breasts. 

Breast augmentation and breast lift with bra line liposuction before and after photo by board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Rafi Fredman of Amelia Aesthetics St. Louis
Breast augmentation and breast lift with bra line liposuction before and after photo by board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Rafi Fredman of Amelia Aesthetics St. Louis

Looking for more information about liposuction? We’ve got just the thing.

The free Bustmob Academy app is our favorite plastic surgery research tool. With hundreds of videos on breast and body, including a dedicated liposuction series, you’ll have everything you need to feel confident before your consultation. 

Jenny Eden, founder of Bustmob, and Gretta Nance, lead educator with over 20 years of experience in plastic surgery, walk you through common questions, misconceptions, and tips from the experts.

Make the most of your consultation time by having the basics like cost, recovery, treatment areas, and more before you even set foot in the office.

Interested in liposuction at Amelia Aesthetics?

Start with a free, on-demand Amelia Body Orientation video. In less than 30 minutes you’ll get an overview of what to expect for liposuction surgery at Amelia, including costs, their easy 3-Step Process, and patient promises.

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contributors
Jenny Eden
Founder, Bustmob Community
Gretta Nance
Lead Educator, Amelia Aesthetics
Ready to learn everything about plastic surgery?
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