Liposuction

Liposuction is a surgical procedure designed to remove excess fat from specific areas of the body, helping patients achieve their desired body contours. ⁽¹⁾ This procedure targets stubborn fat deposits that do not respond to diet and exercise alone. Many people choose liposuction to improve their body shape, boost confidence, or enhance their physical appearance.

Dr. Kenneth Hughes is a Harvard-educated, Harvard-trained, board-certified plastic surgeon who has performed thousands of liposuction surgeries in the Los Angeles and Beverly Hills areas.

Before and After Photos

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About Liposuction

The primary goal of liposuction is to sculpt the body, allowing for a smoother and more aesthetically pleasing physique. Liposuction has been performed worldwide for over four decades, and it continues to be one of the most popular cosmetic surgical procedures. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, in 2024, liposuction was the top cosmetic surgical procedure performed in the United States, and many patients have benefited from its transformative effects. ⁽²⁾

Essentially any area of the body can be sculpted through liposuction, including but not limited to the:

Some of the more popular liposuction procedures include simultaneous liposuction of the abdomen, sides, and lower back, which is referred to as liposuction 360.

Why Choose Dr. Hughes as your LA Liposuction Surgeon?

Liposuction Requires an Expert

Liposuction requires a high degree of technical skill and aesthetic judgment. Dr. Hughes has extensive experience revising liposuction results for patients dissatisfied with previous outcomes. Poor liposuction results can severely decrease self-esteem and create body image issues that can last a lifetime. That is why it is critical to get the surgery done as well as possible the first time, by a liposuction expert like Dr. Hughes.

Surgeon’s Skill Determines Result

Results really depend on the skill of the surgeon selected. The movement of the cannula by the surgeon through the fatty layer is what determines the smoothness—no machine or technology can replace the skilled hands of the expert surgeon!

Dr. Hughes, a liposuction expert, prefers conventional tumescent liposuction with small cannulae to produce the finest result. While some technologies like SmartLipo and ultrasonic-assisted liposuction have been promoted for their added benefits, Dr. Hughes prefers tumescent liposuction to minimize risks such as skin irregularities and thermal injury.

Dr. Hughes sees at least 2 patients a week who have skin changes from these types of liposuction, and there is essentially nothing that can be done about the cobble-stoning or color variegation that occurs as a result of the burning of the tissues. The energy in the form of heat destroys the fat cells and surrounding tissue, and can render the surrounding tissue incapable of being used for fat transfer procedures. It can also result in fat necrosis, flap loss, and full-thickness burns.

Larger Volume Liposuction

Dr. Hughes has extensive experience in larger volume liposuction surgeries of up to 5 liters, the safe maximum amount that can be removed in an outpatient setting.

Dr. Hughes aims to achieve optimal results in a single surgery whenever safely possible, reducing the need for future revisions. About 80% of Dr. Hughes’s practice consists of liposuction revision cases, which are very challenging.

Benefits

As the most popular cosmetic procedure worldwide, liposuction offers numerous benefits for patients of all backgrounds. Under Dr. Hughes’ expert care, our patients see improvements through:

Candidates

Any patient who is burdened by stubborn fat deposits may be eligible for a liposuction procedure. It is important to note that liposuction is a body sculpting procedure rather than a weight loss procedure, so patients should be at or near a stable goal weight. Patients with certain medical conditions like heart or lung disease, a history of blood clots in legs or lungs, or unmanaged diabetes or hypertension may not be eligible for these procedures.

The patient must have adequate skin elasticity to allow for skin retraction after surgery. This factor is the most important element to good results, aside from the technical proficiency of the surgeon and the patient’s ability to follow postoperative regimens. ⁽³⁾

Some patients have a significant amount of visceral fat deep within the abdominal cavity; this type of fat cannot be addressed by liposuction. Only weight loss can remedy this fat.

Overall, patients should be nonsmokers (or willing to quit), be in good general health, and have realistic expectations for their results. A consultation with Dr. Hughes will help further determine each patient’s candidacy.

Personal Consultation

During your personal consultation, Dr. Hughes will discuss various aspects of the procedure. Your medical history will be reviewed, and your specific cosmetic goals and concerns will be addressed. A thorough examination of the areas you wish to treat will be conducted, allowing Dr. Hughes to offer the best advice tailored to your goals. He will explain the different liposuction techniques available and recommend the one that would work best for your situation.

At this stage, any questions or concerns you have regarding the procedure, recovery, and expected outcomes will be thoroughly answered, ensuring you feel confident and informed moving forward.

If you are interested in exploring your liposuction options, please submit our online contact form to schedule a consultation with Dr. Hughes. If you have any further questions or prefer to schedule over the phone, please call our office at (310) 275-4170.

Preparation

Proper preparation is key to a successful liposuction procedure. You will receive preparation instructions from Dr. Hughes at the end of your consultation. Generally, patients are advised to discontinue any medications or supplements that can thin the blood, and nicotine and alcohol should also be avoided. You will be required to fast after midnight before your procedure. Patients are also recommended to arrange transportation home from treatment and take time away from work and responsibilities to allow for smooth and sufficient recovery. If you receive prescriptions for pain medications, obtaining these before your procedure may reduce stress during your recovery.

Procedure

Liposuction may be performed under local anesthesia for smaller areas or less involved surgeries. When areas involve more fat removal or when multiple areas are treated, general anesthesia is typically used; this option allows for enhanced precision from Dr. Hughes.

