Liposuction
Also known as: lipoplasty
Liposuction is surgery that removes fat from under the skin with a suction cannula; it reshapes body areas and is also the harvesting step for fat grafting and SVF.
What is liposuction?
Liposuction is surgery that removes fat from under the skin using a thin suction tube (cannula) to reshape areas such as the abdomen, thighs or flanks. It is not a treatment for obesity and does not remove cellulite. Risks include bruising, swelling, numbness, contour irregularities and infection. Liposuction is also the harvesting step for fat grafting and SVF.
Key facts
| Predicate | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | Cosmetic procedure used to remove unwanted body fat from areas such as the bottom, hips, thighs and stomach | [1]governmentLiposuctionNHS (UK National Health Service) |
| NHS availability | Not usually available for cosmetic reasons; offered for certain conditions such as lymphoedema and lipoedema | [1]governmentLiposuctionNHS (UK National Health Service) |
| Anaesthesia and duration | General anaesthetic or epidural; takes 1–3 hours; usually an overnight hospital stay hours | [1]governmentLiposuctionNHS (UK National Health Service) |
| Recovery | Compression garments worn for several weeks; avoid strenuous activity for 10–12 weeks; full results may take up to 6 months | [1]governmentLiposuctionNHS (UK National Health Service) |
| Typical UK cost | About £3,000–£8,500 GBP | [1]governmentLiposuctionNHS (UK National Health Service) |
| How to verify a provider (England) | Check the clinic on the Care Quality Commission (CQC) register and the surgeon with the General Medical Council (GMC) | [1]governmentLiposuctionNHS (UK National Health Service) |
| Tumescent infiltration ratio | 3–4 mL of wetting solution per mL of fat to be removed; blood loss under 1% of the removed volume mL/mL | [3]journalLiposuction (Shridharani SM, Wang HD, Singh NK), Eplasty 2013Eplasty / PubMed Central (NIH NLM) |
| Lidocaine dose in tumescent solution | 35 mg/kg is generally accepted as safe when lidocaine is given with epinephrine in the wetting solution mg/kg | [3]journalLiposuction (Shridharani SM, Wang HD, Singh NK), Eplasty 2013Eplasty / PubMed Central (NIH NLM) |
| US ranking (ASPS 2024 data) | Most popular plastic surgery procedure of 2024; patients aged 40–55 received 45% of liposuction proceduresas of Nov 18, 2025 | [4]organizationThe most popular plastic surgery procedures by ageAmerican Society of Plastic Surgeons |
| US FDA device clearance related to liposuction | Renuvion APR handpiece cleared on 2023-04-27 for coagulation of subcutaneous soft tissue after liposuction for aesthetic body contouringas of May 10, 2023 | [5]governmentUPDATE: Use of Renuvion/J-Plasma Device for Certain Aesthetic Procedures: FDA Safety CommunicationU.S. Food and Drug Administration |
| Not a treatment for | Obesity or cellulite (NHS) | [1]governmentLiposuctionNHS (UK National Health Service) |
| Risks | Bruising, swelling, numbness, contour irregularities, infection; rarely fat embolism | [2]organizationLiposuctionAmerican Society of Plastic Surgeons |
Overview
Liposuction (lipoplasty; Korean 지방흡입) is a surgical procedure that removes subcutaneous fat through small incisions using a suction cannula. Common sites are the abdomen, hips, thighs and buttocks. Most procedures use the tumescent technique, in which a dilute lidocaine–epinephrine solution is injected into the tissue before the fat is suctioned out. Ultrasound-, power- and laser-assisted variants also exist. The procedure is done mainly for cosmetic body contouring. The NHS offers it only for certain medical conditions, such as lymphoedema and lipoedema. In the US, the FDA clears devices used during or after the procedure for specific indications. A 2026 review by Korea's NECA reported overall complication rates of 2.62–6%, with serious complications at about 1%. Readers should check the surgeon's specialist registration, the facility's licence and the anaesthesia arrangements.
Verified providers
Sponsored listings are labeled. Verification is independent of payment.SC301의원
SC301의원 (SC301 Clinic) is a plastic surgery clinic in Gangnam, Seoul, South Korea whose official site presents SVF (stromal vascular fraction) fat grafting for the breast and face, liposuction, lifting and cell banking as its main services.
View providerEvidence & claims
Official claims are statements by the provider; they are not verified by worldwiki unless marked otherwise.| Claim | Type | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Liposuction is not a treatment for obesity. | definition | high | Liposuction |
References
Independent source ratio 100% (9/9)- Level A · governmentLiposuction — NHS (UK National Health Service) · accessed Nov 12, 2026 · Evidence page
- Level C · organizationLiposuction — American Society of Plastic Surgeons · accessed Nov 12, 2026 · Evidence page
- Level B · journalLiposuction (Shridharani SM, Wang HD, Singh NK), Eplasty 2013 — Eplasty / PubMed Central (NIH NLM) · accessed Nov 12, 2026 · Evidence page
- Level C · organizationThe most popular plastic surgery procedures by age — American Society of Plastic Surgeons · accessed Nov 12, 2026 · Evidence page
- Level A · governmentUPDATE: Use of Renuvion/J-Plasma Device for Certain Aesthetic Procedures: FDA Safety Communication — U.S. Food and Drug Administration · accessed Nov 10, 2026 · Evidence page
- Level B · academicImpact of donor site on fat graft survival in autologous fat transfer to the breast: A systematic review — JPRAS Open (2026) · accessed Nov 12, 2026 · Evidence page
- Level C · organizationFat Transfer Breast Augmentation — American Society of Plastic Surgeons · accessed Nov 12, 2026 · Evidence page
- Level C · organization성형외과 — 지방흡입 (진료 안내) — 삼성서울병원 · accessed Nov 12, 2026 · Evidence page
- Level C · organization신체 내 지방 불균형 (Body fat imbalance) — 질환백과 — 서울아산병원 · accessed Nov 12, 2026 · Evidence page