Liposuction

Liposuction at Weill Cornell Medicine removes localised fat deposits from areas such as the abdomen, flanks, hips, thighs, upper arms, and neck using tumescent technique. Power-assisted or ultrasound-assisted technology is used where appropriate to improve precision and skin retraction. The procedure is frequently combined with abdominoplasty or other body contouring surgery, and harvested fat can be processed for transfer to the face or elsewhere in the same session.

The plastic surgeons at Weill Cornell Medicine perform liposuction as both a standalone fat-reduction procedure and as a complement to body contouring surgery such as abdominoplasty, brachioplasty, or thigh lift. The tumescent technique — infiltrating a large volume of dilute anaesthetic and vasoconstrictive solution before suctioning — is standard practice, minimising blood loss and post-operative discomfort. For appropriate patients, power-assisted liposuction (PAL) or ultrasound-assisted liposuction (UAL/VASER) may be used to break up denser fat deposits, particularly in fibrous areas such as the back, upper abdomen, or male chest for gynecomastia reduction. These modalities can also facilitate smoother skin retraction in areas where surface improvement is desired. Common treatment sites include the abdomen and flanks, inner and outer thighs, knees, upper arms, the submental area (double chin), and the back. For male patients, gynecomastia reduction via a combination of liposuction and glandular tissue excision is offered through the same division. Fat harvested during liposuction can be processed and reinjected to the face (fat grafting) or used in other transfer procedures, converting the liposuction session into a simultaneous volume-restoration procedure where appropriate. The academic medical setting offers general, regional, or monitored anaesthesia care depending on the volume being treated and the patient's overall health. Outpatient procedures are routine for moderate-volume cases. Consultations are available at multiple Upper East Side and Brooklyn locations.