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Medical Author:

Joel Schlessinger, MD

Medical Editor:

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, Chief Medical Editor

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, Chief Medical Editor

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Anatomic Pathologist with subspecialty training in the fields of Experimental and Molecular Pathology. Dr. Stöppler's educational background includes a BA with Highest Distinction from the University of Virginia and an MD from the University of North Carolina. She completed residency training in Anatomic Pathology at Georgetown University followed by subspecialty fellowship training in molecular diagnostics and experimental pathology.

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Technically, any part of the body is able to be suctioned, but there are varying degrees of improvement depending upon the area treated. The best way to tell if a particular area will be successful is the ability to see a difference of shape in the area to be liposuctioned. If the area is not dramatically different than the surrounding areas, liposuction will probably not be as effective as diet and exercise. Additionally, certain areas are less responsive to liposuction and/or more likely to have complications. This is not to say that there can't be excellent results, but the possibility of less-than-outstanding results is magnified in these areas:

• The arms (skin can hang after the procedure)



• Calves (may have significant swelling after the procedure, higher risk of blood clots)



• Inner thighs (may be uneven and asymmetric after the procedure)



• Chin (may have a slight nerve problem in the lip area after the procedure which lasts up to two to three months). Additionally, fluid and fat can remain in cases in which the chin was very fatty before the procedure, resulting in a need for re-doing the procedure.



• Female and male breasts (These can pose the problem of minimal improvement. Given the male breast fat makeup, there may be minimal fat obtained during the procedure. The female breast can be liposuctioned, but the candidate needs to be aware of the possibility that reduction of only one breast size may occur. Typically, liposuction can be done but is limited to mildly affected breasts rather than severe cases.)