The surgery typically lasts between 30 minutes and 5 hours, depending on the number of areas addressed and the relative complexity of the procedure. ⁽³⁾

Dr. Hughes will make a few small (4 mm) incisions through which instruments called cannulae are inserted to remove the fat. Before inserting these cannulae, he will inject a tumescent fluid, which is a mixture of saline, lidocaine, and epinephrine, and this helps to swell fat cells for easier removal, numb tissues internally, and constrict blood vessels to minimize bleeding. ⁽³⁾ The pressure generated from an intraoperative vacuum results in the ability to remove fat from the body with these cannulae, which have small holes at the end for removal. ⁽⁴⁾ The holes can be oriented differently based on application and procedure goals.

Dr. Hughes uses small cannulae of 2, 3, or 4 mm in diameter to allow for more precise fat extraction and sculpting. Dr. Hughes uses only blunt liposuction tips to minimize the risk of damaging the underlying organs. This is particularly important in revision cases, wherein previous surgeons may have created abnormal tracks and excessive scar tissue. Previous incisions into the abdomen, particularly those that required fascial reapproximation, present a higher risk for puncture as the sutures may be compromised, and the scar tissue in those areas is intrinsically weaker.

Dr. Hughes will maneuver the cannula throughout the fat deposits to break away and remove fat. Once fat is removed and the desired results are achieved, your incisions will be closed, and you can begin your recovery.

Recovery

Patients will receive comprehensive recovery instructions to optimize their results and promote a smooth recovery. Patients are required to wear a compression garment, which helps to reduce swelling by keeping consistent pressure on the treated areas. A less-than-desirable result may occur when a patient develops fluid collections postoperatively, which can create bumps or wrinkles in the skin. When the proper recovery regimen is followed, the risk for irregularities and complications is exceedingly small. The reason for this is that Dr. Hughes removes the subcutaneous fat as evenly as possible so that every area is sculpted to the same thickness with high precision and consistency.

The typical liposuction patient can go back to work in a week, but will need to wear the compression garment for the first 4 to 6 weeks. Strenuous exercise can usually be resumed in 6 weeks. The final results can be seen at about 6 months, at which time the swelling has dissipated.

Results

After full recovery, patients can expect to see improved body contours. Liposuction results typically become apparent as swelling subsides and the body heals. The final shape of treated areas can often be seen within 3 to 6 months post-surgery. Many report enhanced self-esteem and satisfaction with their new physique.

While liposuction results can be long-lasting if a healthy lifestyle is maintained, it is essential to remember that age, genetics, and life changes can alter one’s figure over time.

Corresponding Procedures

As a mainstay in plastic surgery, liposuction can easily be combined with other procedures to offer patients impressive body-contouring results.

Dr. Hughes has expertly performed many liposuction 360 procedures and liposuction revision procedures. In addition, some of the liposuctioned fat can be used to augment and fill facial areas (facial fat grafting). He can also use the liposuctioned fat to create larger, shapelier buttocks and hips, referred to as the Brazilian Butt Lift procedure. Fat grafting can also be used to increase the size of one’s breasts. ⁽⁵⁾

The most common addition to liposuction procedures is the tummy tuck. Also known as abdominoplasty, the tummy tuck removes excess skin from the abdomen to create a smooth, contoured torso. This is especially effective after the skin has deflated or sagged from weight loss or liposuction. Many patients will also receive a BodyTite treatment, which helps to strengthen the skin to a taut, elastic state.

Cost of Liposuction in Los Angeles and Beverly Hills

The cost of your liposuction treatment will depend on the scale of the procedure, your goals, how much fat is removed, the treatment areas, and more. Our liposuction prices are as follows:

After meeting with Dr. Hughes to discuss your treatment, you will receive a price quote that details all necessary expenses for your treatment. Hughes Plastic Surgery also offers financing options for all of our procedures.

DRESSINGS AND SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS FOLLOWING LIPOSUCTION

FAQ

References

1. Chia, Christopher T., et al. “Evidence-Based Medicine: Liposuction.” Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, vol. 139, no. 1, 1 Jan. 2017, p. 267e, journals.lww.com/plasreconsurg/Fulltext/2017/01000/Evidence_Based_Medicine___Liposuction.51.aspx, https://doi.org/10.1097/PRS.0000000000002859.
2. American Society of Plastic Surgeons. 2024 Plastic Surgery Statistics. American Society of Plastic Surgeons. Published June 2025. https://www.plasticsurgery.org/documents/news/statistics/2024/plastic-surgery-statistics-report-2024.pdf
3. Bellini E, Grieco MP, Raposio E. A journey through liposuction and liposculture: Review. Annals of Medicine and Surgery. 2017;24:53-60. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amsu.2017.10.024
4. Matarasso, Alan, and Steven M. Levine. “Evidence-Based Medicine.” Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, vol. 132, no. 6, Dec. 2013, pp. 1697–1705, https://doi.org/10.1097/prs.0b013e3182a807cf.
5. Wu, Shannon, et al. “Liposuction: Concepts, Safety, and Techniques in Body-Contouring Surgery.” Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine, vol. 87, no. 6, June 2020, pp. 367–375, www.ccjm.org/content/ccjom/87/6/367.full.pdf#:~:text=Liposuction%20is%20used%20to%20achieve%20body%20contouring%20by, https://doi.org/10.3949/ccjm.87a.19097.