ABSTRACT
Liposuction, also known as lipoplasty, liposculpture, and
suction-assisted lipectomy, is a surgical procedure used to
remove subcutaneous fat from specific body sites by using
a suction vacuum. The procedure is most commonly
performed on the buttocks, hips, thighs, and abdomen
but is also frequently used to remove fat from under the
chin, neck, breasts, knees, upper arms, calves, and ankles.
Liposuction is the most common cosmetic surgical pro-
cedure performed in the United States. It is estimated that
more than 400,000 persons undergo liposuction every year
(1). Advances in liposuction technology now make it
possible to remove considerable amounts of subcutaneous
fat; in obese subjects, aspiration of*14 kg of fat has been safely performed (2). The purpose of this chapter is to
review the potential use of liposuction as a tool for
treating obesity.
