In today's world, looking and feeling good means having a fit, well-proportioned body. However, for many people, this may seem like an unreachable goal. Sometimes even a strict diet or a disciplined exercise program can't conquer stubborn areas of excess fat. For those who seek a smoother or better proportioned body contour, Liposuction may be the answer.

Liposuction, also called lipoplasty, is a surgical procedure that removes deposits of excess fat from specific areas of the body, face or neck. Liposuction can be used to slim the hips and thighs, flatten the abdomen, shape the calves and ankles or eliminate a double chin. (See Figures A and B.)

Figure A. Liposuction can slim the hips and thighs and provide a more shapely contour for the inner knee, calves and ankles.		Figure B. Liposuction can flatten the abdomen, remove fat from the under-arms, eliminate a double chin and contour the face or neck.		Figure C. You may notice that clothes fit more comfortably and you feel more confident about your new, slimmer appearance.

Is Liposuction right for you?

Liposuction is most commonly recommended for men and women of normal weight who simply want to improve their body contour. (See Figure C.) The procedure can produce excellent results for people who have deposits of excess fat that make certain body areas appear disproportionately large. Although Liposuction is not a treatment for obesity, it can permanently alter body proportion and is sometimes the only way to eliminate fat deposits that do not respond to diet and exercise.