Liposuction has become the most common cosmetic procedure performed.  Liposuction is being performed in both women and men in attempt to remove fat deposits from various locations throughout the body.  It is not intended to be a surgical solution to weight loss. 

This surgical procedure does not necessarily have to be performed at a hospital, but can be performed in outpatient surgery centers or sometimes in the physician's office.  The outpatient setting is more appropriate if only a smaller volume of fat is to be removed by liposuction. If a larger volume of fat needs to be removed or if this is being done in conjunction with other procedures, then your physician will discuss both the benefits and risks of performing this surgery in an outpatient versus hospital setting. 

Plastic surgeons or even dermatologists perform many of these liposuction procedures.  It is appropriate to question your surgeon on their level of experience in performing the liposuction procedure and their rate of complications and the expected recovery period.  Just because it is elective surgery does not mean that it is any less serious than any other type of invasive surgery. 

Many times after a large weight loss you are left with excess skin. This stretched skin may also be a result of pregnancy. One popular procedure to correct this is the liposuction tummy tuck (also known as abdominoplasty).  However, the women should be certain that they are not considering another pregnancy, since this would diminish the cosmetic results of the liposuction procedure and may restrict fetal mobility in the case of another pregnancy. 

As with any surgical procedure,  liposuction is not completely pain or discomfort free. Experiencing pain after surgery is common. There is also a possibility of drainage from the incisions after liposuction, but this is not unusual and if necessary,  your doctor may insert a drainage tube to avoid the build-up of fluid. 

It is important to understand the benefits, risks , possible complications, and expectations about the  usual time for recovery before deciding on whether elective liposuction is appropriate for you. And try not to be too impatient while waiting to see the results, as the cosmetic results of liposuction means different things to different people.